Classpot

Parkside Community College

Cambridge, CB1 1EHSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Apr 2023
Progress 8
+0.80
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
166 1st-choice / 120 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#186 of 3,141 nationally

About Parkside Community College

Parkside Community College’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.8 is dramatically higher than the Cambridgeshire local authority average of 0.17 for state secondary schools, placing it well above the norm. This means pupils here make significantly more academic progress between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs than their peers across the county. In fact, the school ranks 4th out of 39 secondary schools in Cambridgeshire, and sits in the top 6% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 61.1 is also strong, and 84.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths (the basics measure). The school is oversubscribed by a factor of 5.22, with 626 applications for 120 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 106 of those offers went to first-preference families. That level of demand reflects a reputation that clearly precedes it.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressParkside, Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 1EH
HeadteacherDee Wallace
Local AuthorityCambridgeshire
Number of Pupils694
Free School Meals (FSM)18.0%
School Capacity694 / 660 (105% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

20 Apr 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (20 Apr 2023): School remains Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 5 May 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Playing FieldsMusic RoomsGymnasiumTennis CourtsAstro TurfTheatreLibraryArt StudiosICT SuiteSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

NetballSwimmingHockeyFootballRugbyMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

ChessNewspaperScience ClubYoung EnterpriseOrchestraEco Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Parkside Community College

Parkside Community College has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.