Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy, Doncaster
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Doncaster. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 32nd-highest of the 96 schools in Doncaster with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Doncaster (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 77% in Doncaster and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 87% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy
For September 2026 entry, 54 families put Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy as their first choice and 88 named it as one of their preferences, for 55 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy are Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 89% reading, 93% maths); Edenthorpe Hall Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 66% reading, 69% maths); Southfield Primary (0.8 miles, Good, 100% reading, 97% maths); and Tranmoor Primary (0.8 miles, Good, 69% reading, 68% maths).
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary AcademyEdenthorpe Hall Primary AcademySouthfield PrimaryTranmoor Primary
What parents say
56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy (as of September 2025): 77% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 74 pupils (16%) received SEN support and 14 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Kirk Sandall Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elm Road/Mere Lane (adjacent), 210 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy issued 6 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy are Armthorpe Academy (0.2 miles), Hungerhill School (0.8 miles) and Outwood Academy Danum (1.1 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from April 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school has clear academic ambitions and a strong focus on reading, ensuring pupils develop confidence and fluency. Pupils benefit from a values-driven behaviour approach and rich opportunities including residential trips, sports clubs, and music lessons. Early years provides a nurturing foundation with carefully designed activities that build meaningful connections to future learning.
Key Strengths
- Strong emphasis on reading with regular staff training and well-matched books for pupils
- Well-sequenced curriculum with clear identification of important knowledge pupils need to learn
- Early identification and effective support for pupils with SEND, enabling them to access the same curriculum as peers
- Positive early years foundation with structured learning activities that build understanding across different areas
- Clear commitment to pupils' broader development including healthy relationships and online safety
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment processes for checking what pupils have learned are not fully developed across all foundation subjects, meaning teachers cannot precisely identify and address gaps in knowledge
- Some behaviour strategies used in lessons are not effectively supporting pupil engagement and learning
- Teaching strategies used in some lessons are not effectively helping all pupils understand new concepts
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with pupils understanding how to keep themselves safe online and knowing what to do if they have concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Football, basketball, rounders, woodwind and brass instruments, school council, eco-team, residential outdoor activity centre trips, theatre performances
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy has maintained the standards identified at its previous inspection. Pupils are safe, enjoy attending the school, and demonstrate positive behaviour supported by a values-driven approach.
At a Glance
21.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
56 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 70% to 86% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.3
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
14
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy
Before and after school care
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Doncaster
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy.
- Clair's Caterpillars330m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy is in Doncaster; for families living there:
Apply to Doncaster for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Doncaster is 10 (the median across 143 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy
Will you get a place at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Doncaster, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Doncaster got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
399 pupils
420 places
21 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Doncaster
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Doncaster
Across Doncaster council
Places available
4,235
Applications
3,089
Got 1st preference
96.5%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across Doncaster council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
74
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
19.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
462
Total Pupils
248
Boys
214
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
25.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£41,926
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,235
Per pupil
£2298k
Total funding
£141k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.1%
Overall absence
5.2%
Persistent absence
349
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy
Questions parents ask about Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy
What are SATs results like at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
Of the pupils at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy's Ofsted rating?
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy is oversubscribed, Doncaster allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
Classes at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy average 29.3 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy has around 462 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
4.1% of sessions were missed at Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy in 2024/25. 5.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
Apply through Doncaster's coordinated admissions process, naming Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy: Clair's Caterpillars (330m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Doncaster is 10 (the median across 143 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy?
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy is at Mere Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 2DG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)