New College Doncaster

New College Doncaster is a 16–19 free school in the New Collaborative Learning Trust, with around 1,491 students. Inspectors found it performing strongly across inclusion, leadership and governance, education programmes, and provision for learners with high needs, with safeguarding standards met. Leaders have a clear, inclusive vision and use resources well to remove barriers for disadvantaged students. Students with SEND and high needs are identified early and supported highly effectively, including through strong work with local authorities and external specialists. Teaching is consistently high quality. Students achieve well, including those with high needs, and most move on to positive destinations such as university, degree apprenticeships, apprenticeships or employment. Behaviour and attendance are excellent, students feel safe and respected, and careers education, personal development and enrichment are strong. The college is inclusive, calm and ambitious, and staff feel valued and supported. The main areas for continued focus are a small number of A-level subjects where progress is not as extensive as elsewhere, further strengthening of work-related learning so all students access high-quality work experience, and ensuring the provision has a transformational impact on all students' learning and achievement. Overall, this is a high-performing college with many notable strengths and no serious weaknesses identified.

Strengths

• Inclusive and welcoming college culture where students feel safe and respected
• Uncompromising leadership vision to enhance the experience of all students regardless of circumstances
• Effective use of resources to support disadvantaged students with university trips and free travel
• Comprehensive identification of additional needs and careful transition planning for SEND students
• High-quality individualised support for students with SEND and those with high needs
• Strong collaboration with local authorities and external specialists for children in care and EHCP students
• Ambitious, well-designed curriculum that meets regional economic and university needs
• Effective quality assurance processes leading to swift improvement in subjects needing development
• Experienced governance and trust collaboration supporting high-quality inclusive education
• Strong staff development and wellbeing support, with staff feeling valued
• Students achieve very well and progress to universities, degree apprenticeships, apprenticeships and employment
• Students with SEND and high needs thrive and often perform better than their peers
• High-quality teaching with clear explanations, effective assessment and constructive feedback
• Students develop excellent independent learning, resilience and subject-specific vocabulary
• Impeccable behaviour, excellent attendance, punctuality and calm study spaces
• Very effective careers education and university application support
• Strong personal development curriculum and wide range of enrichment opportunities
• High needs students make rapid progress, gain independence and move to positive destinations
• Inclusive classrooms with helpful adaptations, including for wheelchair users and hearing-impaired students
• Students with high needs report no bullying or harassment and know how to report concerns

Areas for Improvement

• In a small number of A-level subjects, students do not make as extensive progress as in their other subjects
• Work-related learning programme requires further strengthening so all students benefit from high-quality work experience
• Leaders should ensure the education provided has a transformational impact on the learning and achievement of all students

In 2021–22 New College Doncaster received £4,964 and spent £4,953 for each of its 1,245 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,090,000 (£1,679 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of New Collaborative Learning Trust, income was £5,451 and spending £5,549 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

New College Doncaster is part of New Collaborative Learning Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Dinnington High School Sheffield
• Anston Greenlands Primary School Sheffield
• Wingfield Academy Rotherham
• Redscope Primary School Rotherham
• Brinsworth Academy Rotherham
• Thorpe Hesley Primary School Rotherham
• New College Pontefract Pontefract
• New College Bradford Bradford

What is New College Doncaster's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for New College Doncaster is Strong standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was New College Doncaster last inspected by Ofsted?

New College Doncaster was last inspected in June 2026.

What age range does New College Doncaster cover?

New College Doncaster for pupils aged 16 to 19.

Where is New College Doncaster?

New College Doncaster is at Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN9 3HG.