Forge Valley School and Sixth Form

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of INOVA MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST LIMITED

Wood Lane, Sheffield, S6 5HG

0114 234 8805 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 1 May 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths55%England 45% · 2024/25
Joint 6th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 74% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,494Room for 1,350 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,269 in 2019, 1,364 in 2021, 1,437 in 2022, 1,484 in 2023, 1,510 in 2024, 1,533 in 2025, 1,494 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0274 for 268 places, September 2026
11th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 65% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 1 May 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

196 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.

Sheffield comparisons use the 14 of its 32 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 18 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolSheffieldEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 5th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheffield.
Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 75% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 8th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheffield.
Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 79% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
5th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheffield.
Higher than 49% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
78% 71% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 86 parents whose child had been bullied
4th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheffield.
Higher than 74% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
58% 44% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 159 parents who had raised a concern
4th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheffield.
Higher than 48% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 60% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
5th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheffield.
Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82%said yes 70% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Sheffield figures pool parents at the Sheffield schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

256 pupils in this year group.

55% — 13 points above the Sheffield average, and 10 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSheffieldEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 55% 42% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 46.6 43.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.2 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 54%This school 2023/24: 47%This school 2024/25: 55% This school England 45% 2022/23 54% 2023/24 47% 2024/25 55%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

236 pupils in this year group.

92% — 3 points above the Sheffield average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 46%34%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolSheffieldEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 92% 89% 92%
School sixth form 46% 36% 34%
Sixth form college 3% 8% 13%
Further education college 34% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 6% 3% 3%
Work 2% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%92%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

107 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolSheffieldEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 19% 28% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 45% 55% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 33.0 35.0 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 33.5This school 2023/24: 36.5This school 2024/25: 33.0 This school England 35 2022/23 33.5 2023/24 36.5 2024/25 33.0

A level subjects, 2024/25

22 subjects, 243 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 39 8% 13% 19%
Mathematics 22 23% 32% 40%
Biology 20 0% 20% 27%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 19 0% 5% 14%
Physics 18 6% 11% 31%
History 17 6% 6% 23%
English Literature 15 0% 27% 23%
English Language 13 8% 23% 13%
Business Studies:Single 11 0% 18% 16%
Sociology 11 0% 18% 20%
Geography 9 0% 22% 23%
Chemistry 8 13% 25% 30%
Mathematics (Further) 7 14% 43% 59%
Art and Design 6 17% 17% 34%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 6 0% 0% 15%
Religious Studies 6 0% 17% 22%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Economics, Spanish, Government and Politics, Arabic, Persian, Polish.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

117 students in this year group.

85% — 8 points above the Sheffield average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSheffieldEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 85% 77% 79%
Apprenticeship 3% 7% 7%
Work 17% 25% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
89%85%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

96 students in this year group.

67% — 3 points above the Sheffield average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSheffieldEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 67% 64% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 19% 19% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
67%67%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Sheffield. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered268
Families who put it first274
Of those, offered a place259 (95%)
Families who listed it at all541

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Sheffield

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision and a SEN unit with 220 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Visual impairment; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolSheffieldEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
23rd highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
26.9% 34.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.5% 2.9%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
21st highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 43% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.8% 14.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
23rd highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.2% 22.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
15th lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Lower than 33% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.3% 9.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
11th lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Lower than 52% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
23.1% 24.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
14th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Lower than 39% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
19.5 35.9 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
12th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.8% 10.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils 0.33% 0.43% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 98% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
21.8 17.6 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 3rd highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 89% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.0 12.1 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
21st highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield.
Higher than 49% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
13.0% 15.6%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Forge Valley School and Sixth Form's Ofsted rating?

Forge Valley School and Sixth Form was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 1 May 2024.

How did Forge Valley School and Sixth Form do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 55% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Forge Valley School and Sixth Form?

82% of the 196 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Forge Valley School and Sixth Form to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Forge Valley School and Sixth Form oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 274 families put Forge Valley School and Sixth Form as their first choice for 268 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 259 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.