The Vale Academy food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Central Bedfordshire
The Vale Academy holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 March 2026, 3 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Wilbury Drive, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4QP
How it compares in Central Bedfordshire
That puts The Vale Academy among the 1,153 places in Central Bedfordshire holding top marks, 76% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,153 | 76% | ← The Vale Academy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 254 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 83 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 189 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Vale Academy none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Vale Academy, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| Crumbs Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2025 |
| Baxter Storey Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2026 |
| Cafe Pausa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2024 |
| Blue Apple Catering Holdings Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2025 |
| Blue Apple Catering Holdings Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2025 |
| Chalk Hills Academy School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2025 |
| Co-operative Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2016 |
Questions about The Vale Academy
What is The Vale Academy's food hygiene rating?
The Vale Academy has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Central Bedfordshire Council on 16 March 2026.
Is The Vale Academy safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Vale Academy last inspected?
The Vale Academy was last inspected on 16 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Central Bedfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Vale Academy?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Vale Academy compare to other places in Central Bedfordshire?
76% of the 1,520 rated food businesses in Central Bedfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Vale Academy is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Central Bedfordshire Council inspects The Vale Academy and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Vale Academy and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Vale Academy is one of 175 rated food businesses in Dunstable. See every hygiene rating in Dunstable →
Central Bedfordshire inspects and rates 1,709 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Central Bedfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →