The previous Fir Vale School was opened in 1998 and formally opened in 2004 by the Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.^[1] The present converted Academy School was formed in 2012, and accepts approximately 1000 pupils from the local area.

The present Fir Vale academy school was judged Grade 2 'Good' in its 2015 Ofsted report following a Grade 3 'Requires Improvement' judgement in 2013.^[2]

Fir Vale is one of 300 national Leading Edge schools^{[further explanation needed]} in the country. A new building project began in December 2010 which was finished in December 2011; a new teaching block was constructed and existing spaces were converted, allowing the annual intake to increase from 150 to 210 students. The main school is a PFI build.^{[citation needed]}

In September 2018 a large fight outside the school gates required more than 15 police vehicles, dog teams and a police helicopter to disperse. Two people were injured.^[3]

In 2015 the school Progress 8 figure was +0.2;^{[further explanation needed]} 78% of pupils made 3 or more Levels of Progress in English and 23% A*-A grades, some of the highest figures in Sheffield. In 2016, Progress 8 was just below national in 2016 with a P8 figure of -0.17. This placed the academy in the top 40% of secondaries in Sheffield.^{[citation needed]}

The school refused places to 91 children in 2015.^[4]

The school has received publicity for work with Romani pupils.^{[5][6][failed verification]}

The school is a Business and Enterprise College, and uses the Master Cutlers Curriculum^{[clarification needed]} started in 2014 to give pupils a skill set for employment.^{[citation needed]}

The school is a Microsoft Academy running courses for staff, pupils and the local community.^{[citation needed]}

In 2013 Fir Vale pupils successfully bid for a Fir Vale radio station which they now run under their director of specialism.^{[citation needed]}

• Official website