SchoolScoresPendle Vale College
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Oxford Road, Nelson, BB9 8LF
01282 682240 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 10 February 2026 , published 19 April 2026.
In short: 6 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Lancashire comparisons use the 12 of its 83 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 71 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.
| Statement | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 10% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 80% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 18% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 66% | 83% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 10th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 33% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 66% | 78% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied 8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 17% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 29% | 41% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 31 parents who had raised a concern 11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 13% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 48% | 71% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 10 parents of children with SEND Joint 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 8% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 30% | 56% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 15% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59%said yes | 82% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 3%). 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. Lancashire figures pool parents at the Lancashire 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
205 pupils in this year group.
32% — 11 points below the Lancashire average, and 13 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 32% | 44% | 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. | 42.5 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
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.
213 pupils in this year group.
92% — 2 points above the Lancashire average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 92% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 90% | 48% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 92% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 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 Lancashire. 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 offered | 207 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 220 |
| Of those, offered a place | 198 (90%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 502 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 24th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 67% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 34.4% | 26.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 2.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 56th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 24% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.3% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 32.4% | 12.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 45th lowest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 52% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.2% | 8.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 50th lowest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 40% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 25.5% | 22.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 36th lowest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 57% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1 | 21.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 47th lowest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.29% | 0.53% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 66th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 24% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.5 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 62nd highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.6 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 70th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 8% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 6.0% | 12.5%* | 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Colne Primet Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 24% grade 5+ English and maths
- Edenfield Girls' High School 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Marsden Heights Community College 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- Colne Park High School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 3 needs attention · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Rosa House School 2.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Sir John Thursby Community College 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Pendle Vale College's Ofsted rating?
Pendle Vale College was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 10 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Pendle Vale College do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 32% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 13 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Pendle Vale College?
59% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Pendle Vale College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Pendle Vale College oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 220 families put Pendle Vale College as their first choice for 207 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 198 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 134989.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.