There are fives categories of schools in doncaster:

Community Schools are maintained by the Local Authority. We set the admissions policy and allocate places in accordance with various criteria.

Aided schools are also denominational (Church of England or Roman Catholic). However admission to these schools is controlled by the Governing Body and not the Local Authority.

Special Schools are maintained by the Local Authority. Admission to these schools is determined by a Statement of Special Educational Needs. New Special Schools were opened on 1st September 2008.

Foundation Schools are funded directly by the Department for Education and Skills and admission to these schools is controlled by the Governing Body and not the Local Authority. Schools are organised in a pyramid system and serve areas of the Borough, normally referred to as a 'catchment area'.

Academies: There are three Academies in Doncaster, Trinity Academy in Thorne, De Warenne Academy in Conisbrough and Outwood Academy in Adwick. The Board of Directors/Governing Body sets and applies the Admission criteria.

No school maintained by the Local Authority admits children on the basis of selection by ability or aptitude. The Local Authority has no arrangements for admitting children to non-maintained or private schools other than children with special educational needs.