The Aylesbury Vale Academy
127%
Capacity
1,831
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About The Aylesbury Vale Academy
Parents considering The Aylesbury Vale Academy will find a school that is clearly in demand. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 442 applications for 193 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.29. Of those, 159 families put it as their first preference, and 151 of those were offered a place. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a Church of England secondary with a nursery and sixth form, catering for pupils aged 3 to 19. It is a mixed, state-funded academy in Buckinghamshire, currently led by headteacher Gavin Gibson. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the high application numbers and first-preference rate are a practical signal that many local families see it as a solid choice.
Academically, the school sits in a challenging local context. Buckinghamshire’s average Progress 8 score is 0.25, well above the national average, and the county is home to several high-performing grammar schools. The Aylesbury Vale Academy’s Progress 8 score of 0.07 is rated as ‘Average’ nationally, placing it 20th out of 34 schools in the local authority. Its Attainment 8 score is 41.3, and 56.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 19.1%, with 10.6% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019, the school was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for leadership, sixth form provision, and early years. An ungraded inspection in 2024 confirmed the school remains Good. This is a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Inadequate.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, art studios, and a sixth form centre. There is also a chapel on site. Clubs and activities are plentiful, with options ranging from chess and coding to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. The school’s SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 24.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. For families who want a large, all-through Church of England school with strong facilities and a clear improvement trajectory, and who are comfortable with the competitive grammar school landscape in Buckinghamshire, this is a pragmatic choice worth a closer look.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Paradise Orchard, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0WS |
| Headteacher | Gavin Gibson |
| Local Authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,831 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,831 / 1,440 (127% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (9 May 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Feb 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.07)
1370th of 3,141
Nationally
211th of 461
In South East
20th of 34
In Buckinghamshire
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
2022/2348%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 195 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)48%
- FE college34%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
- Sixth form college1%
94% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2347%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 15 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
0%
Russell Group
0%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)47%
- Employment20%
- Not sustained20%
- Further education7%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed193
442
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
159 families put this school as their 1st choice (36% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British48.8%
- Asian20.5%
- Mixed10.4%
- White (other)9.3%
- Black0.7%
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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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 The Aylesbury Vale Academy
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
Paradise Orchard, Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire, HP18 0WS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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