Highwoods Academy, Mexborough

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Highwoods Academy on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a sequenced, rigorous and detailed curriculum."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Highwoods is a very inclusive school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Personal development and wellbeing are key strengths of the school."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well and are generally prepared for the next stage in their education."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Although it does not yet meet leaders' high expectations, attendance is an improving picture at Highwoods Academy."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children settle very quickly and happily into the school day, ready to learn."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the strengths and priority areas for the school and its local context."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further develop their strategic oversight of all aspects of the school's work, leading to consistent precision in identifying school priorities and ensuring continued rapid improvements"; "Leaders should sustain improvements in attendance for all groups, by continuing to embed the approaches already in place, acting promptly where concerns arise".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Highwoods Academy is a successful, popular and thriving primary school on the outskirts of Mexborough. If you are already a member of our school community, we hope the site enables you to access all the information you need and also to share in recognising and celebrating our achievements."

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Highwoods Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 77% in Doncaster and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 76% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Highwoods Academy as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Highwoods Academy are Montagu Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 84% reading, 84% maths); Mexborough St John the Baptist CofE Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 72% reading, 59% maths); Swinton Queen Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 74% reading, 63% maths); and Brookfield Primary Academy (1.2 miles, Good, 84% reading, 80% maths).

Highwoods Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Highwoods Academy is one of 5 schools run by Empowering Minds Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

47.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 12.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 31 pupils (15.7%) received SEN support and 3 (1.5%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Mexborough Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highwoods Road/Old Farm Court (adjacent), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Highwoods Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Highwoods Academy issued 34 suspensions, 16.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Highwoods Academy are The Laurel Academy (0.3 miles), Swinton Academy (1.4 miles), Saint Pius X Catholic High School A Specialist School in Humanities (1.6 miles) and Wath Academy (1.6 miles).