St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Doncaster

Good
Primary
Voluntary aided school
Mixed
Roman Catholic
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~599m)Possible (~856m)Unlikely (~1.1km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Tom Hoyes
Pupils:243 / 240 capacity
LA:Doncaster
Phone:01302344678
Address:Roberts Road, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 0JN
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 January 1900

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 years ago
-

Overall

Inspected 30 January 2024View full report
URN:106762
UKPRN:10078685
Diocese:Diocese of Hallam
Constituency:Doncaster Central
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The school excels in teaching reading and writing, with most pupils reaching expected standards by the end of Year 6. Pupils with additional needs - including those learning English as an additional language and those from disadvantaged backgrounds - receive strong support and make good progress. The school creates a welcoming, happy environment where pupils behave well and have positive attitudes to learning.

Key Strengths

  • Strong progress in English with effective reading and writing instruction
  • Good behavior and positive attitudes to learning among pupils
  • Effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those learning English as an additional language
  • Improved attendance to average levels
  • Good safeguarding procedures and pupils feel safe and happy

Areas for Improvement

  • Mathematics standards are below average due to inconsistent teaching quality
  • Most able pupils not given sufficiently challenging work
  • Marking does not clearly show pupils how to improve
  • Teachers do not always check pupils understand their learning
  • Subject leaders not involved enough in improving teaching and learning

Safeguarding

The school's work to keep pupils safe and secure is good, with pupils reporting they feel safe and happy at school.

Extracurricular Activities

Football coaching, physical education events

St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School requires improvement overall. While the school has made good progress in English and successfully tackled inadequate teaching, standards in mathematics remain too low and teaching quality is inconsistent.

At a Glance

19.4%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+24ppMaths+27ppWriting+35pp

Reading has improved from 66% to 90%. Maths has improved from 59% to 86%. Writing has improved from 48% to 83%.

Class Sizes

30.0

Avg class size

30.0

Infant (KS1)

29.3

KS2

6

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Doncaster Rail Station
869m · 14 min walk

Bus Stops

Balby Road/Bainbridge Road (Adj)
121m · 2 min walk
Balby Road/Kelham Street (nr)
128m · 2 min walk
Mansfield Road/Littlemoor Lane (adj)
144m · 2 min walk
Cleveland Street/Burden Close (opp)
197m · 3 min walk
St James Street/Burnden Close (adj)
298m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

101%

Over capacity

243 pupils

240 capacity

3 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Doncaster

Low pressure
New homes approved:8,300
Projected new pupils:2,075

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Doncaster

Admissions Demand - Doncaster

Low demand0.73x oversubscription

Places available

4,207

Applications

3,084

Got 1st preference

97.1%

Got preferred school

98.8%

Primary admissions across Doncaster (2025/26)

Inspection History(10)

30 January 2024
11 December 2018
Leadership & ManagementGood
17 July 2018

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

3.63405%

Overall absence

4.8913%

Persistent absence

184

Enrolments

Authorised2.78037%
Unauthorised0.85367%
Persistent (10%+)4.8913%
Severe (50%+)0.54348%

Absence trend

3.87971%
18/19
2.63731%
20/21
4.94564%
21/22
4.21354%
22/23
3.30073%
23/24
3.63405%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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