The Vale Academy, Dunstable
Data last updated 12 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Vale Academy provides an exciting and engaging curriculum where pupils are happy, feel safe and achieve well. Staff build strong relationships with pupils and manage behaviour consistently, creating a calm environment where learning thrives. The school excels at supporting pupils with additional needs and offers extensive trips, clubs and leadership opportunities to help all children develop confidence and explore their interests.
Key Strengths
- Carefully developed, broad and ambitious curriculum that builds pupils' knowledge from early years
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, with precise curriculum adaptations and well-trained staff
- Reading is prioritised with phonics taught from early years and parents guided on how to support at home
- Strong behaviour management with consistent expectations and a calm school environment
- Outstanding personal development programme preparing pupils well for secondary school and beyond
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff lack strong subject knowledge in a minority of subjects, which means pupils do not learn key knowledge as effectively as in other subjects
- The school should ensure all staff have the knowledge required to teach every subject in the curriculum effectively
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Wide-ranging clubs, sporting competitions, extensive trips linked to curriculum subjects, leadership opportunities in well-being, sports and teaching, little city workshops exploring careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Culture Day celebrations
The Vale Academy is a primary school in Dunstable that has made significant improvements since its previous inspection. The school has a broad, ambitious curriculum and strong relationships between staff and pupils, with pupils achieving well and feeling safe.
At a Glance
12.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
93 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 89% to 76%. Maths has remained stable at around 85%. Writing has remained stable at around 80%.
Class Sizes
24.3
Avg class size
24.9
Infant (KS1)
25.9
KS2
22
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
107%
Over capacity
601 pupils
563 capacity
38 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Dunstable
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dunstable
Admissions Demand - Central Bedfordshire
Places available
4,163
Applications
3,574
Got 1st preference
90.0%
Got preferred school
97.0%
Primary admissions across Central Bedfordshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(5)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.99574%
Overall absence
13.82289%
Persistent absence
463
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
The Vale Academy
Nearby Schools
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