The Valley Leadership Academy Catchment Area
The Valley Leadership Academy is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Bacup, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 589 pupils, and a capacity of 1050 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby secondary schools below.
11-16
Age range
589
Pupils
1,050
Capacity
56%
Fill rate
Requires improvement
Ofsted 2023
The Valley Leadership Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Valley Leadership Academy?
The catchment area for The Valley Leadership Academy is the geographic zone Lancashire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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. Lancashire 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 Valley Leadership Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Lancashire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Lancashire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Lancashire catchment area documents →The Valley Leadership Academy: 1050 places, 56% filled: places available
The Valley Leadership Academy has a published admission number of 1050 places. 589 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 56%. At 56% full, the school currently has headroom below its 1050 place limit. Catchment distance criteria still apply when the school is oversubscribed, but at current demand levels, places have been available for applicants outside the immediate catchment area.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 44% of pupils at The Valley Leadership Academy are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Bacup.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Lancashire 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. Lancashire Council school admissions (official) →
The Valley Leadership Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Fearns Moss, Bacup, OL13 0TG
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Free school meals
- 44% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 147018
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to The Valley Leadership 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.
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School Catchment Area
Academy converter · Rossendale · 0.4 miles away
Alder Grange School Catchment Area
Community school · Rossendale · 2.0 miles away
All Saints' Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy Catchment Area
Academy converter · Rossendale · 2.8 miles away
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: The Valley Leadership Academy
What is the catchment area for The Valley Leadership Academy? ▾
The catchment area for The Valley Leadership Academy is the geographic zone Lancashire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary 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. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Valley Leadership Academy oversubscribed? ▾
The Valley Leadership Academy has a capacity of 1050 places and currently has 589 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Lancashire.
What is the admissions policy for The Valley Leadership Academy? ▾
Admission to The Valley Leadership Academy is managed by Lancashire. 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 Valley Leadership Academy cover? ▾
The Valley Leadership Academy is a secondary school in Bacup, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Valley Leadership Academy? ▾
The Valley Leadership Academy was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.