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#7 in Best Primary Schools in Central Bedfordshire
The Vale Academy | Ofsted Ratings, Reviews, Exam Results & Admission 2026
The Vale Academy
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The Vale Academy
- Primary
- Dunstable LU5 4QP
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Ofsted report
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Based on the inspection date: 17 May 2023
Requires Improvement
| The quality of education | Requires Improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years provision | Requires Improvement |
| Previous inspection grade | Good |
Quick insights from ofsted Powered by AI
This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.
Success of the Curriculum: Leaders have an ambitious vision; curriculum builds and connects knowledge logically over time.
Foundational Skills: Pupils who struggle to learn to read do not always get the support they need to improve.
Areas Needing Improvement: The curriculum is not yet consistently implemented across the school.
Performance in Maths & Reading: In subjects like mathematics, where teachers match work closely to the curriculum, pupils achieve well.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils behave well and understand what bullying is and how to report it.
Support for Falling Behind: Leaders need to check that regular and effective support is put in place for weaker readers.
Support for SEND Pupils: Sometimes, less effective practice for pupils with SEND can go unnoticed.
Managing Bullying and Pupil Safety: Pupils understand what bullying is and how to report it; adults quickly sort out friendship problems.
Promotion of Welfare and Safety: Leaders ensure staff know how to report concerns and respond swiftly.
Parental Involvement: Leaders ensure parents can give feedback through Ofsted Parent View.
Extracurricular Activities: Pupils relish special responsibilities and enjoy opportunities in assemblies and clubs.
Teacher Engagement: Teachers and staff report that their workload is manageable and leaders are supportive.
Impact on Student Progress: Teachers need to improve subject knowledge in some areas for better student progress.
Teaching Staff Challenges: Teachers are still getting to grips with new curriculum content.
Assessment of Teaching Quality: Leaders and trustees need to strengthen teachers’ subject knowledge and check that this happens as intended.
Historical Ofsted reports
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About Us
The Vale Academy is a Primary, Co-Ed school located in Bedfordshire, East of England.
It has 624 students from age 2-11 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 21 : 1.
At this school, 63% of pupils achieved higher standard in reading, writing & maths at key stage 2.
This school rated Requires Improvement by recent Ofsted inspection.
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The Vale Academy
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From the The Vale Academy
We appreciate your desire to join the learning community at The Vale Academy. The staff at our institution works so hard to make learning enjoyable and exciting, and I am extremely proud of them. We function as a very tight-knit team and make every effort to involve parents as much as possible in their children's education. As the Headteacher of The Vale Academy, I consider it an enormous honour. By the time students graduate from The Vale Academy at the end of Year 6, they are mature, self-sufficient young adults, and we are really proud of them. At The Vale Academy, we want every student to achieve their full potential by offering a wide and balanced education in a fun, engaging, and healthy atmosphere. To guarantee the best results for every child, our excellent teachers, learning support assistants, administrative staff, and site managers collaborate. When you come to the academy, you will personally experience the genuine warmth and friendliness of the employees. Our Governing Body is crucial to the growth and accomplishment of the academy. Children are members of four distinct communities: excellence, learning, achievement, and valour. The communities participate in a variety of athletic and non-sporting events to compete for House points. Children appreciate the competitive aspect of playing on a house team and feel a great sense of camaraderie.
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Compare with similar schools
| Phase of Education | Primary | Primary | Primary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Academies | Academies | Academies |
| Snobe grade |
B-
|
B-
|
C
|
| Ofset report | Requires Improvement | Good | - |
| Age range | 2-11 | 4-11 | 2-11 |
| Gender | Co-Ed | Co-Ed | Co-Ed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student teacher ratio | 21 | 20.6 | 36.5 |
| Proficient Math | 106 | 104 | 107 |
| Proficient Read | 104 | 106 | 109 |
| Grade 5 or above GCSE | - | - | - |
| Grade 5 or above A Level | - | - | - |
| Day Fees | - | - | - |
Primary Exam Result
View the average scaled scores of pupils in the key stage 2 reading and math tests. Scores of 100 or more indicate the expected standard, while 110 or more indicate a higher standard.
| Average scaled score | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 106 | 93 | 97 |
| Reading | 104 | 96 | 98 |
Explore how well our pupils are doing academically. Discover the percentage of pupils who reach the expected level (with a score of 100 or more) and those who excel even further (achieving a score of 110 or more).
| Reading, writing and maths | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 63% | 44.98% | 55.92% |
| Pupils achieving at a higher standard | 3% | 3.93% | 7.4% |
Explore how much progress pupils have made in reading, writing, and math from key stage 1 to key stage 2.
| Subject | Progress score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 0.2 | Average |
| Writing | 0.7 | Average |
| Maths | 2.6 | Above Average |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic 2020, 2021 and 2022 Primary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic 2020, 2021 and 2022 Primary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic 2020, 2021 and 2022 Primary school exam
results were not published at school level.
View the average scaled scores of pupils in the key stage 2 reading and math tests. Scores of 100 or more indicate the expected standard, while 110 or more indicate a higher standard.
| Average scaled score | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 107 1 | 96 | 96 |
| Reading | 107 | 96 | 95 |
Explore how well our pupils are doing academically. Discover the percentage of pupils who reach the expected level (with a score of 100 or more) and those who excel even further (achieving a score of 110 or more).
| Reading, writing and maths | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 80% 1 | 56.36% | 60.39% |
| Pupils achieving at a higher standard | 14% 7 | 6.9% | 9.69% |
Explore how much progress pupils have made in reading, writing, and math from key stage 1 to key stage 2.
| Subject | Progress score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 2.7 | Above Average |
| Writing | 1.9 | Above Average |
| Maths | 2.4 | Above Average |
View the average scaled scores of pupils in the key stage 2 reading and math tests. Scores of 100 or more indicate the expected standard, while 110 or more indicate a higher standard.
| Average scaled score | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 108 6 | 85 | 94 |
| Reading | 107 5 | 85 | 95 |
Explore how well our pupils are doing academically. Discover the percentage of pupils who reach the expected level (with a score of 100 or more) and those who excel even further (achieving a score of 110 or more).
| Reading, writing and maths | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 79% 31 | 51.36% | 59.48% |
| Pupils achieving at a higher standard | 21% 12 | 6.92% | 9.14% |
Explore how much progress pupils have made in reading, writing, and math from key stage 1 to key stage 2.
| Subject | Progress score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 0 | - |
| Writing | -0.2 | Average |
| Maths | 2.2 | Above Average |
View the average scaled scores of pupils in the key stage 2 reading and math tests. Scores of 100 or more indicate the expected standard, while 110 or more indicate a higher standard.
| Average scaled score | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 102 | 81 | 93 |
| Reading | 102 | 81 | 93 |
Explore how well our pupils are doing academically. Discover the percentage of pupils who reach the expected level (with a score of 100 or more) and those who excel even further (achieving a score of 110 or more).
| Reading, writing and maths | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 48% | 44.74% | 56.27% |
| Pupils achieving at a higher standard | 9% | 5.08% | 8.17% |
Explore how much progress pupils have made in reading, writing, and math from key stage 1 to key stage 2.
| Subject | Progress score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | -3.3 | Below Average |
| Writing | 0.8 | Above Average |
| Maths | -3.2 | Below Average |
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The Vale Academy Rankings
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Admission
Holidays & terms
Holidays 2024/25
| Holidays | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term Holidays | 28th Oct 2024 - 1st Nov 2024 |
| Winter Holidays | 23rd Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays | 17th Feb 2025 - 21st Feb 2025 |
| Spring Holidays | 7th Apr 2025 - 21st Apr 2025 |
| Summer Half Term Holidays | 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025 |
| Summer Holidays | 23rd Jul 2025 - 29th Aug 2025 |
Terms Dates 2024/25
| Terms | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 2nd Sep 2024 - 27th Oct 2024 |
| Autumn Term-2 | 2nd Nov 2024 - 22nd Dec 2024 |
| Spring Term | 4th Jan 2025 - 16th Feb 2025 |
| Spring Term-2 | 22nd Feb 2025 - 6th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Term | 22nd Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025 |
| Summer Term-2 | 31st May 2025 - 22nd Jul 2025 |
Students Teachers
21 : 1
Student teacher ratio at The Vale Academy
Local authority ratio 19 : 1
