Waverley Academy

About Waverley Academy

Waverley Academy is a state primary in Doncaster that currently educates 212 pupils against a capacity of 280, meaning it has room to grow but is already a popular choice locally. The school’s intake reflects a significantly higher-than-average level of disadvantage: 46.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national primary average of around 23%. That context makes the school’s recent admissions data particularly telling. For the 2025/26 reception intake, Waverley was oversubscribed, receiving 27 applications for 22 places — an oversubscription ratio of 1.23. All 21 first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting that while the school is in demand, families who put it first are very likely to get in. The school also offers nursery provision for three-year-olds, which can be a useful entry point for local families.

Academically, Waverley Academy performs solidly for a school serving a high-priority cohort. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 65% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — above the Doncaster local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 36th out of 87 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top half locally and around the 44th percentile nationally. Individual subject scores are consistent: 77% met expectations in reading, 77% in writing and 77% in maths, with average scaled scores of 103 in reading and 104 in maths. The proportion reaching the higher standard is modest — 8% in reading and 15% in maths — but this is typical for a school with high FSM eligibility. Ofsted’s most recent graded inspection in 2022 rated the school Good across all categories, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2015.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, dining hall, playing fields, music rooms and a sports hall, with clubs spanning art, book club, gardening, science, eco and coding. Sports provision includes gymnastics, rounders, tennis and cross country. For families with children who have additional needs, Waverley has published SEND provision for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health support. Oversubscription is modest, so families living nearby who apply as a first preference have a strong chance of securing a place. This is a school that suits parents looking for a well-rated, inclusive local primary with good academic outcomes relative to its intake, and one that has clearly turned around its performance under headteacher Louise Jean Stanton.

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