The Vale Academy and Nursery, a thriving primary school in Dunstable for children aged between 2-11 years of age, is delighted to share the most recent Ofsted report, where the school was praised across the board and was judged to be ‘Outstanding’ in the area of Personal Development.

Inspectors visited the school in early June and were full of praise for the school’s strong ethos, inclusive culture and clear focus on helping pupils thrive both academically and personally. The Vale Academy, part of Advantage Schools, was rated ‘Good’ in the areas of quality of education, early years, behaviour and attitudes and leadership with special recognition for the exceptional opportunities it offers to help pupils grow as individuals.

“We are incredibly proud of this report,” said Mr Campbell and Mrs Knight, Co-Principals of The Vale Academy. “To be recognised as providing outstanding opportunities for pupils to develop exceptional character and leadership skills reflects the dedication of our staff and the strength of our values. We are constantly committed to helping every child succeed and grow into confident, knowledgeable, and ambitious young people.”

Within the report, the breadth of enriching experiences at the school was acknowledged; this includes pupil leadership roles, cultural celebrations, career workshops and a wide range of clubs and trips. Pupils display respectful behaviour, a strong sense of community and a love of learning, which was clearly evident throughout the Ofsted visit.

The school’s broad and highly ambitious curriculum was recognised and praised.Strong teaching ensures that pupils read well, and build their knowledge over time, enabling them to achieve impressive results at every phase of learning.

Cathy Barr, Deputy CEO of Advantage Schools, added: “This report is a testament to the incredible progress the school has made and the dedication of the entire school team. The emphasis on strong academic practice in the classroom alongside preparing children for later life is at the heart of what we believe in across Advantage Schools.”

The report also praised the school’s values of valour, aspiration, leadership and excellence, describing how these are practised throughout daily school life and foster a safe, supportive and ambitious learning environment.

For more information about The Vale Academy and to read the full Ofsted report, visit www.thevaleacademy.co.uk.