Park Academy West London

About Park Academy West London

Park Academy West London’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.3 sits well below the Hillingdon local authority average of 0.06 for secondary schools, placing it 17th out of 21 schools in the borough. That puts it in the bottom 20% of its LA peers and the bottom 13% of London secondaries. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 41.2 and EBacc average point score of 3.64 also lag behind what you’d typically see in the area. On the plus side, just over half of pupils (50.8%) entered the EBacc suite of subjects, and 50% achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. But the picture is mixed: only 38.6% hit the stronger grade 5 benchmark in those core subjects, and the EBacc APS of 3.64 suggests many students are not reaching the higher grades. For parents comparing options, these metrics signal a school that is still working to bring outcomes in line with the LA norm.

Ofsted’s most recent inspection in November 2023 rated the school Requires Improvement overall, though the breakdown shows some real bright spots. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision were all judged Good, which suggests the school has a positive culture and is supporting students well beyond the classroom. The quality of education and leadership and management both remain Requires Improvement, which aligns with the below-average Progress 8 score. At KS5, the picture is similar: the value-added score of -0.49 is rated Below average, with an average points per entry of 23.21 (equivalent to a D+ grade). Only 32 pupils were in the sixth form cohort, and none achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. Compared with its previous inspection in 2019, when every category was Requires Improvement, the school has made some progress in behaviour and sixth-form provision, but the core academic offer still needs work.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 211 applications for 153 places and 55 first-preference offers, so demand is there despite the Ofsted rating. Facilities are decent for a state school: a swimming pool, sports hall, gym, playing fields, and a sixth-form centre, plus art studios and ICT suites. Sports on offer include rowing and martial arts alongside the usual football and netball, and clubs range from Model UN and Debate to DofE and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, among others. With 41.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a significantly disadvantaged intake, which may partly explain the lower headline scores. This is a school that suits families who value a supportive environment and improving behaviour over top-tier academic results, and who are comfortable with a school still on an upward trajectory.

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