Arksey Primary School

Arksey Primary School is performing strongly across all inspected areas. Safeguarding standards are met, and achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing are all graded strong standard. Pupils achieve very well by the end of Year 6, typically at or above national averages in reading, writing and mathematics, and pupils with SEND or disadvantaged backgrounds make significant progress. Attendance is well above national averages, and pupils behave well in a calm, respectful culture. The curriculum is ambitious, broad and well sequenced, with reading prioritised and phonics taught precisely. Early years provision is high quality, with language-rich interactions and strong readiness for Year 1. Inclusion is a notable strength: needs are identified early, multi-agency support is effective, and the pupil premium strategy is highly effective. Leadership and governance are highly effective, staff feel valued, and governors provide appropriate support and challenge. The school is small, with 72 pupils, mixed-age classes and co-headteachers; it has no alternative provision or resourced SEND unit. The only next step is to continue refining the highly effective assessment systems to build further on pupils' achievement; no significant weaknesses or concerns were identified.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve very well, reaching at or above national averages in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.
• Pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils make significant progress and are extremely well prepared for their next steps.
• Reading is prioritised, with secure phonics, accurate modelling and a strong love of reading.
• Attendance is high and compares very favourably with national averages, with effective support to overcome barriers.
• Pupils behave very well, are respectful and take responsibility for maintaining a positive behaviour culture.
• The curriculum is ambitious, broad and well sequenced, and is particularly well suited to mixed-age classes.
• Teaching is evidence-informed, with clear strategies and precise checks for misconceptions.
• Early years provision is high quality, with language-rich interactions and strong preparation for Year 1.
• Inclusion is strong, with early identification, effective multi-agency working and well-equipped classrooms.
• The pupil premium strategy is highly effective and disadvantaged pupils access the full ambitious curriculum.
• Leadership and governance are highly effective, reflective and collaborative, and staff feel valued and supported.
• Personal development and wellbeing are well considered, developing life skills, safety knowledge and respect.
• Pupils feel safe, supported and a deep sense of belonging, with positive and respectful relationships.
• Enrichment, pupil leadership roles and democratic processes develop responsibility and cultural awareness.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Arksey Primary School attended 96.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 1.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Arksey Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Arksey Primary School had 21.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.2% of pupils at Arksey Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Arksey Primary School received £7,758 and spent £7,791 for each of its 76 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £11,000 (-£141 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Doncaster · Doncaster local authority: places and applications

What is Arksey Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Arksey Primary School is Strong standard, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was Arksey Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Arksey Primary School was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does Arksey Primary School have?

Arksey Primary School has 76 pupils on roll.

What age range does Arksey Primary School cover?

Arksey Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

Where is Arksey Primary School?

Arksey Primary School is at Ings Way, Arksey, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN5 0TE.