Admissions
Valley Academy’s admissions process is managed by the local authority’s admissions team. To apply for a place at Valley Academy please visit the local authorities admissions team website for more information on the process. Please click here to read our latest Admissions Policy.
We are always significantly over-subscribed. Presently, we use the following criteria in the following order of preference:
‘Looked after children’ or ‘previously looked after children’ or students with an Education Health Care Plan where Valley Academy is stated as first preference.
- Children with a sibling attending the academy at the time of application.
- Children with an exceptional medical, behaviour or social need, supported by a written recommendation from an independent professional such as a hospital consultant/paediatrician or social worker. The letter must explain why it is essential that the child attend Valley Academy and why no other school could provide the appropriate support. It is likely that this letter would initiate a meeting between all the appropriate parties to discuss the needs of the child and for the academy to decide if it is able to meet the needs of the child. It should be noted that the smallness of the academy or the close proximity would not be in themself be a strong enough argument.
- Children who clearly show an aptitude in Arts or Sports (up to 10% places). This will be assessed by clear written evidence from a relevant professional(s) and/or previous teachers of competence at a high level.
If more than 6 applications are received with support from a relevant professional or teacher, the places will be determined by using a random selection.
After these places have been allocated the applications will be split into 3 geographical areas.
The number of places from each of the three areas is specified below.
If one or two areas are undersubscribed the remaining places will be redistributed equally to the other areas.
Children whose home address is within the following three priority areas:
1. Less than one-mile straight line distance from the academy (up to 20% places).
2. Between one- and two-miles straight line distance from the academy (up to 40% places).
3. Over two miles straight line distance from the academy (up to 40% places).
We offer an open evening during the first half term and ask those who are interested to fill in an ’Indication of Interest Form’ that can be picked up from the Valley Academy reception.