Don Valley Academy
Doncaster, DN5 9DD · Doncaster · secondary school
Check the area around this school
6th of 20 secondary schools in Doncaster we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 9.2/10 against 499 of them, against 7.7/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 58.9 · 80 | 30% | 2.40 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.42 · 80 | 25% | 2.00 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.7 · 64 | 10% | 0.64 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Don Valley Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 55.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.42 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (9.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the PACE, Sports Leaders, and Arkwright scholarship programmes, or pursue Arts Award. They compete in the Delta Games, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,093 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,499. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the after-school club integrate with the wider pastoral care?
What Ofsted said about Don Valley Academy
Overview
This ungraded inspection confirms that Don Valley Academy remains a ‘good’ school, with evidence suggesting it could achieve an ‘outstanding’ judgement if a graded inspection were conducted. The report highlights a ‘rich and broad curriculum’ that effectively prepares pupils for life beyond school, supported by ‘exceptionally consistent’ teaching and strong leadership ambition.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘ambitious’ and ‘broad’, ensuring pupils are ‘well prepared for future education, training and employment’, including high achievement in English, mathematics, and for pupils with SEND.
- Teaching is ‘exceptionally consistent’, featuring ‘careful teacher explanation’ followed by practice, which helps pupils ‘learn and remember’ effectively.
- A ‘highly effective system’ for reading intervention quickly improves skills for pupils with weak reading, enabling better progress across all subjects.
- Pupils benefit from a ‘carefully planned programme of wider experiences’, including a standout careers education programme that provides timely advice and real-world insights.
- Behaviour is described as ‘calm and purposeful’, with pupils displaying ‘good manners and good conduct’ and feeling safe within the school community.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ‘continue to reduce the number of suspensions’, which have historically been higher than the national average, while maintaining high behaviour standards so all pupils benefit fully from the curriculum.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.5 |
| 2024/25 | 48.0 |
| 2025/26 | 48.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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