Ash Hill Academy
75%
Capacity
820
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Ash Hill Academy
Ash Hill Academy in Doncaster stands out for its academic performance, achieving a Progress 8 score of 0.25 in the 2023/24 academic year. This is a strong result, placing it well above the local authority average for secondary schools in Doncaster, which sits at -0.04. The school ranks 6th out of 20 schools in the local authority on this key measure, putting it in the top 30% of Doncaster secondaries. This positive picture is reinforced by an Attainment 8 score of 45, and 48.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths. The school's Progress 8 banding is officially rated as 'Above average', and its national percentile of 30 places it in the top third of all schools in England. This data suggests a school that is consistently adding more value to its pupils' learning than the typical school in its area.
The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2025 confirmed it as a Good school, a significant improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement in 2018. Inspectors rated every category as Good, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The ungraded inspection noted that standards were maintained. Parent feedback from the Ofsted Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, shows a mixed picture. While 61% of the 64 respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree their child is happy (68% agree or strongly agree) and that there is a good range of subjects (86%), there are clear concerns. Only 34% of parents feel concerns are dealt with properly, and just 50% feel the school gives SEND children the support they need.
Ash Hill Academy is a non-selective, mixed secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is oversubscribed, receiving 225 applications for 170 places in 2025/26, with 157 first-preference offers made. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 42.2%. Facilities are notably strong for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a chapel. The school offers a wide range of SEND provisions, supporting pupils with needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, dyslexia, and speech and language communication needs. For families prioritising strong academic progress above the local average and a wide array of facilities and clubs, Ash Hill Academy is a compelling option, though the parent feedback on SEND support and concern handling is worth investigating further.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ash Hill, Ash Hill Road, DONCASTER, Doncaster, DN7 6JH |
| Headteacher | Mathew Hicks |
| Local Authority | Doncaster |
| Number of Pupils | 820 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 42.2% |
| School Capacity | 820 / 1,100 (75% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 May 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (21 May 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 11 May 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.25)
942nd of 3,141
Nationally
80th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
6th of 20
In Doncaster
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/235%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 110 pupils).
- Sixth form college36%
- FE college35%
- Employment11%
- Not sustained9%
- School sixth form (stay)5%
- Apprenticeship3%
89% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Ofsted Parent View
64 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed170
225
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
157 families put this school as their 1st choice (70% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British84.1%
- White (other)5.6%
- Mixed3.1%
- Asian0.9%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ash Hill Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Ash Hill, Ash Hill Road, DONCASTER
Doncaster, DN7 6JH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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