The Vale Academy
Academy converter primary school in Dunstable (Central Bedfordshire).
KS2 RWM expected
73%
▲ 11pp England 2024/25: 62%
2024/25
Reading expected
76%
▲ 1pp England 2024/25: 75%
2024/25
Maths expected
85%
▲ 11pp England 2024/25: 74%
2024/25
Writing expected
80%
▲ 8pp England 2024/25: 72%
2024/25
Attendance rate
95.0%
▲ 0.2pp England 2024/25: 94.8%
2024/25 academic year
Pupil : Teacher
24.5
▲ 3.8 England 2025/26: 20.7
2025/26
Eligible for free school meals
11.5%
▼ 13pp England 2025/26: 24.9%
school census 15/01/2026
Capacity
107%
601 / 563 pupils
register figure (GIAS)
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Discover The Vale Academy, a nurturing environment where students thrive. We offer a well-rounded education, focusing on academic excellence, personal growth, and character development. Join our commu..
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
12 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Athletics
- Choir
- Coding
- Dance
- Drama
- Football
- Gardening
- Lego
- Music
- Swimming
- Times Tables Rock Stars
- Forest School
Key facts
- URN
- 138714
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- Has Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Constituency
- Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2012
Governing body (9 current, 6 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Neil Barker | Shared Chair of Local Governing Body - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Neil Barker Former | Shared Chair of Local Governing Body - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · term ended 2025 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms Janani Figueiredo | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2026 |
| Mrs Joanne Ward | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Joanne Liddle | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Toni Cassidy | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Storiay Abdul | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Neil Barker | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Martin Baldock | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Ms Helen Pendell | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Jordan Campbell Former | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Ms Shazia Anwar Former | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
| Ms Gemma Wareham Former | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Elected by parents | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Joanne Ward Former | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Elected by parents | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
| Ms Joanne Liddle Former | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Elected by school staff | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record