DN Colleges Group, Doncaster
DN Colleges Group is a post-16 school for pupils aged 16 to 99 in Doncaster. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
DN Colleges Group in detail
DN Colleges Group in its own words
In its own words: "At DN Colleges Group, we are working towards a common goal: to transform our communities through learning.This vision reflects our belief in our students and in our ability to transform their lives so positively. Our students are at the heart of everything we do."
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 17 November 2026, an open day on Wednesday 2 December 2026 and an open day on Tuesday 5 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Doncaster
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 2195 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 10% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 37% into work. 1% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Doncaster Rail Station, about 760 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Greyfriars Road/Church Street, 230 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood DN Colleges Group stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 776 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Doncaster (131), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Contribution to meeting skills needs: Reasonable
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
DN Colleges Group provides excellent facilities that replicate real working environments, allowing students to learn in realistic settings. Experienced tutors deliver engaging lessons with strong curriculum design that builds knowledge progressively. The college excels at supporting student wellbeing with dedicated coaches, counsellors and a wide range of enrichment activities including Duke of Edinburgh's Award and workplace experiences.
Key Strengths
- Well-qualified tutors plan curriculum effectively with good progression of knowledge and skills over time
- Learners benefit from strong pastoral support including well-being coaches, counsellors and behavioural specialists
- Excellent facilities including simulated clinical settings, VR immersive classrooms and realistic work environments
- High-quality personal development programme with Duke of Edinburgh's Award, guest speakers and enrichment activities
- Good achievement rates for apprentices with increasing numbers gaining merit and distinction grades
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching in specialist provision for learners with high needs is inconsistent and lacks appropriate challenge
- Attendance is too low in some subjects including English and mathematics
- Tutors do not consistently help learners with high needs develop skills and behaviours identified in their education, health and care plans
- Leaders have not fully engaged with all stakeholders to understand changing skills needs across all their provision areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the college providing comprehensive pastoral support including well-being coaches, on-site counsellors and behavioural specialists to keep learners safe and supported.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award, guest speakers including 'Prison! Me! No Way!', Reyt Proud Pride events, World Skills competitions, site visits, work placements, supported internships, sector-based work academies
DN Colleges Group is a further education college group with two main sites in Doncaster and Scunthorpe, plus a specialist engineering centre in Hull, serving over 4,500 young people, 1,776 apprentices, and 2,345 adult learners across a broad range of vocational and specialist programmes.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
c
Average grade
z
Best 3 A-Levels
z
Value added
1
A-Level students
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 2,195 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
1%
Top-third university
24%
Degree course
30%
Any L4+ destination
0%
Apprenticeships
Based on 816 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Social & online
Keep up with DN Colleges Group
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 79
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 19
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 79 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 19 serious and 59 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 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
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(12)
Questions parents ask about DN Colleges Group
What is DN Colleges Group's Ofsted rating?
DN Colleges Group was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025.
What is the catchment area for DN Colleges Group?
No fixed boundary. When DN Colleges Group is oversubscribed, Doncaster allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to DN Colleges Group?
Apply through Doncaster's coordinated admissions process, naming DN Colleges Group 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 DN Colleges Group?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 79 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 19 serious and 59 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 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 DN Colleges Group?
DN Colleges Group is at Chappell Drive, Doncaster, DN1 2RF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)