Arrow Vale High School
Redditch, B98 0GF · Worcestershire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
15th of 31 secondary schools in Worcestershire we can score, 45 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 867 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.2/10 among them, against 2.0/10 nationally. 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 | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 29.6 · 15 | 30% | 0.45 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.38 · 22 | 25% | 0.55 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.9 · 28 | 10% | 0.28 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Arrow Vale High School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2024. In 2024/25, 31.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 38.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.38 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.1 out of 10 among them, against 2.0 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 843 pupils against a stated capacity of 972. 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 support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Arrow Vale High School
Overview
Arrow Vale High School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection, which judged it outstanding for overall effectiveness. The report describes a school with a “highly purposeful atmosphere” where pupils are safe, happy, and share the aspiration to “aim high”. Leaders and governors understand the local context well, and the trust provides strong support.
Strengths
- The school offers a “highly ambitious curriculum” with high expectations for academic achievement, particularly benefiting sixth-form students who engage in “ambitious, challenging and independent learning”.
- There is a “strong culture of safeguarding and well-being”, with pupils feeling valued in a “highly inclusive” environment where they know who to talk to about concerns.
- Staff support is praised, with teachers speaking “calmly” to pupils who lose concentration and offering help to regain focus.
- The school identifies pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “quickly and effectively”, using precise information to adapt learning.
- Pupils benefit from a wide range of leadership roles and enrichment opportunities, including charity work and clubs, fostering positive mental health and preparation for future careers.
Areas to improve
- Some teachers do not use assessments rigorously enough to check what pupils know and remember over time, meaning gaps in knowledge are not consistently identified or addressed.
- Too many pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, miss too much school, which limits their progress and achievement despite effective attendance analysis.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.3 |
| 2024/25 | 38.8 |
| 2025/26 | 41.9 |
| 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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