The Valley Leadership Academy Review 2026: Star Academies Secondary in Bacup (11–16)

Change has been the defining theme of this academy since it opened in September 2019, and the story is best understood as a rebuild rather than a rebrand. The academy sits in Bacup, serving an 11–16 intake, with no sixth form. It is part of Star Academies, which is known for structured routines, clear expectations and a strong emphasis on character and leadership.

The most recent Ofsted inspection (19 and 20 September 2023) judged the academy Requires Improvement overall; Personal Development was graded Good, while Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, and Leadership and Management were Requires Improvement.

Leadership stability is an important part of the current direction. The principal is Colette Roberts, and the Ofsted report notes she was appointed in September 2022.

For parents, the key question is fit. This is an academy still tightening consistency in teaching and behaviour, but with tangible momentum, a clearer curriculum model in many subjects, and improving confidence among pupils and families.

The tone described in the latest official evidence is purposeful, with relationships doing much of the heavy lifting. Most pupils are reported as happy in school, and they value positive relationships with staff. There is also a clear acknowledgement that not every student is fully aligned yet, particularly among some older pupils, where respect and behaviour can still slip and learning can be disrupted.

The academy’s direction is closely linked to its trust context. Since joining Star Academies in 2019, support has focused on raising expectations and strengthening the curriculum. The narrative here is one of a more ambitious blueprint being put in place, with implementation still uneven across classrooms. In practical terms, that can feel like a school where routines and systems are increasingly well-defined, but the lived experience can vary depending on staff confidence and consistency.

Parents weighing this option should also understand the academy’s position in its improvement cycle. The curriculum is described as carefully designed in most subjects, with clarity about what pupils should learn and in what order, but delivery is not consistently effective, and assessment is not always used sharply enough to check knowledge is secure before moving on. The implication is straightforward, progress depends on teaching precision, and inconsistency tends to hit pupils who need the clearest scaffolding.

This academy’s GCSE outcomes sit below the England average on the available measures and parents should read that alongside the improvement narrative rather than in isolation.

Ranked 3,737th in England and 1st in Bacup for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data)

This places it below England average overall, within the bottom 40% of ranked secondary schools in England.

On the attainment measures provided, the academy’s Attainment 8 score is 29.6, and Progress 8 is -1.08. The dataset also shows an EBacc average point score of 2.74, and 3.4% achieving grade 5 or above across EBacc subjects (as recorded).

The practical takeaway is that the school is not yet translating its raised expectations into outcomes at scale. For families with children who need strong academic recovery, it is worth probing what targeted support looks like in Years 9 to 11, particularly for reading and attendance, because both are explicitly linked to achievement in the official evidence.

Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view GCSE indicators side-by-side, including ranking context and progress measures, rather than relying on headline impressions.

The most useful way to think about teaching here is “strong intent, variable enactment”. In most subjects, the curriculum is described as carefully designed, sequenced, and explicit about what pupils should learn and when. That matters because it gives teachers a shared map, reduces gaps when pupils move between classes, and supports SEND adaptations when staff use the information well.

The challenge is consistency of delivery. Some staff are not consistently matching activities to the knowledge pupils need to learn, and assessment is not always used effectively to check prior learning before new content is introduced. This is the kind of issue that can create a cumulative drag, especially in foundation years where misconceptions compound, then surface in Key Stage 4 as weaker exam readiness.

Reading is a particular priority thread. Systems to identify pupils who find reading difficult are described as typically quick, but the support model was described as still developing, with some pupils, especially those already in Key Stage 4 at the time, not benefiting from timely and effective intervention. For parents, the most productive questions are specific: how is reading screened, what intervention is used, who delivers it, and how is progress checked and reported.

With no sixth form, the academy’s destination story is primarily about post-16 transition to colleges and sixth forms across Lancashire and the wider East Lancashire area. The official evidence points to a well-considered careers programme, with pupils being well informed when they make decisions about next steps.

The best way to evaluate this in practice is to look for clarity on three fronts. First, how Key Stage 4 options align to post-16 routes, including technical pathways. Second, how the academy supports applications, interviews, and taster days. Third, what additional support is offered to pupils with SEND and those at risk of missing learning through absence, since attendance is explicitly linked to the school’s improvement priorities.

If your child has a clear vocational direction, it is worth checking how the academy structures employer encounters and encounters with further education providers, as the Ofsted report also references provider access requirements around technical education and apprenticeships engagement.

Year 7 entry is coordinated through Lancashire’s secondary admissions process. For September 2026 entry, Lancashire’s published timetable states applications open Monday 1 September 2025, the national closing date is Friday 31 October 2025, and offers are issued Monday 2 March 2026.

If you do not receive your preferred offer, the same timetable sets out key next steps. It lists Friday 13 March 2026 as the deadline for requesting a place on waiting lists, and Monday 13 April 2026 as the appeal deadline for Lancashire schools, with appeals heard from Tuesday 16 June 2026 for those submitted by the deadline.

Oversubscription rules are set out in the academy’s published admissions arrangements. In the event of oversubscription, priorities include looked-after and previously looked-after children, certain children of staff, exceptional medical or social circumstances, siblings, then distance from home to school, with random allocation as a tie-breaker if distances are identical.

Families considering the academy can use FindMySchool Map Search to check distance and compare it to recent allocation patterns across local secondaries, while keeping in mind that each year’s distribution and preferences shift.

The most significant reassurance point is safeguarding. Ofsted confirmed the safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Beyond that, the pastoral picture is closely linked to behaviour and attendance improvement. Expectations of conduct have been raised, and the evidence suggests behaviour is improving, but disruption still occurs in some lessons and the approach is not applied evenly by all staff. For parents, that means the day-to-day experience can vary, and it is worth asking how behaviour systems are standardised, how staff are trained, and how quickly issues are escalated and resolved.

Attendance is also a meaningful wellbeing and achievement lever here. The official evidence highlights that some vulnerable pupils miss too many lessons, and that the academy is engaging more proactively with parents and carers to address this. If your child is anxiety-prone, has SEND, or has had patchy attendance previously, it is worth discussing what early intervention looks like and what support is available before patterns become entrenched.

A credible sign of culture shift in any secondary is whether pupils can name things they opt into, not just what they sit through. The enrichment picture here includes specific activities referenced in the official evidence, including kick-boxing, trampolining, and a baking club.

These examples matter because they show two things. First, the academy is aiming to keep pupils engaged through practical, varied opportunities, which can be particularly effective for students who thrive with kinaesthetic learning or who need a stronger reason to attend regularly. Second, a range of clubs can strengthen relationships with staff, which the official evidence already positions as a core asset for many pupils.

If extracurricular breadth is a key priority for your child, ask how the programme is structured across the week, what is free versus chargeable, and whether targeted pupils are actively encouraged to participate. In schools improving behaviour, structured enrichment often supports a calmer social climate by giving pupils clear routines and a stronger sense of belonging.

This is a state-funded academy, so there are no tuition fees. Families should still budget for normal secondary costs such as uniform, equipment, and optional trips.

The most reliable published operational timings were not consistently accessible in the sources used for this review. Parents should verify the current start and finish times directly with the academy and confirm arrangements for any before-school or after-school supervision, particularly if transport logistics are tight.

For travel, Bacup and the surrounding Rossendale area tends to involve bus-based commuting for many students, alongside car drop-off for others. If you are considering this academy from outside the immediate area, it is sensible to stress-test the route in winter conditions and confirm how late clubs affect pick-up times.

• Academic outcomes are not yet where the ambition is. Progress 8 is -1.08 and Attainment 8 is 29.6 in the available dataset, which signals that improvement work still needs to translate into sustained exam performance.

• Consistency of behaviour systems remains a live issue. Expectations have risen, but disruption still occurs in some lessons and approaches are not applied evenly, which can affect learning for pupils who need calm consistency.

• Reading and attendance are pivotal for Key Stage 4 success. Reading interventions were described as still developing, and absence among some vulnerable pupils is explicitly flagged; parents should ask how support is targeted and tracked over time.

• No sixth form on site. If continuity to Year 13 is important, you will want a clear post-16 plan early, including which colleges or sixth forms are realistic and how the academy supports applications.

The Valley Leadership Academy is an improving 11–16 academy with clearer curriculum ambition and a strengthening culture, but still with meaningful work to do on consistency of teaching, behaviour routines, and examination outcomes. Best suited to families who want a structured, trust-led secondary with a developing enrichment offer, and who are prepared to engage actively with attendance, routines, and home-school communication. For pupils who need a fully settled, high-performing academic environment immediately, it is sensible to compare alternatives carefully and ask detailed questions about current Year 10 and Year 11 support.