Woodbrook Vale School
100%
Capacity
830
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Woodbrook Vale School
Woodbrook Vale School is a state secondary in Charnwood, Leicestershire, and its headline Progress 8 score of 0.44 sits well above the local authority average of -0.1 for similar schools. That gap of over half a grade per subject is significant and places the school firmly in the 'above average' national banding. In fact, within Charnwood it ranks first out of nine secondary schools on this measure, and sits in the top 13 per cent of schools nationally. The school is also oversubscribed by a considerable margin — 376 applications for 160 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with 157 first-preference offers made from 159 first-preference applications. This level of demand suggests local families see the school as a strong option, and the numbers back that up.
Academically, the school performs well across the board. Its Attainment 8 score of 52.4 is solid, and 73 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The EBacc average point score of 4.99 is respectable, and 79.9 per cent of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects — a high uptake that reflects the school's academic breadth. Breaking down Progress 8, the strongest subject area is the EBacc bucket at 0.54, followed by English at 0.47 and maths at 0.31. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. Its previous inspection in 2015 also awarded a Good overall, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.
The school caters for pupils aged 11 to 16 and has no sixth form, so families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. Facilities are generous for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and a chapel. There is a wide range of clubs — from coding and science club to Young Enterprise and choir — and sports on offer include martial arts, hockey, and dance. The school supports pupils with a variety of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties. With 16 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is broadly representative of the local area. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes without a selective admissions process, and the oversubscription figures suggest it is worth getting your application in early.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Grasmere Road, Loughborough, Charnwood, LE11 2ST |
| Headteacher | Rachael Fraser |
| Local Authority | Leicestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 830 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.0% |
| School Capacity | 830 / 830 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Feb 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 28 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.44)
588th of 3,141
Nationally
33rd of 273
In East Midlands
1st of 9
In Charnwood
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
2022/2318%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 158 pupils).
- FE college70%
- School sixth form (stay)18%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
- 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.
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
2025/26Oversubscribed160
376
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
159 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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 British72.8%
- Asian13.1%
- Mixed6.0%
- White (other)4.7%
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.
Half 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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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 Woodbrook Vale School
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
Grasmere Road, Loughborough
Charnwood, LE11 2ST
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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