SchoolScoresValley Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of DELTA ACADEMIES TRUST
Cliffe Terrace, Bradford, BD8 7DX
01274 723439 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 17 March 2026 , published 13 May 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.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
77 pupils in this year group.
46% — 8 points above the Bradford average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46% | 38% | 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. | 38.7 | 40.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.1 | 3.6 | 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.
74 pupils in this year group.
81% — 7 points below the Bradford average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 81% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 9% | 33% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 20% | 11% | 13% |
| Further education college | 50% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 79% | 81% |
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 Bradford. 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 | 71 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 45 |
| Of those, offered a place | 45 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 184 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.6
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 | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 92% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 53.6% | 35.3%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 17th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 45% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.8% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.1% | 15.0%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 97% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 65.4% | 28.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 25th lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Bradford. Lower than 3% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 14.0% | 10.8%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 23rd lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Bradford. Lower than 4% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 39.4% | 30.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Lower than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 17.9 | 48.3 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.7% | 12.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.28% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 9th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 71% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.8 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 85% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.6 | 11.1 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 15th highest of 29 state secondary schools in Bradford. Higher than 74% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 18.2% | 16.7%* | 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
- Al Mumin Primary and Secondary School 0.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Feversham Girls' Secondary Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy Lister Park 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bradford Grammar School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 53% A*/A at A level
- Carlton Bolling 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Bradford 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bradford Christian School 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Hanson Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- New College Bradford 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
- Dixons McMillan Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Valley Academy's Ofsted rating?
Valley Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 17 March 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 Valley Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 46% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.
Is Valley Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 45 families put Valley Academy as their first choice for 71 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 45 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 139474.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 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.