Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy, Doncaster
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Doncaster, part of St Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 96 schools in Doncaster with published results, and 1,291st of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy in detail
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Hello and welcome. I am very proud to be Headteacher at Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lady's Catholic Primary School is a happy place to be! It is a vibrant Catholic School where each child is valued and encouraged to be a committed member of our Christian community."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £4.25 per session.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 77% in Doncaster and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 69% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 51 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 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 Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy are Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 84% reading, 80% maths); Southfield Primary (0.6 miles, Good, 100% reading, 97% maths); Tranmoor Primary (0.7 miles, Good, 69% reading, 68% maths); and Edenthorpe Hall Primary Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 66% reading, 69% maths).
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Armthorpe Shaw Wood AcademySouthfield PrimaryTranmoor PrimaryEdenthorpe Hall Primary Academy
The trust
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy is one of 15 schools run by St Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 58% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
35 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).
Who goes there
29.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%), Black (11%) and Asian (6%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Kirk Sandall Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mere Lane/Glebe Farm Close (adjacent), 130 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy issued 53 suspensions, 24.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy are Armthorpe Academy (0.2 miles), Outwood Academy Danum (0.9 miles) and Hungerhill School (1 mile).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school creates a caring environment where children thrive academically and personally. Staff excel at teaching reading using phonics, and the curriculum is thoughtfully planned to build understanding step-by-step. The school goes beyond the classroom with community visits, outdoor learning, and enrichment activities that help pupils develop responsibility and confidence in themselves.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics teaching with well-trained staff and consistent delivery, helping pupils become confident readers
- Carefully sequenced, purposeful curriculum with good subject knowledge from staff and regular checks on pupil understanding
- Early years provision supports children's development well with effective questioning and interesting activities
- Pupils with SEND are identified quickly and supported with precision to access the curriculum
- Wide range of extra-curricular activities and community experiences that support learning and develop pupil responsibility
Areas for Improvement
- In some foundation subjects, activities are not always closely matched to pupils' next steps in learning, meaning some pupils could be learning more
- More precision needed in tailoring work to individual pupil needs across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff and leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Sport clubs, music clubs, choir performances, outdoor learning activities, eco-ambassadors, art ambassadors, community visits to local heritage sites, fundraising for local charities
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. The school has high ambitions for pupils, who are safe, well-behaved, and enjoy coming to school.
At a Glance
20.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
35 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 improved from 69% to 89% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 69% to 93% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.3
Avg class size
28.7
Infant (KS1)
32.0
KS2
6
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy.
- Clair's CaterpillarsAt the school · Not yet graded
- Activ8 @ Southfield Primary School970m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary 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
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 6 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
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
Your chances of a place at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy
Will you get a place at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Doncaster, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy for 2017 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
101%
Over capacity
213 pupils
210 places
3 pupils over capacity 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(3)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
33
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
19.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
217
Total Pupils
108
Boys
109
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
16.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,973
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,430
Per pupil
£1280k
Total funding
£62k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
10.2%
Persistent absence
186
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
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy
Questions parents ask about Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy
What are SATs results like at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Of the pupils at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 89% reached the expected standard in reading and 93% did so in maths.
What is Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary 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 Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Classes at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy average 30.3 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy has around 217 pupils on roll. 20% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy in 2024/25. 10.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Apply through Doncaster's coordinated admissions process, naming Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary 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 Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Clair's Caterpillars (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 6 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 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 Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy is at Mere Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN3 2DB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)