The Valley Leadership Academy
Bacup, OL13 0TG · Lancashire · secondary school
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74th of 82 secondary schools in Lancashire 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 — 2.3/10 against 490 of them, against 1.5/10 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 | 10 | 35% | 0.34 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 36.8 · 29 | 30% | 0.88 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.08 · 2 | 25% | 0.05 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 34.3 · 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.
The Valley Leadership Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 30.5% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 32.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.08 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 (1.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.0 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in April 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Art Club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 578 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,050. 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 areas did the April 2026 inspection highlight for improvement?
What Ofsted said about The Valley Leadership Academy
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have driven "much positive change" since the previous inspection, establishing a "firm foundation on which to secure further improvement." While safeguarding standards are met and the school culture is calm and inclusive, several key areas including achievement, attendance, and teaching consistency currently require attention.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- Leaders show "noteworthy" commitment to inclusion, using strategies like foundation sets to help pupils with special educational needs access the "ambitious curriculum."
- The school environment is "calm and purposeful," with pupils reporting they feel safe and that bullying is rare.
- Staff appreciate the "comprehensive programme of professional learning" and leaders' consideration of their workload and wellbeing.
- Personal development is well-shaped, ensuring all pupils, regardless of barriers, are equipped for life beyond school through programmes like 'Valley Vitality Day'.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure staff resolve gaps in pupils' learning, particularly for older pupils who have missed out on recent curriculum improvements.
- Teachers need to address gaps in pupils' spelling, grammar, and punctuation to enable fluent and accurate writing across subjects.
- Strategies to tackle high absence rates, particularly among disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, require further development.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 29.6 |
| 2024/25 | 32.6 |
| 2025/26 | 34.3 |
| 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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