Ofsted: Good

The Valley School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr David Pearce

location_onStevenage, SG2 9BN

language Visit Website phone 1438747274

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

172

trending_up

Attainment 8

0.2

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GCSE Rank

#112 in Hertfordshire

#4,641 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

The Valley School is a Community special school school in Stevenage, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Valley School is a community special school in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 190 pupils on roll, of whom 46% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.2, placing the school #112 in Hertfordshire and #4,641 of 4,663 nationally. 0.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 8.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

0.2

Grade 5+ E&M

0.00%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.02

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.03

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.72

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.03

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-1.87

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.01

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.61

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

05 November 2024

Inspection Report

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11 July 2023

Inspection Report

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24 January 2018

Inspection Report

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16 October 2013

Inspection Report

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14 November 2011

Inspection Report

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22 October 2010

Inspection Report

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12 February 2009

Inspection Report

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09 February 2006

Inspection Report

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27 November 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-11-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2018-01-24

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-10-16

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-11-14

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

6.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.7%(9 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 190 pupils. During this period, there were 12 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.3%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	190	12	6.3%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	189	10	5.3%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	180	9	5.0%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	180	9	5.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	178	8	4.5%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	171	10	5.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	172	14	8.1%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	173	12	6.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	165	11	6.7%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	161	11	6.8%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	160	12	7.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	157	2	1.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	156	1	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	153	2	1.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	153	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	153	7	4.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	153	13	8.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	146	3	2.1%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	142	1	0.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	143	11	7.7%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	139	8	5.8%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	133	11	8.3%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	129	8	6.2%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	120	16	13.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	120	5	4.2%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	111	8	7.2%	3.1%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 133 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 27 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 12 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

4.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree64%

agree28%

disagree4%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree40%

agree36%

disagree8%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree48%

agree20%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

not applicable20%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes100%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree68%

agree20%

disagree12%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree52%

agree28%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree40%

disagree8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree48%

agree32%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree60%

agree28%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree76%

agree12%

disagree8%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree60%

agree28%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover