Park Community School
104%
Capacity
988
Pupils
1.2x
Demand
About Park Community School
Park Community School in Havant is a mixed 11-16 secondary that is currently oversubscribed, a notable signal given its intake profile. With 988 pupils against a capacity of 950, the school is operating slightly above its official limit. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 60.8%, which is significantly higher than the national average and places the school in a context of considerable socio-economic challenge. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 244 applications for 205 places, with 190 offers going to first-preference applicants out of 200 who listed it as their top choice. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.19, meaning the school is genuinely popular among local families despite its demographic profile. The headteacher, Christopher Anders, leads a school that serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, and the demand suggests parents see value in what it offers.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This represents a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2015, when it was rated Requires Improvement. However, the exam results tell a more challenging story. In the 2023/24 academic year, the school’s Progress 8 score was -1.27, meaning pupils achieved over a grade less per subject than the national average, and well below the Hampshire local authority average of -0.17. The Attainment 8 score was 26.9, and only 12.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate was 14.1%, with just 2.3% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 2% by Progress 8, and bottom of all eight schools in the Havant local authority ranking.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and music rooms, alongside clubs such as Chess, Coding, Drama, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Sports on offer include rugby, rowing, and gymnastics. SEND provisions are comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no sixth form or nursery provision. This is a school that serves a high-needs community with strong demand from local families, but the academic outcomes are significantly below average. It will suit parents who prioritise a supportive, inclusive environment and are comfortable with the school’s clear focus on overcoming disadvantage rather than pursuing top-tier academic results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Middle Park Way, Park Community School, Havant, Havant, PO9 4BU |
| Headteacher | Christopher Anders |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 988 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 60.8% |
| School Capacity | 988 / 950 (104% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
3 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (3 Mar 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Feb 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.27)
3076th of 3,141
Nationally
457th of 461
In South East
8th of 8
In Havant
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2369%
of GCSE leavers continue at FE college (cohort: 181 pupils).
- FE college69%
- Not sustained18%
- Employment9%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Sixth form college1%
82% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed205
244
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
200 families put this school as their 1st choice (82% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British94.3%
- White (other)1.4%
- Mixed1.2%
- Asian0.9%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
11
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Park Community School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Middle Park Way, Park Community School, Havant
Havant, PO9 4BU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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