Wey Valley Academy
Weymouth, DT3 5AN · Dorset · secondary school
Check the area around this school
12th of 19 secondary schools in Dorset we can score, 29 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 — 3.2/10 against 697 of them, against 2.6/10 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 | 38.2 · 33 | 30% | 0.99 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.36 · 23 | 25% | 0.58 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.9 · 15 | 10% | 0.15 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Wey Valley Academy overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in November 2023. In 2024/25, 48.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.36 in 2023/24, indicating 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 (5.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can pursue the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award, Prince's Trust Award, and the Wey Valley Academy 'Junior Sports Leaders Award'.
Getting in
The published school roll is 994 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,020. 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 support is available for students aiming for the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award? How does the school monitor progress for pupils who start below the national average?
What Ofsted said about Wey Valley Academy
Overview
Wey Valley Academy is a secondary school where pupils feel happy, safe, and included within a welcoming community. The report highlights a calm learning environment with an ambitious curriculum and strong personal development, noting that the school has improved significantly since joining its academy trust. However, persistent absence remains a critical issue affecting pupil achievement, and curriculum implementation varies depending on staff expertise.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy a "calm and purposeful environment" where they feel a "strong sense of belonging" and bullying is "very rare".
- The curriculum is "well planned" and "ambitious", with a strong focus on reading described as a "reading school" ethos.
- Personal development is "strong", with pupils understanding how to keep themselves "physically and mentally healthy" and taking on leadership roles.
- Staff provide "good-quality pastoral care" and ensure pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are "well supported".
- Leaders provide "clear direction" and staff share the school’s values, contributing to significant overall improvement.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must strengthen efforts to improve attendance, as "too many pupils... do not attend school regularly" and miss learning.
- Leaders must ensure a "sharp focus on developing all teachers’ subject and pedagogical knowledge" to ensure consistent curriculum implementation.
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 | 42.1 |
| 2024/25 | 41.0 |
| 2025/26 | 38.9 |
| 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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