The Vale Academy
Primary · Academy converter · Ages 2–11 · Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire
The Vale Academy is a primary school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire for ages 2–11 (academy converter). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Not judged, from the inspection on 3 June 2025.
Key facts
- Address
- Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4QP
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 2–11
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- Pupils on roll
- 601 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 11.5% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 21.2
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Not judged Inspected 3 June 2025
Strengths
- “The Vale’s values permeate through everything that the school does.”
- “Staff and pupils know and demonstrate valour, aspiration, leadership and excellence.”
- “Expectations are high, and pupils respond positively to this.”
To improve
- “However, sometimes staff’s subject knowledge is not as strong.”
- “When this is the case, staff do not present information relating to the key knowledge pupils need to know and remember.”
- “Therefore, pupils do not learn as effectively as in other subjects.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 14 July 2025 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| Key stage 2 · reading, writing and maths, expected standard (2024/25) | 73% | 62% |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 51 first-preference applications, 56 offers in total, 51 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
More with a 3-month pass
A one-off £9.99 pass, no subscription, unlocks for 3 months:
- Earlier years of applications and offers
- Earlier years of exam results
- Which schools pupils move on to or come from
- Crime, sold prices, broadband and transport around the school
A last distance offered describes one past year and is not a catchment or a promise of a place. Check with the council before you apply.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in Central Bedfordshire.
- Hadrian Academy 0.2 mi School remains Good
- St Christophers Academy 0.5 mi Not judged
- St Vincent's Catholic Primary School 1.0 mi School remains Good
- St. Augustine's Academy 1.0 mi School remains Good
- Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy 1.1 mi Not judged
- Lime Tree Primary Academy 1.1 mi Good
- Houghton Regis Primary School 1.2 mi Not judged
- Dunstable Icknield Lower School 1.2 mi No Ofsted grade