The Vale Academy Catchment Area
The Vale Academy is an academy converter primary school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire , serving pupils aged 2-11, with 602 pupils, and a capacity of 563 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
2-11
Age range
602
Pupils
563
Capacity
107%
Fill rate
Requires improvement
Ofsted 2023
The Vale Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Vale Academy?
The catchment area for The Vale Academy is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, The Vale Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Central Bedfordshire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Central Bedfordshire publishes the 2027 The Vale Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Central Bedfordshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Central Bedfordshire catchment area documents →The Vale Academy: at or above its 563 place limit
The Vale Academy has a published admission number of 563 places. 602 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 107%. The school is at or above its published limit of 563 places. Central Bedfordshire allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 11.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Dunstable.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Central Bedfordshire publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Central Bedfordshire school admissions →
The Vale Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4QP
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 2-11 years
- Free school meals
- 11.2% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138714
Other Primary Schools in Dunstable
If The Vale Academy is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Dunstable are the next closest alternatives.
Houghton Regis Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · LU5 5DH
Thornhill Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · LU5 5PE
Tithe Farm Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · LU5 5JB
Ashton St Peter's VA C of E School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · LU6 1EW
Lark Rise Academy Catchment Area
Academy converter · LU6 3PT
Eaton Bray Academy Catchment Area
Academy converter · LU6 2DT
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to The Vale Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions: The Vale Academy
What is the catchment area for The Vale Academy? ▾
The catchment area for The Vale Academy is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Vale Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, The Vale Academy currently has 602 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 563 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for The Vale Academy? ▾
Admission to The Vale Academy is managed by Central Bedfordshire. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does The Vale Academy cover? ▾
The Vale Academy is a primary school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, serving pupils aged 2-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Vale Academy? ▾
The Vale Academy was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.