Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Doncaster for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 33 of its 217 pupils (15.2%) were getting SEN support and 10 (4.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 217 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Doncaster.
15.2% get SEN support
33 of 217 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.6% have an EHC plan
10 of 217 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication19
- Social, emotional and mental health11
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia9
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 217 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Mary Shelton
- Part of
- St Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 20.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Doncaster
- School reference (URN)
- 144469
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Doncaster council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, January 2020; standards maintained (February 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2020.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, February 2025).
Contact and getting there
Mere Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, DN3 2DB
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Outwood Academy Danum Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Heatherwood School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.1 miles
- Bader Academy Special school · Ages 5–19 1.2 miles
- Plover Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Armthorpe Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 14.4%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.1 miles
- Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16%, EHC plans 3% 0.2 miles
- Tranmoor Primary Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 20.4%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Doncaster SEND schools in Doncaster
Questions about Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy
How many pupils at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 33 of the 217 pupils (15.2%) were getting SEN support and 10 (4.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (19 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (11 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (9 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Through Doncaster council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
You can ask for Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Outwood Academy Danum, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Mere Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, DN3 2DB, in Doncaster.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.