Southfield Primary

Southfield Primary has demonstrated strong overall performance in various domains, showcasing a meticulous approach to attendance, behavior, and personal development of its pupils. Attendance rates are notably high, surpassing the national average, while pupil behavior is commendable, reflecting strong self-discipline and mutual respect. The teaching staff excels in early education, effectively preparing children for their academic journey through excellent language modeling and early reading and writing instruction. Furthermore, the school fosters a vibrant community atmosphere, encouraging pupils to participate in various enrichment opportunities that enhance their educational experience. While the school generally performs well, there are identified areas for improvement, particularly in the consistency of teaching across some foundation subjects. Leaders are aware of these challenges and have begun to take steps towards enhancing staff expertise and subject knowledge. The school is part of the Empowering Minds Academy Trust and benefits from strong leadership that prioritizes the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Overall, Southfield Primary provides a supportive and safe environment where pupils thrive academically and socially.

Strengths

• High attendance rates above the national average.
• Strong focus on pupil behavior and anti-bullying measures.
• Excellent early years curriculum and language development.
• Strong personal, social, health, and economic education.
• High-quality enrichment opportunities for pupils.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistency in teaching quality across foundation subjects.
• Some staff need further development in subject knowledge.

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 Southfield Primary attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.1% 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, 2.7% of pupils at Southfield Primary 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 Southfield Primary had 25.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.1% 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, 11.7% of pupils at Southfield Primary were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% 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 Southfield Primary received £6,631 and spent £6,126 for each of its 252 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £358,000 (£1,420 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Empowering Minds Academy Trust, income was £6,585 and spending £6,362 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

Southfield Primary is part of Empowering Minds Academy Trust, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Tranmoor Primary Doncaster
• Hawthorn Primary School Doncaster
• Bessacarr Primary Doncaster
• Highwoods Academy Mexborough

What is Southfield Primary's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Southfield Primary is Expected standard, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was Southfield Primary last inspected by Ofsted?

Southfield Primary was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does Southfield Primary have?

Southfield Primary has 248 pupils on roll.

What age range does Southfield Primary cover?

Southfield Primary for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Southfield Primary's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Southfield Primary?

Southfield Primary is at Tranmoor Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 3BN.