Park House School
3785%
Capacity
984
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Park House School
Park House School in West Berkshire is a mixed secondary for pupils aged 11 to 19, currently educating 984 students. That number is striking when set against its official capacity of just 26, a figure that appears to be a data anomaly — it is almost certainly a recording error, as a school of this size would typically have a capacity in the hundreds. The headteacher is James King. The school is non-denominational and does not operate as a boarding school. While the data does not include a specific figure for pupils eligible for free school meals, the local authority context shows that West Berkshire has 11 state secondary schools in total, of which only two are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. The nearest Outstanding school, St Bartholomew's School, is just 1.5 kilometres away, which may influence local demand and parental choice in the area.
Academically, Park House School is currently rated Inadequate by Ofsted, the lowest possible grade. This places it in a challenging position compared with the local authority average Progress 8 score of 0.02, which is broadly in line with the national average. The school's top-performing local peers include St Bartholomew's School (ranking score 0.37), The Downs School (0.32), and Denefield School (0.16), all of which significantly outperform the LA average. No specific exam results or Progress 8 data for Park House itself are provided in the dataset, so it is not possible to quantify how far below these benchmarks the school currently sits. However, the Inadequate rating signals serious concerns that parents will want to investigate thoroughly, particularly if they are considering the school for GCSE or A-Level pathways.
On the practical side, Park House School offers a notably wide range of facilities for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, astro turf, and a sixth form centre. Sports provision is extensive, with rowing, martial arts, rugby, and athletics among the options, and clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, orchestra, and debate. The school has a library, science labs, and ICT suites. There is no information in the data about SEND provision, admissions criteria, or oversubscription levels, so parents would need to contact the school directly for details on how places are allocated. Given the Inadequate Ofsted rating, this school is likely to suit families who are committed to working closely with the school during a period of improvement, or those who value its broad extracurricular offer above current academic outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | 239 Andover Road, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG14 6NQ |
| Headteacher | James King |
| Local Authority | West Berkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 984 |
| School Capacity | 984 / 26 (3785% full) |
SEND Support
SEN Pupil Breakdown
24
With EHC Plan
0
SEN Support
2.4% of pupils receive SEN 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
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
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.
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Park House 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
239 Andover Road, Newbury
West Berkshire, RG14 6NQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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