Park Vale Academy
Nottingham, NG5 9AZ · Nottingham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 19 secondary schools in Nottingham 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 — 6.9/10 against 449 of them, against 4.6/10 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 | 42.5 · 44 | 30% | 1.30 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.06 · 46 | 25% | 1.14 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.2 · 52 | 10% | 0.51 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Park Vale Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.06 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh, Robotics Competition, and The Brilliant Club. Sports include football, rugby, netball, cricket, athletics, tennis, boxing, and badminton. Arts options feature a Dance Academy, School Choir, and Orchestra. Trips include exchanges to Belgium and Spain, skiing in Italy, a Paris trip, a Kenya Scuba Expedition, a Norway Expedition, and a residential trip to Amsterdam. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 880 pupils against a stated capacity of 950. 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 Progress 8 score and the national benchmark?
What Ofsted said about Park Vale Academy
Overview
Park Vale Academy is a well-led school where pupils enjoy attending and feel safe. The report highlights a "calm and orderly" environment with "positive relationships" between staff and pupils, noting that the school has improved significantly since its previous inspection.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from a "broad and ambitious curriculum" with clear planning, ensuring equal access for all, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Most teachers use "good subject knowledge" and effective questioning to check understanding, helping pupils progress well.
- Behaviour is generally good, with "clear routines" that pupils understand, resulting in lessons that are "rarely disrupted".
- The school provides a strong co-curricular offer, including clubs and revision sessions, and a "comprehensive careers programme" that prepares pupils for their next steps.
- Staff feel "well-supported" and have access to training, while governors provide "good support and challenge".
Areas to improve
- Some staff do not consistently use the school’s agreed approaches to deliver the curriculum, meaning some pupils "do not learn as well as they could" in certain subjects.
- The school lacks a "precise understanding" of which strategies are most effective in improving attendance and needs to embed successful methods to ensure sustainability.
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 | 44.0 |
| 2024/25 | 42.8 |
| 2025/26 | 46.2 |
| 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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