The Valley Leadership Academy

The Valley Leadership Academy (formerly Fearns Community Sports College) is an 11–16 co-educational secondary school with academy status in Stacksteads, Bacup, Lancashire, England. It was formerly a community school and adopted its present name after becoming an academy in July 2019.^[3] It is part of Star Academies.

The Valley Leadership Academy
Address
Fearns Moss, Stacksteads Bacup , Lancashire , OL13 0TG England
Coordinates	53°41′22″N 2°19′13″W
Information
Former name	Fearns Community Sports College
Type	Academy
Local authority	Lancashire County Council
Trust	Star Academies
Department for Education URN	147018 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Executive Principal	Colette Roberts[1]
Gender	Co-educational
Age range	11–16
Capacity	1,050[2]
Website	thevalleyleadershipacademy.com

School inspections

Logo of Fearns Community Sports College.

In June 2014, the school was placed in special measures, after being rated 'inadequate' in every category of the latest Ofsted report. The inspectors stated that "marking is ‘inconsistent’, pupil attendance is poor and senior leaders and governors have failed to improve the quality of teaching and raise achievement since the last ‘satisfactory’ inspection in June 2012".^[4]

After two further inspections also deemed the school to be inadequate,^[5] in September 2023 Ofsted rated the school as 'requires improvement', following its first inspection since becoming an academy.^[6]

Notable former pupils

• Brendan Harris, murderer^[7]
• Matty James, professional footballer^[8]
• Reece James, professional footballer^[9]