Highfields Primary Academy

Highfields Primary Academy is demonstrating good overall effectiveness following its inspection. The school has made notable improvements since its previous inspection, addressing areas that were flagged for development. It now showcases a welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and respected, and leaders have implemented a curriculum that supports their academic and personal growth. The commitment from trust leaders and the school’s administration has significantly contributed to the positive atmosphere, encouraging pupils to achieve their potential through tailored emotional and practical support.

Strengths

• Strong community support and engagement with parents
• Effective personalized support for pupils, including those with SEND
• High expectations set by leaders for both staff and students
• Successful implementation of a phonics curriculum
• Robust assessment methods that help identify and address misconceptions
• Commitment to providing equal opportunities for extra-curricular activities
• Positive behavior and attitudes among pupils

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of strategies to ensure retention of prior knowledge
• Lack of clarity among some staff on teaching common exception words
• Need for improved training for teachers on pedagogical techniques

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 Highfields Primary Academy attended 94.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 21.7% 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, 2.8% of pupils at Highfields Primary Academy 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 Highfields Primary Academy had 15.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 42.9% 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, 20.8% of pupils at Highfields Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.9% 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 2024–25 Highfields Primary Academy received £9,531 and spent £9,790 for each of its 101 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £188,000 (£1,857 per pupil).

Across all 62 schools of Delta Academies Trust, income was £7,459 and spending £7,562 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

Highfields Primary Academy is part of Delta Academies Trust, which runs 62 schools. The nearest others:

• Don Valley Academy Doncaster
• Goldthorpe Primary Academy Rotherham
• Rowena Academy Doncaster
• De Warenne Academy Doncaster
• Morley Place Academy Doncaster
• Montagu Academy Mexborough
• The Laurel Academy Mexborough
• Pheasant Bank Academy Doncaster
• Grange Lane Infant Academy Doncaster
• Crookesbroom Primary Academy Doncaster

What is Highfields Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Highfields Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in May 2022.

When was Highfields Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Highfields Primary Academy was last inspected in May 2022.

How many pupils does Highfields Primary Academy have?

Highfields Primary Academy has 101 pupils on roll.

What age range does Highfields Primary Academy cover?

Highfields Primary Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Highfields Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Highfields Primary Academy?

Highfields Primary Academy is at Coppice Road, Highfields, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN6 7JB.