School Chooser

De Warenne Academy

Secondary · ages 11-16MixedAcademy762 pupilsDoncaster
School Chooser Score
73
Above
similar schools
Likely range 65 to 79
Out of 100. Better than 90% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedStrong teachingOfsted report card, March 2026
Strong pass in English and maths54%England 46%
Attendance90.7%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families43%Far more than most schools
Parents would recommend83%47 Parent View responses
PlacesFull762 pupils, 750 places

De Warenne Academy is a sponsored academy in Doncaster for boys and girls aged 11 to 16. It has 762 pupils, 12 more than it has places for. About 43 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 73 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 90% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in March 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Gardens Lane, Conisbrough, Doncaster, DN12 3JY01709 864001dewarenne.org.ukMr John Hall principalAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 3 March 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
Strong
Achievement
Strong
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
Strong
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
Exceptional
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
Strong
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
Strong
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
12 October 2021Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 3Good

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

136 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score48.9
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths54%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths74%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.31In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 40.040.020182019: 43.143.120192022: 50.150.120222023: 46.946.920232024: 46.246.220242025: 48.948.92025
Since 2018: +8.9Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018DoncasterEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11136142138135121105
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 848.946.246.950.143.140.044.946.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.31+0.58+0.43+0.27+0.07
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths54%47%38%59%36%28%43%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths74%66%62%70%61%50%64%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score4.284.033.934.253.402.933.854.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry28%39%41%27%7%6%27%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged40.742.540.942.533.835.7
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged53.151.051.155.348.142.7
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers28.834.136.824.324.4
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers66.473.173.760.252.0

Subjects

Results came out for 12 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Combined Science52%grades 9 to 5, England 36% · 468th of 3,084 schools
Chemistry96%grades 9 to 5, England 81% · 766th of 2,537 schools
Physics96%grades 9 to 5, England 82% · 743rd of 2,546 schools
English Language64%grades 9 to 5, England 54% · 738th of 3,210 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Art and Design (47% here, 58% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, computer science.
LanguagesFrench44

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics136 entries · 6th of 20 in Doncaster
59%England 53%
English Language136 entries · 5th of 20 in Doncaster
64%England 54%
English Literature133 entries · 8th of 20 in Doncaster
59%England 58%
Combined Science108 entries · 2nd of 20 in Doncaster
52%England 36%
Geography63 entries · 4th of 18 in Doncaster
54%England 51%
History57 entries · 8th of 19 in Doncaster
46%England 52%
Art and Design49 entries · 15th of 19 in Doncaster
47%England 58%
French44 entries · 6th of 7 in Doncaster
59%England 60%
Biology24 entries · 6th of 13 in Doncaster
92%England 82%
Chemistry23 entries · 6th of 11 in Doncaster
96%England 81%
Physics23 entries · 5th of 12 in Doncaster
96%England 82%
53%England 56%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics13622%59%76%53%1,016 of 3,211
English Language13621%64%82%54%738 of 3,210
English Literature13320%59%76%58%1,297 of 3,202
Combined Science10815%52%71%36%468 of 3,084
Geography6324%54%68%51%1,138 of 3,116
History5725%46%58%52%1,880 of 3,126
Art and Design4927%47%61%58%1,971 of 2,818
French4425%59%68%60%1,111 of 1,974
Biology2458%92%96%82%1,000 of 2,570
Chemistry2352%96%100%81%766 of 2,537
Physics2357%96%100%82%743 of 2,546
Computer Science1911%53%84%56%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2019

29 students finished sixth-form courses.

All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure2019201820172016
Students29505572
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry15.2028.8732.35
Average A level gradeD-CC+
A level progressA level value added-0.85-0.48+0.47
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed83%90%

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
40.753.1
Gap 12.4England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
39%62%
Gap 23 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
50.647.1
Gap 3.5England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

Plenty of spare places755 pupils for 900 places, 2024/25
84% full

145 places were empty (16% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 5% since 2021/22.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place (152 offers for 150 places). 150 families put it down as their first choice and 150 of them got in (100%).

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allGot a placeFirst choices who got inHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Secondary150150152152100%all offeredLA

What parents say

Would recommend the school83%England 77%
My child is happy here75%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe85%
Positive overall73%
My child is happy at this school
75%England 75%
My child feels safe at this school
85%England 79%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
81%England 71%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
21% yesEngland 26%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
30%England 48%
My child gets the right support to learn well
77%England 71%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
26% yesEngland 31%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
75%England 58%
The school communicates well with me
68%England 71%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
55%England 58%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
64%England 67%
I would recommend this school
83%England 77%
Overall view of the school is positive
73%England 67%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 47 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for secondary schools with enough answers to publish.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll762Census January 2026
Places750102% full
Pupils from low-income families43%43% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English3%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support14%103 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan2%18 pupils with a plan
Average class size22.234 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils9%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)43%£361,900 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls380 / 382
White British pupils95%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (42), Specific learning difficulty (26), Moderate learning difficulty (21), Autistic spectrum disorder (16), language and communications needs (12), Hearing impairment (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll762757754746715718
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals43%41%41%39%37%33%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language3%3%2%2%3%1%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support12%8%9%9%10%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%3%2%1%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 90.7% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance90.7%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school27.4%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils52.32024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission4.9%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence9.3%10.1%11.0%11.7%7.0%6.1%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.4%5.0%5.1%5.9%3.6%3.1%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence4.9%5.1%5.9%5.7%3.3%3.1%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence27.4%31.7%33.9%37.5%21.1%16.3%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate52.360.791.249.728.1
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions03002

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 138 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training78%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 61%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training78%85%92%84%
Education70%79%80%74%
Apprenticeship4%4%5%4%
Work5%2%7%6%
Not in education, work or training17%14%7%13%

After sixth form

Where the 28 pupils who left in 2016/17 were a year later.

Still in education, work or trainingand stayed there for at least six months

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training64%England 69%
Top-third universities25%England 24%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship0%England 1%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 33% went on to degree-level study or training.

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers41.0full-time equivalent, 42 people
Pupils per teacher18.6Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers98%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants17.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£50,946
Teachers who left in the year7%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher2.02024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,822England £7,965. Total £5.9m
Income per pupil£7,512England £8,423. Total £5.7m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,137England £4,444
Money in reserve12%A healthy amount put by: £708k, £931 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out-£236kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£7,822spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m39012 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate102 per 1,000 people12% higher than the England average
Typical house price£175,000Doncaster
Nearest bus stop20 mGardens Lane/Thirlwall Avenue, 14 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Sir Thomas Wharton AcademyAcademy2.3 miles1,226Report card 202647Compare
The Laurel AcademyAcademy2.7 miles755Good 202375Compare
Thrybergh AcademyAcademy3.3 miles525Requires improvement 20232Compare
Swinton AcademyAcademy3.4 miles870Good 202338Compare
Astrea Academy DearneAcademy4.2 miles1,071Good 202315Compare
Saint Pius X Catholic High School A Specialist School in HumanitiesAcademy4.2 miles687Requires improvement 2024Compare
Astrea Academy WoodfieldsAcademy4.2 miles662Good 202428Compare
Maltby AcademyAcademy4.3 miles1,096Report card 202625Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares De Warenne Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats90%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the very top of its group. Its score of 73 is 48 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 1 · middle 25 · highest 77100

No school with a similar mix of pupils within 25 km scores clearly higher.

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 73 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 73% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 65 to 79. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%in line
-0.02
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 136 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%above
+0.20
Ofsted report card, 0.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.04
DfE progress measure; 136 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.06
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.06
2024/25; 788 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well above
+0.25
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 136 pupils
What pupils do next5%well below
-0.11
138 pupils
What parents say5%in line
+0.02
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 47 responses

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is De Warenne Academy a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. De Warenne Academy scores 73 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 90% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 65 to 79, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is De Warenne Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 3 March 2026 it rated teaching as strong, achievement as strong, behaviour and attendance as strong, leadership as strong.

How good are De Warenne Academy's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 54% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 48.9, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does De Warenne Academy have?

762 pupils aged 11 to 16 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 750 places, so it is 102% full.

Is De Warenne Academy oversubscribed?

Probably not. 145 places were empty in 2024/25 (16% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at De Warenne Academy?

Pupils were in school 90.7% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 27% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about De Warenne Academy?

83% of the 47 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 75% say their child is happy there. Across England, 77% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at De Warenne Academy?

The average class had 22.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 9% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does De Warenne Academy have a sixth form?

No. Pupils leave after Year 11 for a sixth form elsewhere, a college or an apprenticeship; 78% of 2022/23 leavers were still in education, work or training six months on.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Gardens Lane, Conisbrough, Doncaster, DN12 3JY
Telephone
01709 864001
Website
www.dewarenne.org.uk
Principal
Mr John Hall
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-16
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
Delta Academies Trust (64 schools)
Local authority
Doncaster
Ward
Conisbrough
Constituency
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2009 (new provision)
URN
135942 · LAESTAB 3716906 · UKPRN 10027716
Formerly
Northcliffe School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from