Bessacarr Primary

About Bessacarr Primary

Bessacarr Primary, a state primary in Doncaster for children aged 3 to 11, holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, with the same grade awarded across all five inspection categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school’s most informative academic metric is its Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard attainment, which sits at 63% of pupils. This figure sits just above the Doncaster local authority average of 61%, placing Bessacarr in the top half of primary schools in the area. The school ranks 42nd out of 87 primaries in Doncaster, putting it in the top 50% locally, and 6,535th nationally out of 13,686 schools. While not a standout headline figure, the school’s solid performance across the core subjects suggests a reliable, above-average option for families within the borough.

Looking deeper into the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school shows particular strength in reading. Pupils achieved an average scaled score of 106, with 80% meeting the expected standard and 32% reaching the higher standard — a notably strong higher-attainment figure. In maths, the average score was 104, with 77% at the expected level and 15% at the higher standard. Writing saw 77% of pupils meet the expected standard, though only 10% achieved the higher mark. The combined expected standard figure of 63% is the headline, but the reading results are the real standout. Ofsted’s inspection breakdown backs this up, awarding Good across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school has held a Good rating since its previous inspection in 2016, with no signs of decline.

Bessacarr Primary is a popular school, oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year with 142 applications for 60 places — an oversubscription ratio of 2.37. Of those, 64 were first-preference applications, and 60 first-preference offers were made, meaning almost all first-choice families secured a place. The school has a relatively low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 5.3%, well below the national average. Facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, library, ICT suite, art studios, sensory room, and even a chapel. The school offers a range of sports including football, netball, cricket, and swimming, plus clubs such as art, gardening, eco club, and coding. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health, and speech, language and communication needs. With nursery provision on site, this is a consistently Good primary that suits families looking for strong reading outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer.

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