Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #8 in Doncaster public Top 26% UK

Don Valley Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

person Mr Mat Hicks (Principal)

corporate_fareDELTA ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onDoncaster, DN5 9DD

language Visit Website phone 01302651035

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

1,079

trending_up

Attainment 8

48.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#7 in Doncaster

#1,366 of 4,024 nationally

summarize

Don Valley Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Doncaster, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Don Valley Academy is an academy converter in Doncaster, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of DELTA ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,093 pupils on roll, of whom 41% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.7, placing the school #7 in Doncaster and #1,366 of 4,024 nationally. 58.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 21.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.3:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 30.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2026

Attainment 8 Score

48.7

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

58.90%

Grade 4+ E&M

73.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)21.8%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)67.00%

Triple Science Entry12.70%

EBacc Slot Score13.4 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

55.10%

Grade 4+ E&M

71.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)19.6%

Entering EBacc57.10%

EBacc APS4.38

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.5

Grade 5+ E&M

51.90%

Entering EBacc51.30%

EBacc APS4.32

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc56%

EBacc APS4.04

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS4.01

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.09

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS3.44

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS3.52

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2026

Stayed in Education / Employment

91.5%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83.6%

Apprenticeships3.7%

Employment4.2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6.9%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

85%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Secondary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	GCSE Attainment	Progress 8 Rank
2026	#1,533 / 4,024	#8	#1,366	#1
2025	#1,843 / 3,948	#7	#1,425	#1
2024	#1,207 / 4,450	#4	#1,368	#625
2023	#1,382 / 4,321	#6	#1,560	#606
2022	#1,477 / 4,199	#6	#1,725	#810
2019	#1,826 / 2,711	#12	#1,769	#1,624
2018	#2,024 / 2,537	#14	#1,903	#2,043

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

02 July 2024

Inspection Report

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02 April 2019

Inspection Report

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30 November 2016

Inspection Report

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06 July 2016

Inspection Report

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17 February 2016

Inspection Report

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24 November 2015

Inspection Report

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28 April 2015

Inspection Report

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28 January 2015

Inspection Report

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05 November 2014

Inspection Report

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11 March 2013

Inspection Report

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13 December 2012

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

6 Evaluations

2019-04-02

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met Latest Ungraded: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

2016-11-30

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2016-07-06

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2016-02-17

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2015-11-24

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2014-11-05

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Leadership

Inadequate

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

27.3%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

10.6%(117 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,101 pupils. During this period, there were 301 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 27.3%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,101	301	27.3%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,107	380	34.3%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,087	235	21.6%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,099	169	15.4%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,114	457	41.0%	8.2%	4
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,087	191	17.6%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,079	243	22.5%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,071	321	30.0%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,081	183	16.9%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,086	195	18.0%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,082	162	15.0%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,070	155	14.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,071	22	2.1%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,069	156	14.6%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,048	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,048	29	2.8%	3.2%	3
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,058	63	6.0%	4.2%	4
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,022	25	2.4%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,014	26	2.6%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,024	65	6.3%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	976	342	35.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,006	376	37.4%	3.0%	4
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,017	573	56.3%	3.7%	4
2016/17 (Summer term)	980	415	42.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	978	360	36.8%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	988	513	51.9%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 42 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 23 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 22 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 19 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 9 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

68%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

76%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

17%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree32%

agree37%

disagree12%

strongly disagree17%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree38%

agree45%

disagree4%

strongly disagree11%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree26%

agree13%

disagree14%

strongly disagree25%

not applicable21%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes30%

no70%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree30%

agree30%

disagree17%

strongly disagree22%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree46%

agree33%

disagree11%

strongly disagree8%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree46%

agree34%

disagree8%

strongly disagree12%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree34%

agree29%

disagree24%

strongly disagree11%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree53%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree39%

disagree1%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree36%

agree25%

disagree14%

strongly disagree17%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes64%

no36%

Top Secondary Schools in Doncaster

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Hungerhill School

Outstanding

location_on Doncaster, DN3 2JY

emoji_events #1 in LA

The Hayfield School

Good

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emoji_events #2 in LA

Hall Cross Academy

Good

location_on Doncaster, DN1 2HY

emoji_events #3 in LA

Doncaster UTC

Good

location_on Doncaster, DN1 3BF

emoji_events #4 in LA

Ridgewood School

Good

location_on Doncaster, DN5 7UB

emoji_events #5 in LA

Ash Hill Academy

Good

location_on DONCASTER, DN7 6JH

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View all schools in Doncaster arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Doncaster

Hungerhill School

The Hayfield School

Hall Cross Academy

Doncaster UTC

Ridgewood School

Ash Hill Academy