Ivel Valley School & College, Biggleswade
Ivel Valley School & College is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Biggleswade. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ivel Valley School & College in detail
Ivel Valley School & College in its own words
In its own words: "Ivel Valley School is a thriving learning community where pupils are happy and engaged. The community extends far beyond the school grounds. We have very strong links with families, the areas which we serve and colleagues from other services."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am proud to lead this thriving and growing learning community, that provides a high standard of education for children, young people and young adults from across Central Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. We are an innovative and inclusive school, where the pupils are at the heart of everything we do."
The school runs after-school care until 5:30pm.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 20 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 5% to a further education college.
Who goes there
42.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Ivel Valley School & College has an education, health and care plan (261 of 261 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Ivel Valley School & College provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Biggleswade Rail Station, about 890 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sutton Avenue (adjacent), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 123 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Central Bedfordshire (47), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ivel Valley School & College issued 5 suspensions, 1.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from September 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
42.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +9
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Social & online
Keep up with Ivel Valley School & College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ivel Valley School & College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ivel Valley School & College is in Central Bedfordshire; for families living there:
- Central Bedfordshire's school travel policy: Apply for school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Central Bedfordshire is 6 (the median across 135 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
261 pupils
264 places
3 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Biggleswade
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Biggleswade
Across Central Bedfordshire council
Places available
1,710
Applications
1,502
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
95.9%
All secondary applications across Central Bedfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
261
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Ivel Valley School & College provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
261
Total Pupils
181
Boys
80
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
100
Teachers
2.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,294
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.3%
Overall absence
25.8%
Persistent absence
213
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Ivel Valley School & College
Questions parents ask about Ivel Valley School & College
What are SATs results like at Ivel Valley School & College?
Of the pupils at Ivel Valley School & College who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Ivel Valley School & College's Ofsted rating?
Ivel Valley School & College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Ivel Valley School & College?
No fixed boundary. When Ivel Valley School & College is oversubscribed, Central Bedfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Ivel Valley School & College?
Ivel Valley School & College has around 261 pupils on roll. 43% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Ivel Valley School & College have specialist SEN provision?
Ivel Valley School & College provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Ivel Valley School & College?
10.3% of sessions were missed at Ivel Valley School & College in 2024/25. 25.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ivel Valley School & College?
Apply through Central Bedfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Ivel Valley School & College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Ivel Valley School & College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Central Bedfordshire is 6 (the median across 135 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ivel Valley School & College?
Ivel Valley School & College is at Hitchmead Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 0NL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)