Heatherwood School
Heatherwood School is an academy special converter in Doncaster for pupils aged 3 to 19. It has 99 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Heatherwood School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2016 of its predecessor, Heatherwood School.
Ofsted inspection: August 2024.
| Type | Special School / Academy special converter |
| Age Range | 3-19 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Leger Way Doncaster South Yorkshire DN2 6HQ |
| Phone | 01302322044 |
| Reference Number | 147515 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 99 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 52.53%
Girls: 47.47% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 47.5% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 19.2% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Unknown | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 12 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 13 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 75.8% |
| White, Other | 10.1% |
| African | 5.1% |
| Pakistani | 2% |
| Asian, Other | 2% |
| White & Asian | 1% |
| Unclassified | 1% |
| Caribbean | 1% |
This school has not been graded since it changed URN, usually on converting to an academy. The rating shown is from its predecessor, Heatherwood School, inspected in December 2016.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 18 Jun 2024 – no overall grade published for this inspection |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 18 Jun 2024 | School inspection |
| 06 Nov 2019 | Academy conversion letter |
| 07 Dec 2016 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as Heatherwood School | |
| 09 Jan 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 19 May 2010 | Full inspection: |
Destinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Further Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > School Sixth Form | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Sixth Form College | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Other Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Apprenticeships | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Not in education or employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Unknown | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
In 2024–25 pupils at Heatherwood School attended 75.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 65.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 24.6% | 36.0% | 24.3% | 21.8% | 21.4% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.8% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 4.1% | 2.7% |
| Severely absent pupils | 14.9% | 24.4% | 15.2% | 18.5% | 13.8% |
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 Heatherwood School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 Heatherwood School had 8.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 7.8 | 7.7 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 11.1% | 0.0% | 11.9% | 0.0% | 29.4% | 17.0% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | – | 70.0% | 55.6% | 42.9% | 58.3% | 53.8% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | – | 15.3 | 5.4 | 9.9 | 4.3 | 6.4 | – |
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 Heatherwood School had 99 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Profound and multiple learning difficulty | 34 |
| Physical disability | 26 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 13 |
| Severe learning difficulty | 12 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 5 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 5 |
| Other difficulty or disability | 1 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 1 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 1 |
| Vision impairment | 1 |
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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
In 2024–25 Heatherwood School received £34,900 and spent £29,103 for each of its 94 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £437,000 (£4,672 per pupil).
Across all 18 schools of Nexus Multi Academy Trust, income was £26,093 and spending £25,319 per pupil.
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £392,000 | £393,000 | £412,000 | £483,000 | £437,000 |
| per pupil | £5,130 | £5,206 | £5,148 | £5,965 | £4,672 |
| In-year balance | £12,000 | £251,000 | £155,000 | £264,000 | £542,000 |
| per pupil | £156 | £3,325 | £1,938 | £3,263 | £5,797 |
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.
| Name | Distance |
|
Plover Primary School
Coniston Road, Intake, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 6JL |
0.38 miles |
|
Sandringham Primary School
Sandringham Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 5LS |
0.48 miles |
|
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School
Sandringham Road, Intake, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 5JG |
0.58 miles |
|
Intake Primary Academy
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0.79 miles |
|
Kingfisher Primary Academy
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|
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy
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0.98 miles |
|
Park Primary School
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1.05 miles |
|
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy
Mere Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 2DG |
1.19 miles |
|
Southfield Primary
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1.22 miles |
|
Tranmoor Primary
Tranmoor Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 3DB |
1.43 miles |
|
Hawthorn Primary School
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1.46 miles |
|
Town Field Primary School
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1.54 miles |
|
Edenthorpe Hall Primary Academy
The Drive, Edenthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 2LS |
1.65 miles |
|
St Peter's Catholic Primary School
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1.66 miles |
|
Bessacarr Primary
Ellers Avenue, Bessacarr, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 7DT |
1.7 miles |
|
Lakeside Primary Academy
Sandy Lane, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 5ES |
1.72 miles |
|
Canon Popham CofE Primary Academy
Church Balk, Edenthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 2PP |
1.74 miles |
|
Kirk Sandall Infant School
Queen Mary Crescent, Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 1JT |
1.97 miles |
|
Kirk Sandall Junior School
Magnolia Close, Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 1JG |
1.97 miles |
|
Arksey Primary School
Ings Way, Arksey, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN5 0TE |
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| Name | Distance |
|
Outwood Academy Danum
Armthorpe Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 5QD |
0.13 miles |
|
Hospital Teaching Service
Level 1 the Children's Hospital, Doncaster, DN2 5LT |
0.99 miles |
|
Armthorpe Academy
Mere Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 2DA |
1.17 miles |
|
Doncaster School for Deaf Children
Leger Way, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 6AY |
1.32 miles |
|
Hungerhill School
Hungerhill Lane, Edenthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 2JY |
1.37 miles |
|
Bader Academy
Chappell Avenue, Edenthorpe, Doncaster, DN3 2EW |
1.44 miles |
|
Hall Cross Academy
Thorne Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN1 2HY |
1.75 miles |
|
XP East
Middle Bank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 5NG |
1.92 miles |
|
DN Colleges Group
Chappell Drive, Doncaster, DN1 2RF |
1.99 miles |
|
The McAuley Catholic High School
Cantley Lane, Cantley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 3QF |
1.99 miles |
|
XP School
Middle Bank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 5NG |
2 miles |
|
Doncaster UTC
College Road, Doncaster, DN1 3BF |
2.14 miles |
|
Waterside School
Eco Power Stadium (East Stand), Stadium Way, Doncaster, DN4 5JW |
2.14 miles |
|
Harrison College
Barclay Court, Doncaster, DN4 5HZ |
2.41 miles |
|
Astrea Academy Woodfields
Weston Road, Doncaster, DN4 8ND |
3.25 miles |
|
More Than Ed Independent School
Cherry Tree Court, Cherry Tree Way Woodfield Park, Balby, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 8QN |
3.61 miles |
|
Journey Education Group
Oak Tree Lodge, Tickhill Road, Balby, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 8QN |
3.61 miles |
|
Don Valley Academy
Jossey Lane, Scawthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN5 9DD |
3.68 miles |
|
New College Doncaster
Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN9 3HG |
3.75 miles |
|
The Hayfield School
Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN9 3HG |
3.75 miles |
All schools in Doncaster · Doncaster local authority: places and applications
Heatherwood School is part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust, which runs 22 schools. The nearest others:
- Bader Academy Doncaster
- Coppice School Doncaster
- North Ridge Community School Doncaster
- Pennine View School Doncaster
- Crags Community School Rotherham
- Hilltop School Rotherham
- The Willows School Rotherham
- Kelford School Rotherham
- Abbey School Rotherham
- West Riding Academy Barnsley
What is Heatherwood School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Heatherwood School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2016 of its predecessor, Heatherwood School.
When was Heatherwood School last inspected by Ofsted?
Heatherwood School was last inspected in August 2024.
How many pupils does Heatherwood School have?
Heatherwood School has 99 pupils on roll.
What age range does Heatherwood School cover?
Heatherwood School for pupils aged 3 to 19.
Where is Heatherwood School?
Heatherwood School is at Leger Way, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 6HQ.