Forge Valley School & Sixth Form
Sheffield, S6 5HG · Sheffield · secondary school
Check the area around this school
12th of 29 secondary schools in Sheffield we can score, 30 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 5.6/10 against 867 of them, against 4.9/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 48.0 · 58 | 30% | 1.74 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.18 · 36 | 25% | 0.91 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.4 · 52 | 10% | 0.52 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Forge Valley School & Sixth Form overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, inspected in 2024-06. In 2024/25, 55.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.18 in 2023/24, meaning pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in The Big Draw and workshops with creative professionals, alongside visits to galleries, The Hepworth Wakefield, and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,494 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,350. 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
What support is available for pupils whose Progress 8 score is below 0? How are places allocated for new entrants given the current over-capacity status?
What Ofsted said about Forge Valley School & Sixth Form
Overview
Forge Valley School is described as an “inclusive and welcoming school” with “strong relationships between staff and pupils.” The report highlights a culture of “high expectation” where pupils behave well, strive academically, and feel safe, supported by effective mental health provision and a broad curriculum.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “ambitious and broad,” with subject content “sequenced carefully” to help pupils retain knowledge.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is “very effective,” ensuring they are “fully immersed in school life.”
- Reading is prioritised through a “structured programme” and paired reading with sixth-form students.
- Behaviour is “calm and orderly,” with bullying being rare and dealt with “swiftly.”
- Attendance has “improved considerably” due to careful monitoring and support for vulnerable pupils.
Areas to improve
- Ensure the curriculum is implemented with “consistent ambition,” as some tasks do not always match planned expectations, limiting depth of understanding.
- Improve communication with stakeholders when introducing changes, as some parents are not fully supportive and cannot effectively support their children.
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 | 47.4 |
| 2024/25 | 46.6 |
| 2025/26 | 46.4 |
| 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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