Bader Academy, Doncaster
Bader Academy is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Doncaster, part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2023)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Bader Academy in detail
Bader Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Bader Academy caters for 100 children and young people with a primary need of Communication and Interaction difficulties aged 5-16. Pupils within our community, primarily have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and associated Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs, working at or around Age Related Expectations."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Bader Academy, which is part of Nexus Multi-Academy Trust. Bader Academy is a school for children and young people aged 5-16 with a primary special educational need of Communication and Interaction Difficulties. We are committed to ensuring high expectations and aspirations for our young people."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Bader Academy are Heatherwood School (1.4 miles, Outstanding); Doncaster School for Deaf Children (2.6 miles, Good); Yorkshire Rose College (2.6 miles, Good); and Coppice School (3.3 miles).
Heatherwood SchoolDoncaster School for Deaf ChildrenYorkshire Rose CollegeCoppice School
The trust
Bader Academy is one of 23 schools run by Nexus Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
29 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bader Academy (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 46% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (46%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 20% to a further education college.
Who goes there
48.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Bader Academy has an education, health and care plan (130 of 131 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Kirk Sandall Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Doncaster Road/Sandall Stones Road, 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bader Academy issued 38 suspensions, 31.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Bader Academy creates a caring environment where pupils thrive. Staff know pupils well and provide skilled support that helps them manage emotions and build confidence. The school has particularly strong reading provision and offers a broad curriculum that prepares pupils well for life beyond school with relevant qualifications and career guidance.
Key Strengths
- Strong relationships between staff and pupils that help them feel safe and supported
- Excellent early reading provision with well-trained staff who quickly identify and address gaps in learning
- Carefully designed curriculum with clear knowledge and skills progression in established subjects
- Clear routines and calm, orderly environment that supports pupil learning
- Well-adapted teaching that meets individual pupil needs, including those with SEND
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects are at an earlier stage of development where knowledge and skills are not as clearly defined
- Need to further develop curriculum across all subjects to ensure consistent clarity of learning objectives
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong processes in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Nurture Breakfast, Pupil Parliament, lunchtime clubs, weekly library visits, community engagement activities, careers learning
Bader Academy is a special school for pupils aged 5-19, primarily with autism and associated social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has improved significantly and now provides good quality education with strong relationships between staff and pupils.
At a Glance
48.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
29 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 10% to 25% (2024 to 2025), while maths has remained stable at around 13% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Bader Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bader Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bader 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
131%
Over capacity
131 pupils
100 places
31 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Doncaster
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Doncaster
Across Doncaster council
Places available
3,913
Applications
3,506
Got 1st preference
89.9%
Got preferred school
97.4%
All secondary applications across Doncaster council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
130
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
131
Total Pupils
110
Boys
21
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
6.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,919
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.3%
Overall absence
38.8%
Persistent absence
121
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Bader Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Bader Academy
What are GCSE results like at Bader Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Bader Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 11.1. 6% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Bader Academy's Ofsted rating?
Bader Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Bader Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Bader Academy is oversubscribed, Doncaster allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Bader Academy?
Bader Academy has around 131 pupils on roll. 49% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bader Academy?
15.3% of sessions were missed at Bader Academy in 2024/25. 38.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bader Academy?
Apply through Doncaster's coordinated admissions process, naming Bader Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Bader Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Bader Academy?
Bader Academy is at Chappell Avenue, Edenthorpe, Doncaster, DN3 2EW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)