Parkside Community College
105%
Capacity
694
Pupils
5.2x
Demand
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.
Digging into the breakdown, Parkside’s Progress 8 score is driven by particularly strong results in the EBacc subjects, where it scores 1.25, and in maths (0.75) and English (0.77). The EBacc entry rate is high at 82.9%, and 72.4% of pupils achieved the EBacc at a grade 4 or above. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 was an ungraded visit that confirmed it remains Outstanding, building on its previous Outstanding graded inspection in 2017. Leadership and management were also rated Outstanding, and the sixth-form provision (though the school only goes to 16) was rated Good. The school has held a Good or Outstanding rating across all its recent inspections. With 18% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it’s also serving a more diverse intake than some of its high-performing peers, making its results even more notable.
Parkside is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It’s based in Cambridge and has a broad range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, and a library. Sports on offer include netball, swimming, hockey, football, rugby, and martial arts, while clubs range from chess and orchestra to Young Enterprise and Eco Club. The school has a comprehensive SEND provision, supporting conditions from dyslexia and autism to speech and language needs and physical disabilities. With 694 pupils against a capacity of 660, it’s slightly over capacity, which matches the high demand. This is a school for families who want strong academic outcomes in a well-resourced, inclusive setting, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Parkside, Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 1EH |
| Headteacher | Dee Wallace |
| Local Authority | Cambridgeshire |
| Number of Pupils | 694 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.0% |
| School Capacity | 694 / 660 (105% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (20 Apr 2023): School remains Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 5 May 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.80)
186th of 3,141
Nationally
19th of 350
In East of England
3rd of 8
In Cambridge
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
2022/2318%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 120 pupils).
- Sixth form college69%
- School sixth form (stay)18%
- FE college3%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained1%
96% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 28 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
14%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)54%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained11%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed120
626
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
166 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British39.3%
- White (other)22.6%
- Asian15.0%
- Mixed13.2%
- Black0.9%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
10
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
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 Parkside Community College
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
Parkside, Cambridge
Cambridge, CB1 1EH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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