SchoolScoresThe Valley Leadership Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of STAR ACADEMIES
Fearns Moss, Bacup, OL13 0TG
01706 873896 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 21 April 2026 , published 7 June 2026.
In short: 3 expected, 3 needs attention, 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. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| 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
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Lancashire comparisons use the 31 of its 83 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 52 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 9th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 78% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 99% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 83% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 8th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 74% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 14th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 44% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77%said yes | 74% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 2%). 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
82 pupils in this year group.
31% — 13 points below the Lancashire average, and 15 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 31% | 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. | 32.6 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.9 | 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.
72 pupils in this year group.
78% — 12 points below the Lancashire average, and 14 points below 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. | 78% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 3% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 72% | 48% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 79% | 78% |
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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 104 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 43 |
| Of those, offered a place | 43 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 105 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.3 · 2026: 0.4
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 5th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 46.9% | 26.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 20th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.2% | 2.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 22.6% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 73rd highest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.9% | 12.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 82nd lowest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 15.4% | 8.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 82nd lowest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 45.1% | 22.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 63rd lowest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 34.1 | 21.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 67th lowest of 83 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 18% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4% | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded6 pupils | 1.02% | 0.53% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 44th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.6 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 66th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 6th highest of 82 state secondary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 92% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 25.8% | 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
- Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion) · 97% grade 5+ English and maths
- Alder Grange School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- All Saints' Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 19% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Valley Leadership Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Valley Leadership Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 21 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Valley Leadership Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 31% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 15 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend The Valley Leadership Academy?
77% of the 13 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Valley Leadership Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Valley Leadership Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 43 families put The Valley Leadership Academy as their first choice for 104 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 43 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 147018.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.