Alde Valley Academy
Leiston, IP16 4BG · Suffolk · secondary school
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41st of 43 secondary schools in Suffolk we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.6/10 against 714 of them, against 1.6/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 28.5 · 13 | 30% | 0.39 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.33 · 25 | 25% | 0.63 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 33.9 · 4 | 10% | 0.04 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Alde Valley Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 23.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 33.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.33 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Requires improvement in September 2024.
Beyond the classroom
A breakfast club is available for pupils.
Getting in
The published school roll is 645 pupils against a stated capacity of 560. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school manage class sizes given the current roll exceeds capacity by 85? What specific actions are being taken to address the Requires improvement rating from the 2024 inspection? How does the school support pupils to close the attainment gap relative to the national median?
What Ofsted said about Alde Valley Academy
Overview
The report describes Alde Valley Academy as a "safe place to learn" where pupils are happy and receive "strong support" for special educational needs. However, it notes that the school has experienced a "period of decline" with "low expectations" from leadership, resulting in inconsistent behaviour and teaching quality. While "beginnings of improvement are in place," the report states there is "a lot more work to do" to raise standards.
Strengths
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive "effective support" and can access learning well.
- The curriculum "identifies well what knowledge pupils need to succeed," helping many make steady progress.
- Attendance is high, with "low" absence rates, and the school has created a "more orderly culture" through reset behaviour standards.
- There is a "wide range of opportunities," including visits abroad and sporting activities that foster teamwork and leadership.
- Safeguarding arrangements are described as "effective."
Areas to improve
- Implement a "coherent approach to improving reading" for weaker readers to prevent disengagement and poor behaviour.
- Ensure teachers deliver the curriculum effectively by using appropriate activities and routinely checking for knowledge gaps.
- Review the behaviour policy to address underlying causes of misbehaviour rather than just reacting to incidents.
- Strengthen the character curriculum so pupils develop "respect, kindness, confidence, and resilience" and engage with the school’s ethos.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.6 |
| 2024/25 | 33.7 |
| 2025/26 | 33.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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