Schools by area › Lancashire › Pendle Vale College
Pendle Vale College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Community school
Oxford Road, Nelson BB9 8LF · pendlevale.lancs.sch.uk · 01282 682240
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Feb 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Lancashire 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,046
- 100% of 1,050 places
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 37.6%
- First language not English
- 30.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 220 families put the school first and 207 places were offered; 90% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 207 | 220 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 203 | 226 | 1.1▲ | 83% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 206 | 209 | 1▲ | 90% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 207 | 232 | 1.1▲ | 86% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 203 | 278 | 1.4▲ | 72% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.5, and 32.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Lancashire it was 45.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼32.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼54.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲48.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.74 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 0.5 | −0.4 |
| Further education | 89.3 | −0.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.5 | 0 |
| Employment | 0.5 | −0.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7 | +1.3 |
| Activity not captured | 2.3 | +0.4 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Pendle Vale College on 10 February 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 10 Feb 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Oct 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Sept 2010Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
59% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (32 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 59%
- Positive
- 36%
- Replies
- 32
- 3% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 97% who raised concerns
based on 14 parents (44%) whose child was bullied
based on 10 parents (31%) with SEND