Sir Thomas Wharton Academy, Doncaster

Ofsted's report card from its 17 March 2026 inspection grades Sir Thomas Wharton Academy on 7 areas: 1 exceptional, 4 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Exceptional. "Pupils access a meticulously planned personal development programme throughout key stages 3, 4 and 5."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Attendance has a high priority at the school."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Pupils access an ambitious and well-planned curriculum."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Inclusion is the golden thread that runs through the school."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "School leaders and those responsible for governance have a detailed and insightful understanding of the schools' strengths and areas for development."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' achievement has improved over time."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have devised an appropriate 16 to 19 study programme."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the post-16 curriculum is consistently taught well so that students achieve highly in all subjects"; "Leaders should continue their work to ensure that pupils achieve highly in national tests and examinations".

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 5pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.8 in Doncaster and 47 across England.

61% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Doncaster and 47% in England.

That is up from 43.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.07: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 41.5, against 53.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and History.

For September 2026 entry, 246 families put Sir Thomas Wharton Academy as their first choice and 350 named it as one of their preferences, for 257 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Sir Thomas Wharton Academy are De Warenne Academy (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.8); Astrea Academy Woodfields (2.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.2); Maltby Academy (3.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.8); and XP School (3.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.4).

Sir Thomas Wharton Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Sir Thomas Wharton Academy is one of 12 schools run by Place Partnership - A Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

181 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sir Thomas Wharton Academy (as of April 2026): 89% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 56% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (56%).

Of the 188 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 34% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 56 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 38% went on to university or other higher education, 21% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 8% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

10.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 196 pupils (16%) received SEN support and 25 (2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Conisbrough Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tait Avenue/Top View Crescent (at), 210 metres away.

In 2024/25, Sir Thomas Wharton Academy issued 325 suspensions, 27.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Sir Thomas Wharton Academy are Hill Top Academy (0.5 miles); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Edlington (0.7 miles); Edlington Victoria Academy (1 mile); and Warmsworth Primary School (1.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.