Pendle Vale College
99%
Capacity
1,042
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About Pendle Vale College
Pendle Vale College is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 555 applications for 203 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.73. Of those, 226 families put it as their first preference, and 187 of those were offered a place. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation in the Pendle area. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It currently has 1,042 pupils on roll, very close to its capacity of 1,050. The headteacher is Oliver Handley, and the school has a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has held since its last graded inspection in 2012, with an ungraded inspection in 2021 confirming it remains Good.
Academically, Pendle Vale performs solidly against a challenging local backdrop. Its Progress 8 score of 0.07 is above the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11, meaning pupils here make slightly more progress than those in similar schools across the area. The Attainment 8 score sits at 41.5, and 57.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 32.2% hitting grade 5 or above. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 52.3%, though only 21.5% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the local Pendle ranking, it comes second out of six schools, and nationally it sits in the 44th percentile for Progress 8. The school’s Progress 8 banding is rated as Average, with particularly strong results in open subjects (0.12) and EBacc subjects (0.09), while English and maths progress are close to the national average.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, playing fields, and a gymnasium, plus dedicated art studios, music rooms, and science labs. There are clubs for drama, Model UN, choir, orchestra, science, and gardening, and sports on offer include cricket, football, rugby, swimming, and athletics. SEND provision is broad, covering moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language issues, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 32.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It suits families who want a well-subscribed, Good-rated secondary with strong local results and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, all within a single-site 11-16 setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Oxford Road, Nelson, Pendle, BB9 8LF |
| Headteacher | Oliver Handley |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,042 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,042 / 1,050 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (10 Nov 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 29 Oct 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.07)
1371st of 3,141
Nationally
142nd of 445
In North West
2nd of 6
In Pendle
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 210 pupils).
- FE college88%
- Not sustained7%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
- Employment2%
93% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed203
555
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
226 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian83.3%
- White British7.4%
- Mixed2.6%
- White (other)1.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
14
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pendle Vale College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Oxford Road, Nelson
Pendle, BB9 8LF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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