The Vale Academy, based in Dunstable, provides primary education, serving pupils aged 2 to 11. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
The Vale Academy currently has around 602 pupils on roll, which is about 107% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 54% boys and 46% girls. Around 11.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 5.3%. Persistent absence is recorded at 13.3%.
Pupil backgrounds are varied, with white british pupils forming the largest group at around 46.8%. other white pupils make up about 17.8%
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
| Address: | Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4QP |
| Website: | https://www.thevaleacademy.co.uk/ |
| Telephone: | 01582211150 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Primary |
| Local authority: | Central Bedfordshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Jordan Campbell |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Not applicable |
| Unique reference: | 138714 |
Ofsted inspection date: 03/06/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 2 - 11 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 563 |
| Number of Pupils: | 602 |
| Number of Boys: | 325 |
| Number of Girls: | 277 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 5.3% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 13.3% | 8.2% |
| White British | 46.80% | 282 |
| Other White | 17.80% | 107 |
| Other Mixed | 6.10% | 37 |
| Indian | 4.20% | 25 |
| Other Asian | 3.20% | 19 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 3.20% | 19 |
| Pakistani | 3.00% | 18 |
| Unclassified | 3.00% | 18 |
| Caribbean | 2.80% | 17 |
| African | 2.70% | 16 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 2.20% | 13 |
| White and Black African | 1.50% | 9 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.30% | 8 |
| Other Black | 1.00% | 6 |
| White and Asian | 0.80% | 5 |
| Irish | 0.30% | 2 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.20% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Chinese | 0.00% | 0 |
Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Nursery School Goldstone Crescent , LU5 4QU | 3out of 4 | 180 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Pastures Way Nursery School Pastures Way , LU4 0PE | 3out of 4 | 1,372 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Westfield Nursery School Westfield Road , LU6 1DL | 3out of 4 | 2,790 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Gill Blowers Nursery School 1 Mossdale Court , Teesdale LU4 9JL | 3out of 4 | 2,903 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Vale Academy Wilbury Drive , LU5 4QP | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Hadrian Lower School Hadrian Avenue , LU5 4SR | - not rated | 264 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hadrian Academy Hadrian Avenue , LU5 4SR | 3out of 4 | 264 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Christophers Lower School Gorham Way , LU5 4NJ | - not rated | 902 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Christophers Academy Gorham Way , LU5 4NJ | - not rated | 902 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chalk Hills Academy Leagrave High St , LU4 0NE | 3out of 4 | 1,025 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Halyard High School Emerald Road , LU4 0NE | - not rated | 1,025 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| All Saints Academy Dunstable Houghton Road , LU5 5AB | - not rated | 2,020 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Northfields Technology College Houghton Road , LU5 5AB | - not rated | 2,052 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Central Bedfordshire UTC Parkside Drive , Kingsland Skills Centre LU5 5PY | - not rated | 2,233 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Vale School Wilbury Drive , LU5 4QP | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Middle School Britain Street , LU5 4JA | - not rated | 1,575 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ashton CofE VA Middle School High Street North , LU6 1NH | - not rated | 1,793 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Brandreth Middle School Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PX | - not rated | 2,275 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Linmear Middle School Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PX | - not rated | 2,275 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bedfordshire College Kingsway , LU5 4HG | - not rated | 1,304 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priory Academy Priory Academy, Britain Street , LU5 4JA | 3out of 4 | 1,575 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneschool Global Dunstable Ridgeway Avenue , LU5 4QL | - not rated | 448 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Stannard School Ridgeway Avenue , LU5 4QL | - not rated | 459 yd | Other independent special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St George's School 28 Priory Road , LU5 4HR | - not rated | 1,472 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Chiltern Education Trust 12 Queen Street , LU5 5BT | - not rated | 1,687 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Pilgrim Christian School West Street Christian Centre , West Street LU6 1SX | - not rated | 1,799 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.