Academy converter · Doncaster

The McAuley Catholic High School

11–18Ages
1,431Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
140865URN

Cantley Lane, Cantley, Doncaster, DN3 3QF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

0.4 above Doncaster median (1.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Doncaster

369 applications for 199 places · 3rd of 17 in Doncaster

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

41.9of 90

Doncaster 46.8 England 46.0

15th of 20 in Doncaster

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 5 December 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.9applications per place, Year 7

0.4 above Doncaster median (1.4) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

369 applications · 199 places offered · 168 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.9; Doncaster median median 1.4
2025 2.1; Doncaster median median 1.4
2024 1.5; Doncaster median median 1.3
2023 1.4; Doncaster median median 1.2
2022 1.3; Doncaster median median 1.3
2021 1.3; Doncaster median median 1.2
2020 1.5; Doncaster median median 1.2
2019 1.4; Doncaster median median 1.3
2018 1.5; Doncaster median median 1.3
2017 1.6; Doncaster median median 1.3
2016 1.7; Doncaster median median 1.4
2015 1.7; Doncaster median median 1.4
2014 1.6; Doncaster median median 1.5; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Doncaster median in 12 of 12 years.

This school
Doncaster median

Dashed bars: as The McAuley Catholic High School (URN 106810), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	199	369	1.9	168	0.84
Sep 2025	179	382	2.1	141	0.79
Sep 2024	166	255	1.5	123	0.74
Sep 2023	178	254	1.4	128	0.72
Sep 2022	228	297	1.3	172	0.75
Sep 2021	204	272	1.3	155	0.76
Sep 2020	232	344	1.5	175	0.75
Sep 2019	237	338	1.4	176	0.74
Sep 2018	278	408	1.5	240	0.86
Sep 2017	278	445	1.6	259	0.93
Sep 2016	278	460	1.7	270	0.97
Sep 2015	277	470	1.7	276	1.00
Sep 2014 *	275	442	1.6	270	0.98

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

234 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)41.915th of 20 in Doncaster

Doncaster 46.8 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths36%18th of 20 in Doncaster

Doncaster 49% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths56%

Doncaster 67% England 66%

This school
Doncaster median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.06

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	234	41.9	36%	56%	–
2024/25	231	42.5	35%	55%	–
2023/24	230	45.6	40%	64%	−0.06
2022/23	269	44.9	40%	66%	−0.03

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The McAuley Catholic High SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.9applications per place 41.9Attainment 8
The Hayfield School
3.0 km · Doncaster

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 53.3Attainment 8
Outwood Academy Danum
3.3 km · Doncaster

Good2024

1.5applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
Armthorpe Academy
3.5 km · Doncaster

Requires improvement2024

1.3applications per place 42.6Attainment 8
XP East
3.8 km · Doncaster

Requires improvement2024

6.1applications per place 38.8Attainment 8
XP School
4.0 km · Doncaster

Good2023

8.5applications per place 40.4Attainment 8
Rossington All Saints Academy
4.5 km · Doncaster

Good2022

1.4applications per place 49.8Attainment 8
Hall Cross Academy
4.6 km · Doncaster

Remains Good2023

2.8applications per place 47.6Attainment 8
Hungerhill School
4.9 km · Doncaster

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.2applications per place 52.9Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 140865 · 371/4606
Trust: St Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 1,730 pupils · 1,431 on roll
Free school meals: 30.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 May 2014
Replaced: The McAuley Catholic High School (URN 106810)
Address: Cantley Lane, Cantley, Doncaster, DN3 3QF
Local authority: Doncaster

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources