Outwood Academy Valley
Worksop, S81 7EN · Nottinghamshire · secondary school
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13th of 45 secondary schools in Nottinghamshire we can score. 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 — 7.6/10 against 890 of them, against 6.6/10 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 | 58.0 · 79 | 30% | 2.36 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.05 · 54 | 25% | 1.35 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.1 · 61 | 10% | 0.61 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Outwood Academy Valley overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2024-05. In 2024/25, 58.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.05 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,721 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,727. 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 curriculum support pupils to maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What support structures are in place to sustain the Good inspection rating?
What Ofsted said about Outwood Academy Valley
Overview
Pupils enjoy attending this calm and orderly school, where most meet high expectations for behaviour and respect. The school provides an ambitious, well-planned curriculum that supports strong academic achievement, particularly in mathematics and English, alongside effective support for pupils with special educational needs. While the overall effectiveness is judged as ‘Good’, the report highlights specific inconsistencies in behaviour management and personal development delivery that require attention.
Strengths
- Teachers possess good subject knowledge and use effective questioning and feedback to help pupils achieve well.
- The school is committed to developing a love of reading, with regular library lessons and targeted support for those needing extra help.
- Sixth-form students benefit from an ambitious curriculum and expert teaching, leaving them well prepared for their next steps.
- Pupils feel safe and appreciate the support from learning managers, with confidence that staff will deal with bullying effectively.
- Staff feel well supported and proud to work at the school, with effective governance providing accurate challenge.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure it supports pupils with more challenging behaviour effectively, as high suspension rates cause some to miss out on education.
- The personal development curriculum requires better monitoring to ensure consistent delivery, so all pupils are fully prepared for life in modern Britain.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.1 |
| 2024/25 | 50.4 |
| 2025/26 | 48.1 |
| 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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