Waverley Academy

Waverley Academy is a calm, welcoming primary school where pupils behave very well and attend regularly. Inspectors found strong provision in behaviour and attendance, early years and inclusion, with safeguarding standards met. Children get off to a very positive start in Nursery and Reception, vulnerable pupils are known well and supported precisely, and disadvantaged pupils achieve particularly well at the expected standard. Reading is a notable strength, and early reading and phonics are taught effectively. Achievement overall is sound rather than exceptional. Most pupils reach the expected standard, but too few attain greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics. A small minority of older pupils are not fluent writers and have gaps in handwriting, spelling and grammar, and interventions for these pupils are not precise enough. Pupils who grasp ideas quickly are not always moved on to more demanding work at pace. Some pupils also have insecure or limited knowledge in parts of personal development, including religious and cultural understanding and online risks. The school is part of Astrea Academy Trust and serves a community with above-average deprivation and a well-above-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals. Leadership is clear and supportive, staff value coaching and wellbeing support, and governance and trust support are effective. The principal took up post in September 2026. The main priorities are to sharpen support for writing gaps, ensure rapid learners are consistently stretched, and strengthen pupils' understanding of online safety.

Strengths

• Calm and orderly environment with consistently strong pupil behaviour and very low suspensions
• High and sustained attendance, including for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND
• Strong early years provision with skilled adult interaction, language development and early phonics
• Inclusion is central, with precise identification and thoughtful support for vulnerable pupils
• Disadvantaged pupils achieve particularly well at the expected standard
• Reading is a particular strength, and early reading is taught effectively
• Well-structured curriculum and consistent teaching routines across classrooms
• Leaders are visible, supportive and provide effective coaching and professional development
• Governance and trust support provide useful challenge and capacity
• Pupils are confident, respectful and proud of their school, with good access to wider opportunities

Areas for Improvement

• Too few pupils attain greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics
• A small minority of older pupils lack fluency in handwriting, spelling and grammar
• Interventions for writing gaps are not sufficiently precise to meet individual needs
• Pupils who understand concepts quickly are not consistently moved on to more demanding learning at pace
• Some pupils' knowledge of religions and cultures is not secure or detailed enough
• Some pupils have a limited understanding of online risks
• The strategy to support pupils' understanding of online safety needs refinement

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 Waverley Academy attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.8% 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 Waverley 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 Waverley Academy had 18.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.0% 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, 14.4% of pupils at Waverley Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.5% 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 Waverley Academy received £7,596 and spent £8,066 for each of its 199 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £70,000 (£350 per pupil).

Across all 26 schools of Astrea Academy Trust, income was £8,290 and spending £8,206 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

Waverley Academy is part of Astrea Academy Trust, which runs 26 schools. The nearest others:

• Hexthorpe Primary School Doncaster
• Astrea Academy Woodfields Doncaster
• Atlas Academy Doncaster
• Castle Academy Doncaster
• Intake Primary Academy Doncaster
• Denaby Main Primary Academy Doncaster
• Kingfisher Primary Academy Doncaster
• Edenthorpe Hall Primary Academy Doncaster
• Astrea Academy Dearne Rotherham
• The Hill Primary Academy Rotherham

What is Waverley Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Waverley Academy is Expected standard, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Waverley Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Waverley Academy was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Waverley Academy have?

Waverley Academy has 201 pupils on roll.

What age range does Waverley Academy cover?

Waverley Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Waverley Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Waverley Academy?

Waverley Academy is at Douglas Road, Doncaster, DN4 0UB.