Sir Thomas Wharton Academy
92%
Capacity
1,166
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Sir Thomas Wharton Academy
Parents thinking about Sir Thomas Wharton Academy will find strong reassurance in the Parent View feedback. Of the 23 families who responded during the 2024-25 survey period, 96% said they would recommend the school. That’s a very high endorsement, and it’s backed up by the detail: 91% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, and 92% felt the same about safety. The school is also oversubscribed, with 319 applications for 254 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving a ratio of 1.26 applicants per place. 217 families put it as their first preference, and all of those received an offer. That level of demand suggests a solid local reputation, and the numbers align with the positive sentiment parents are reporting across behaviour, expectations, and personal development.
Academically, the school sits around the middle of the pack. Its Progress 8 score of -0.07 is classed as ‘Average’ nationally and is just a hair below the Doncaster local authority average of -0.04. In the local rankings, that places it 11th out of 20 secondary schools. Attainment 8 came in at 46.9, and 73.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though the figure drops to 48.9% for the stronger grade 5 benchmark. The EBacc entry rate is low at 7.4%, and only 5.9% of pupils entered the full EBacc. In the sixth form, the picture is more mixed: the value added score of -0.36 is rated ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry of 29.7 equates to a C grade. That said, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Good across the board, including behaviour, personal development, and sixth-form provision — a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating.
The school is a large, mixed secondary with 1,166 pupils and capacity for 1,266, so there is some room for growth. It has a dedicated sixth-form centre and a wide range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, music rooms, and art studios. Clubs and activities are plentiful — from Model UN and Debate to Gardening and Young Enterprise — and the sports offer includes hockey, rugby, and gymnastics. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists support for eight different categories, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language needs, though the Parent View data on SEND support had no responses, so it’s worth asking about directly. With 31.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It’s a solid, well-regarded local option that parents clearly feel positive about, and the oversubscription figures suggest it’s a popular choice for Doncaster families.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Tait Avenue, Doncaster, Doncaster, DN12 1HH |
| Headteacher | Matthew McDonald |
| Local Authority | Doncaster |
| Number of Pupils | 1,166 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 31.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,166 / 1,266 (92% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Sept 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 23 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.07)
1681st of 3,141
Nationally
152nd of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
11th of 20
In Doncaster
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.6
'22/23
29.5
'23/24
29.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2333%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 163 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)33%
- FE college25%
- Sixth form college12%
- Employment10%
- Apprenticeship9%
- Not sustained8%
90% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2363%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 43 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
24%
Russell Group
28%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)63%
- Employment19%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Further education2%
- Other education2%
- Not sustained2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Art and Design (Fine Art)10
- History8
- Biology7
- Mathematics7
- Chemistry5
- Psychology5
- English Language and Literature4
- Physics4
- Sociology4
- Computer Studies / Computing3
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
23 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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed254
319
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
217 families put this school as their 1st choice (68% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British83.4%
- White (other)6.2%
- Mixed3.3%
- Asian1.4%
- Black0.2%
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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sir Thomas Wharton 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
Tait Avenue, Doncaster
Doncaster, DN12 1HH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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