Parkside School
122%
Capacity
1,102
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Parkside School
Parkside School in Bradford is a state secondary for mixed pupils aged 11 to 18, and it is currently significantly over capacity. The school has 1,102 pupils on roll against a capacity of just 900, which is a clear signal of local demand. That demand is borne out by the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake: the school received 271 applications for 174 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.56, with 130 first-preference offers made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 39.4%, which is notably high compared with the national average of around 23% and reflects the school’s role in a diverse, urban community. The headteacher is Robin Ghosal, and the school has no religious character. It is not a boarding school and does not have a formal sixth form, so pupils typically move on elsewhere after Year 11.
Academically, Parkside is a solidly performing school with a Progress 8 score of 0.01, which is exactly in line with the national average and well above the Bradford local authority average of -0.19. This places the school 13th out of 34 secondary schools in the LA, and 1481st nationally out of 3141. The Attainment 8 score is 42.6, and 59.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, while 32.5% achieved a grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 20.1%, with 14.2% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good overall, with Good in all categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This represents a downgrade from its previous Outstanding rating in 2011, but the school remains a strong choice within the local area.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a gymnasium, astro turf, sports hall, science labs, and a chapel, and pupils can choose from sports such as football, rugby, netball, tennis, and dance. There is also a good selection of clubs including Model UN, drama, eco club, and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school has provisions for a broad spectrum of needs including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given its oversubscription and strong local reputation, Parkside is a school that suits families who want a large, inclusive secondary with good academic outcomes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, but they should be prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Parkside Terrace, Bradford, Bradford, BD13 5AD |
| Headteacher | Robin Ghosal |
| Local Authority | Bradford |
| Number of Pupils | 1,102 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 39.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,102 / 900 (122% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 19 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.01)
1481st of 3,141
Nationally
130th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
13th of 34
In Bradford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
2022/2332%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 176 pupils).
- FE college43%
- School sixth form (stay)32%
- Not sustained9%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Sixth form college3%
91% 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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed174
271
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
130 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:15
Source: parksideschool.net. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British96.4%
- Mixed1.4%
- Asian0.5%
- White (other)0.3%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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 Parkside 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
Parkside Terrace, Bradford
Bradford, BD13 5AD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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