What is School Atlas's summary of Ofsted's 6 judgements for The Valley Leadership Academy?

Ofsted gave no overall grade at its inspection in April 2026. School Atlas summarises the 6 judgements Ofsted made as Needs attention. This is our summary, not Ofsted's own grade.

How many pupils attend The Valley Leadership Academy?

The Valley Leadership Academy has 578 pupils on roll.

What are The Valley Leadership Academy’s exam results?

In 2025-26 (DfE’s provisional figures), its average Attainment 8 score was 34.3: DfE’s measure of pupils’ results across eight GCSE-level subjects. Trends and the detail behind each figure are on the Results tab.

What ages does The Valley Leadership Academy take?

The Valley Leadership Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is The Valley Leadership Academy located?

The Valley Leadership Academy is located in Bacup, OL13 0TG, Lancashire.

How do I apply to The Valley Leadership Academy?

The Valley Leadership Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How are Year 7 places decided at The Valley Leadership Academy?

When The Valley Leadership Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children or a child who was previously looked after, but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement order, or special guardianship order or those children who appear to the school to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (see note 1); 2. Children of staff — Children of staff employed at The Valley Leadership Academy for 2 or more years at the time of application and offer of a place, and / or the member of staff has been recruited to fill a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage (see note 2); 3. Exceptional medical or social circumstances — Children with proven, exceptionally strong special, medical or social circumstances, which are directly relevant to attendance at The Valley Leadership Academy. Parents are responsible for providing the professional supporting evidence to the school by the closing date from a consultant, doctor, psychologist, social worker or from another relevant independent professional (see note 3), and 2 further criteria. The school offers 150 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Children who live nearest from home to school will receive priority for any criteria that are oversubscribed. If the distance between home and school is the same, which includes the same geographical property reference (such as a block of flats), random allocation is used as a tie-breaker.

What is the largest ethnic background at The Valley Leadership Academy?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 91.5% of pupils at The Valley Leadership Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

The Valley Leadership Academy: Ofsted, Results & Catchment

School AtlasLancashire

Lancashire

School AtlasLancashire

Lancashire

How places are decided at The Valley Leadership Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children or a child who was previously looked after, but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement order, or special guardianship order or those children who appear to the school to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (see note 1).
2Children of staff — Children of staff employed at The Valley Leadership Academy for 2 or more years at the time of application and offer of a place, and / or the member of staff has been recruited to fill a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage (see note 2).
3Exceptional medical or social circumstances — Children with proven, exceptionally strong special, medical or social circumstances, which are directly relevant to attendance at The Valley Leadership Academy. Parents are responsible for providing the professional supporting evidence to the school by the closing date from a consultant, doctor, psychologist, social worker or from another relevant independent professional (see note 3).
4Siblings — Children with a sibling(s) attending The Valley Leadership Academy in Years 7 to 11 at the time of application and offer of a place (see note 4).
5Nearest home to school — All other children who live nearest from home to school (see note 5).

If two applications tie: Children who live nearest from home to school will receive priority for any criteria that are oversubscribed. If the distance between home and school is the same, which includes the same geographical property reference (such as a block of flats), random allocation is used as a tie-breaker.

Children with an education, health and care plan naming the school are admitted before the oversubscription criteria are applied, as stated in the document.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

The Valley Leadership Academy: key facts

What is School Atlas's summary of Ofsted's 6 judgements for The Valley Leadership Academy?: Ofsted gave no overall grade at its inspection in April 2026. School Atlas summarises the 6 judgements Ofsted made as Needs attention. This is our summary, not Ofsted's own grade.
How many pupils attend The Valley Leadership Academy?: The Valley Leadership Academy has 578 pupils on roll.
What are The Valley Leadership Academy’s exam results?: In 2025-26 (DfE’s provisional figures), its average Attainment 8 score was 34.3: DfE’s measure of pupils’ results across eight GCSE-level subjects. Trends and the detail behind each figure are on the Results tab.
What ages does The Valley Leadership Academy take?: The Valley Leadership Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is The Valley Leadership Academy located?: The Valley Leadership Academy is located in Bacup, OL13 0TG, Lancashire.
How do I apply to The Valley Leadership Academy?: The Valley Leadership Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How are Year 7 places decided at The Valley Leadership Academy?: When The Valley Leadership Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children or a child who was previously looked after, but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement order, or special guardianship order or those children who appear to the school to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (see note 1); 2. Children of staff — Children of staff employed at The Valley Leadership Academy for 2 or more years at the time of application and offer of a place, and / or the member of staff has been recruited to fill a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage (see note 2); 3. Exceptional medical or social circumstances — Children with proven, exceptionally strong special, medical or social circumstances, which are directly relevant to attendance at The Valley Leadership Academy. Parents are responsible for providing the professional supporting evidence to the school by the closing date from a consultant, doctor, psychologist, social worker or from another relevant independent professional (see note 3), and 2 further criteria. The school offers 150 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Children who live nearest from home to school will receive priority for any criteria that are oversubscribed. If the distance between home and school is the same, which includes the same geographical property reference (such as a block of flats), random allocation is used as a tie-breaker.
What is the largest ethnic background at The Valley Leadership Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 91.5% of pupils at The Valley Leadership Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How places are decided at The Valley Leadership Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children or a child who was previously looked after, but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement order, or special guardianship order or those children who appear to the school to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (see note 1).
2Children of staff — Children of staff employed at The Valley Leadership Academy for 2 or more years at the time of application and offer of a place, and / or the member of staff has been recruited to fill a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage (see note 2).
3Exceptional medical or social circumstances — Children with proven, exceptionally strong special, medical or social circumstances, which are directly relevant to attendance at The Valley Leadership Academy. Parents are responsible for providing the professional supporting evidence to the school by the closing date from a consultant, doctor, psychologist, social worker or from another relevant independent professional (see note 3).
4Siblings — Children with a sibling(s) attending The Valley Leadership Academy in Years 7 to 11 at the time of application and offer of a place (see note 4).
5Nearest home to school — All other children who live nearest from home to school (see note 5).

Children with an education, health and care plan naming the school are admitted before the oversubscription criteria are applied, as stated in the document.

The Valley Leadership Academy: key facts

What is School Atlas's summary of Ofsted's 6 judgements for The Valley Leadership Academy?: Ofsted gave no overall grade at its inspection in April 2026. School Atlas summarises the 6 judgements Ofsted made as Needs attention. This is our summary, not Ofsted's own grade.
How many pupils attend The Valley Leadership Academy?: The Valley Leadership Academy has 578 pupils on roll.
What are The Valley Leadership Academy’s exam results?: In 2025-26 (DfE’s provisional figures), its average Attainment 8 score was 34.3: DfE’s measure of pupils’ results across eight GCSE-level subjects. Trends and the detail behind each figure are on the Results tab.
What ages does The Valley Leadership Academy take?: The Valley Leadership Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is The Valley Leadership Academy located?: The Valley Leadership Academy is located in Bacup, OL13 0TG, Lancashire.
How do I apply to The Valley Leadership Academy?: The Valley Leadership Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How are Year 7 places decided at The Valley Leadership Academy?: When The Valley Leadership Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children or a child who was previously looked after, but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangement order, or special guardianship order or those children who appear to the school to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (see note 1); 2. Children of staff — Children of staff employed at The Valley Leadership Academy for 2 or more years at the time of application and offer of a place, and / or the member of staff has been recruited to fill a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage (see note 2); 3. Exceptional medical or social circumstances — Children with proven, exceptionally strong special, medical or social circumstances, which are directly relevant to attendance at The Valley Leadership Academy. Parents are responsible for providing the professional supporting evidence to the school by the closing date from a consultant, doctor, psychologist, social worker or from another relevant independent professional (see note 3), and 2 further criteria. The school offers 150 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Children who live nearest from home to school will receive priority for any criteria that are oversubscribed. If the distance between home and school is the same, which includes the same geographical property reference (such as a block of flats), random allocation is used as a tie-breaker.
What is the largest ethnic background at The Valley Leadership Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 91.5% of pupils at The Valley Leadership Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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The Valley Leadership Academy

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The Valley Leadership Academy: key facts

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How places are decided at The Valley Leadership Academy

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