Ardley Hill Academy

Ardley Hill Academy has demonstrated significant improvements since its previous inspection, moving from requires improvement to a good rating overall. The school fosters a positive environment for students through its commitment to the 'REACH' values, which promote resilience and community engagement. Pupils benefit from a well-designed curriculum that supports their development across various subjects, and parents express appreciation for the school's efforts to involve the community and enhance education quality. The leadership team has effectively rebuilt relationships with families and introduced high-quality teaching strategies, showing careful attention to the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Despite these strengths, the school faces challenges with some pupils struggling with reading fluency and expression. While leaders have identified the need for improvement in these areas, the support plans have yet to be fully executed. Additionally, inconsistencies in the level of assistance for students with SEND could hinder their progress. Overall, while Ardley Hill Academy is on a promising trajectory, there are areas needing attention to ensure all children achieve their best.

Strengths

• Strong commitment to the school's 'REACH' values.
• High-quality phonics and reading programmes that lead to pupil success in early reading.
• Community-minded initiatives, such as the 'safeguarding squad,' enhance pupil safety.
• Positive behaviour management strategies in place.
• Effective early identification and support for pupils with SEND.
• Strong relationships with parents and the local community.
• Comprehensive personal development programme with opportunities for sports and educational trips.

Areas for Improvement

• Inefficiencies in supporting weaker readers affect their fluency and comprehension.
• Inconsistencies in the support provided to pupils with SEND.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ardley Hill Academy attended 94.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.9% of pupils at Ardley Hill Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Ardley Hill Academy had 25.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 10.9% of pupils at Ardley Hill Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Ardley Hill Academy received £6,338 and spent £6,265 for each of its 434 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £256,000 (£591 per pupil).

Across all 19 schools of Chiltern Learning Trust, income was £7,910 and spending £7,771 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Dunstable · Central Bedfordshire local authority: places and applications

Ardley Hill Academy is part of Chiltern Learning Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Lark Rise Academy Dunstable
• Lancot School Dunstable
• Challney High School for Boys Luton
• Challney High School for Girls Luton
• Dallow Primary School Luton
• Denbigh High School Luton
• Lea Manor High School Luton
• Chiltern Academy Luton
• Putteridge High School Luton
• Gilbert Inglefield Academy Leighton Buzzard

What is Ardley Hill Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ardley Hill Academy is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Ardley Hill Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Ardley Hill Academy was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Ardley Hill Academy have?

Ardley Hill Academy has 422 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ardley Hill Academy cover?

Ardley Hill Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Ardley Hill Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ardley Hill Academy?

Ardley Hill Academy is at Lowther Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3NZ.