Ardley Hill Academy
| Type | Primary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 2-11 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Lowther Road Dunstable Bedfordshire LU6 3NZ |
| Phone | 01582667955 |
| Reference Number | 138209 |
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.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 461 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 51.41%
Girls: 48.59% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 11.3% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 20.6% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 28.4 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 29.3 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 28 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | 32 | 59 |
| 2 | 27 | 29 | 56 |
| 3 | 34 | 24 | 58 |
| 4 | 38 | 21 | 59 |
| 5 | 24 | 25 | 49 |
| 6 | 30 | 30 | 60 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 65.3% |
| White, Other | 8% |
| African | 6.1% |
| Asian, Other | 5.4% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 3.3% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.8% |
| White & Black (African) | 2% |
| Caribbean | 1.1% |
| Pakistani | 1.1% |
| Indian | 0.7% |
| Unclassified | 0.7% |
| White & Asian | 0.4% |
| Irish | 0.2% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| > Early Years Provision | Good |
| Last Report Date | 16 Jul 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 16 Jul 2024 | School inspection: |
| 22 Feb 2022 | School inspection: |
| 05 May 2021 | Monitoring visit |
| 10 Feb 2021 | Monitoring visit |
| 26 Mar 2019 | Monitoring visit |
| 24 Apr 2018 | Full inspection: |
| 11 Oct 2016 | Monitoring visit |
| 03 Mar 2016 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Aug 2012 | Academy conversion letter |
| 04 Oct 2011 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as Ardley Hill Lower School | |
| 04 Oct 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 06 Feb 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 06 Feb 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 11 Feb 2002 | Full inspection |
| 11 Feb 2002 | Full inspection |
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.
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 60% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 3% |
Average Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
| Subject | School | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 105 | ||
| Maths | 104 |
Progress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 0.2 | ||
| Writing | -0.8 | ||
| Maths | -1 |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockAverage Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
UnlockUnlock Premium
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 25 | 7 |
| Third Preference | 22 | 2 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Watling Lower School
Bull Pond Lane, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3BJ |
0.27 miles |
|
Lark Rise Academy
Cartmel Drive, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3PT |
0.44 miles |
|
St. Augustine's Academy
Oakwood Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4AS |
0.63 miles |
|
Dunstable Icknield Lower School
Burr Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3AG |
0.66 miles |
|
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 4BB |
0.84 miles |
|
Ashton St Peter's VA C of E School
Leighton Court, Ashton St. Peters Primary School, Leighton Court, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1EW |
0.85 miles |
|
Lancot School
Lancot Drive, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2AP |
1.23 miles |
|
Beecroft Academy
Westfield Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1DW |
1.25 miles |
|
Hadrian Academy
Hadrian Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4SR |
1.26 miles |
|
Westfield Nursery School
Westfield Road, Dunstable, LU6 1DL |
1.28 miles |
|
Willow Nursery School
Goldstone Crescent, Dunstable, LU5 4QU |
1.3 miles |
|
The Vale Academy
Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4QP |
1.4 miles |
|
St Christophers Academy
Gorham Way, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4NJ |
1.49 miles |
|
Houghton Regis Primary School
St Michael's Avenue, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 5DH |
1.93 miles |
|
Chantry Primary Academy
Tomlinson Avenue, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 0QP |
1.97 miles |
|
Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy
Angels Lane, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 5HH |
2.04 miles |
|
Totternhoe Church of England Academy
Church Road, Totternhoe, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1RE |
2.06 miles |
|
Kensworth Church of England Academy
Common Road, Kensworth, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3RH |
2.07 miles |
|
The Ferrars Academy
Macaulay Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 0LL |
2.11 miles |
|
St Martin De Porres Catholic Primary School
Pastures Way, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 0PF |
2.13 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Queensbury Academy
Langdale Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3BU |
0.53 miles |
|
Priory Academy
Priory Academy, Britain Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4JA |
0.56 miles |
|
Manshead Church of England Academy
Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 4BB |
0.84 miles |
|
Stannard School
Ridgeway Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4QL |
1.14 miles |
|
Weatherfield Academy
Brewers Hill Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1AF |
1.39 miles |
|
All Saints Academy Dunstable
Houghton Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 5AB |
1.48 miles |
|
The Chalk Hills Academy
Leagrave High St, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 0NE |
1.81 miles |
|
Challney High School for Boys
Stoneygate Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 9TJ |
2.45 miles |
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Challney High School for Girls
Addington Way, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 9FJ |
2.56 miles |
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Al Hikmah Boys School
145 High Street, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 9LE |
2.59 miles |
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King's House Moorlands
King's House, High Street Leagrave, Luton, LU4 9JY |
2.59 miles |
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Houstone School
Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5PX |
2.68 miles |
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The Chiltern School
Parkside Drive, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 5PX |
2.73 miles |
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The Stockwood Park Academy
Rotheram Avenue, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 5PP |
3.47 miles |
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Lealands High School
Sundon Park Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 3AL |
3.54 miles |
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Jamiatul Uloom Al - Islamia
364 - 370 Leagrave Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 1RF |
3.55 miles |
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Active Support Education Centre
Unit 1 Britannia Estates, Leagrave Road, Luton, Beds, LU3 1RJ |
3.67 miles |
|
Bury Park Educational Institute (Al - Hikmah Secondary School)
82 - 86 Dunstable Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 1EH |
3.86 miles |
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Woodlands Secondary School
Northwell Drive, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 3SP |
3.98 miles |
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Denbigh High School
Alexandra Avenue, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 1HE |
4.01 miles |