SchoolScoresVale of York Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of HEARTWOOD LEARNING TRUST
Rawcliffe Drive, Clifton Without, York, YO30 6ZS
01904 560000 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 November 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 5 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
60 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
York comparisons use the 5 of its 9 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 4 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 | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in York. Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 85% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in York. Higher than 52% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 89% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in York. Higher than 29% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 82% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in York. Higher than 74% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 48% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 46 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in York. Higher than 26% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 70% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 15 parents of children with SEND Higher than 33% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in York. Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72%said yes | 82% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 9%). 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. York figures pool parents at the York 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
142 pupils in this year group.
51% — 4 points below the York average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 51% | 56% | 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. | 45.3 | 50.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.8 | 4.5 | 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.
108 pupils in this year group.
93% — about the same as the York average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 7% | 40% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 73% | 42% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 6% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 84% | 93% |
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 York. 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 | 122 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 109 |
| Of those, offered a place | 109 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 172 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
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 | York | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.7% | 18.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 40% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.6% | 4.0%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 4% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.4% | 11.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 36% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.8% | 8.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Lower than 8% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2% | 9.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Lower than 13% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 32.8% | 23.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Lower than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 57.2 | 30.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Lower than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.7% | 7.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.43% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 39% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.3 | 17.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.4 | 12.2 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in York. Higher than 87% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 22.7% | 11.2%* | 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
- St Peter's School 2-18 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 49% A*/A at A level
- Bootham School 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 46% A*/A at A level
- Manor CofE Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 1 expected · 65% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Mount School (York) 1.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 36% A*/A at A level
- Huntington School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023 · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- All Saints Catholic School York 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Millthorpe School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 63% grade 5+ English and maths
- Joseph Rowntree School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- York High School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
- York Steiner School 2.5 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Vale of York Academy's Ofsted rating?
Vale of York Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 November 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 5 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Vale of York Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 51% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Vale of York Academy?
72% of the 60 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Vale of York Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Vale of York Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 109 families put Vale of York Academy as their first choice for 122 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 109 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 143864.
- 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.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.