Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #40 in Suffolk public Top 43% UK

Alde Valley Academy

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

personMr Jonathan Harris

corporate_fareKINGFISHER SCHOOLS TRUST LTD

location_onLeiston, IP16 4BG

language Visit Website phone 1728830570

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

586

trending_up

Attainment 8

33.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#42 in Suffolk

#3,081 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Alde Valley Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Leiston, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Alde Valley Academy is an academy sponsor led in Leiston, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of KINGFISHER SCHOOLS TRUST LTD. The school has approximately 674 pupils on roll, of whom 31% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 33.7, placing the school #42 in Suffolk and #3,081 of 3,216 nationally. 23.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 5.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 21.0 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

33.7

Grade 5+ E&M

23.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)5.9%

Entering EBacc16.30%

EBacc APS3.01

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12.20%

EBacc APS3.42

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.78

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS3.03

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS3.8

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS3.42

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS3.62

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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

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment13%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

09 July 2024

Inspection Report

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08 February 2023

Inspection Report

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20 September 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-07-09

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-09-20

Academy First Section 5 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-09-11

None Legacy

Inadequate

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

15.0%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

8.5%(57 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 674 pupils. During this period, there were 101 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 15.0%, which is above 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)	674	101	15.0%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	680	184	27.1%	7.8%	4
2023/24 (Summer term)	633	187	29.5%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	643	156	24.3%	7.1%	3
2023/24 (Autumn term)	641	74	11.5%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	582	23	4.0%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	586	44	7.5%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	592	31	5.2%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	545	25	4.6%	4.7%	3
2021/22 (Spring term)	546	33	6.0%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	545	36	6.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	500	25	5.0%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	493	11	2.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	494	22	4.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	431	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	431	10	2.3%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	429	8	1.9%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	396	13	3.3%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	394	28	7.1%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	385	13	3.4%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	381	5	1.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	378	3	0.8%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	373	2	0.5%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	392	0	0.0%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	396	3	0.8%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	395	4	1.0%	3.1%	0

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

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psychology_alt

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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 59 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 42 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 25 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

74.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

81.0%Positive

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

32.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree47%

disagree19%

strongly disagree11%

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

strongly agree17%

agree40%

disagree30%

strongly disagree9%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree30%

agree19%

disagree23%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

not applicable15%

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

yes28%

no72%

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

strongly agree31%

agree23%

disagree8%

strongly disagree38%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree36%

agree47%

disagree6%

strongly disagree9%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree34%

agree40%

disagree15%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree19%

agree57%

disagree17%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree34%

agree51%

disagree9%

strongly disagree6%

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

strongly agree47%

agree51%

strongly disagree2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree30%

agree34%

disagree17%

strongly disagree9%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes72%

no28%

Top Secondary Schools in Suffolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Debenham High School

Good

location_on Stowmarket, IP14 6BL

emoji_events #1 in LA

Hartismere School

Outstanding

location_on Eye, IP23 7BL

emoji_events #2 in LA

Bury St Edmunds County High School

Good

location_on Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6RF

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Benedict's Catholic School

Good

location_on Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6RH

emoji_events #4 in LA

Northgate High School

Good

location_on Ipswich, IP4 3DL

emoji_events #5 in LA

Sybil Andrews Academy

Good

location_on Bury St. Edmunds, IP32 7QB

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Suffolk arrow_forward

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

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

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

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Suffolk

Debenham High School

Hartismere School

Bury St Edmunds County High School

St Benedict's Catholic School

Northgate High School

Sybil Andrews Academy