Academy converter · Central Bedfordshire

The Vale Academy

2–11Ages
601Pupils
PrimaryPhase
138714URN

Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4QP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.3per place

close to Central Bedfordshire median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Central Bedfordshire

129 applications for 56 places · 30th of 82 in Central Bedfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

73%met the expected standard

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 3 June 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.3applications per place, Reception

close to Central Bedfordshire median (2.1) close to England median (2.2)

129 applications · 56 places offered · 51 named it first

2026 2.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 2.1
2025 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.9
2024 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2023 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2022 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2021 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2020 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2019 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2018 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2017 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2016 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2015 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2014 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6

This school
Central Bedfordshire median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	56	129	2.3	51	0.91
Sep 2025	61	88	1.4	58	0.95
Sep 2024	75	129	1.7	70	0.93
Sep 2023	77	123	1.6	70	0.91
Sep 2022	75	117	1.6	74	0.99
Sep 2021	60	102	1.7	58	0.97
Sep 2020	74	122	1.7	71	0.96
Sep 2019	66	108	1.6	63	0.95
Sep 2018	54	92	1.7	50	0.93
Sep 2017	37	68	1.8	33	0.89
Sep 2016	52	86	1.7	47	0.90
Sep 2015	30	53	1.8	21	0.70
Sep 2014	41	68	1.7	39	0.95

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 76% · Writing 80% · Maths 85% → all three 73% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard73%5th of 36 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard76%

Central Bedfordshire 72% England 78%

Higher standard40%

Central Bedfordshire 29% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard80%

Central Bedfordshire 71% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Central Bedfordshire 0% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard85%

Central Bedfordshire 67% England 77%

Higher standard40%

Central Bedfordshire 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Central Bedfordshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	73%	0%	106	107
2023/24	75%	0%	106	105
2022/23	63%	3%	104	106

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Vale AcademyThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.3applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Hadrian Academy
0.2 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2023

1.7applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
St Christophers Academy
0.8 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 33%met the SATs standard
Chantry Primary Academy
0.9 km · Luton

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
Southfield Primary Academy
1.2 km · Luton

Good2023

2.1applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
St Martin De Porres Catholic Primary School
1.3 km · Luton

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
St Vincent's Catholic Primary School
1.6 km · Central Bedfordshire

2026

2.6applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
St. Augustine's Academy
1.6 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 32%met the SATs standard
The Ferrars Academy
1.6 km · Luton

Remains Good2022

1.8applications per place

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 138714 · 823/4056
Trust: Advantage Schools
Capacity: 563 pupils · 601 on roll
Free school meals: 12.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2012
Replaced: Mill Vale School (URN 109663)
Address: Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4QP
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources