Don Valley Academy
About Don Valley Academy
Don Valley Academy, a mixed secondary school in Doncaster for pupils aged 11 to 16, received a Good rating in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement in 2016. The school has held onto that Good rating since, with an ungraded inspection in 2024 confirming it remains Good and is improving. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.42, which places it well above the national average. This means pupils at Don Valley make nearly half a grade more progress per subject across eight GCSEs than the typical student in England. The school ranks third out of 20 secondary schools in the Doncaster local authority on this measure, putting it in the top 15% locally and the top 20% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 48.5 further underlines solid outcomes, with 74.1% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
3 Jul 2024Latest monitoring visit (3 Jul 2024): School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next
Source: Ofsted, 22 May 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Don Valley 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications