Valley Park School

About Valley Park School

Valley Park School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.6 places it well below the Kent local authority average of -0.13 for secondary schools, a gap that marks it as one of the weaker performers in the area. In Maidstone specifically, it ranks 8th out of 10 schools on this metric, putting it in the bottom 80th percentile locally, and nationally it sits in the bottom 87th percentile among 3,141 schools. The school’s attainment 8 score of 39.2 and its EBacc average point score of 3.36 both reflect this below-average trajectory. That said, the school is heavily oversubscribed: for 235 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 920 applications, with 205 first-preference applications and 168 first-preference offers. That level of demand suggests that for many local families, factors beyond raw exam scores are driving their choice.

Academically, the picture is mixed. At KS4, the school’s Progress 8 banding is rated ‘Well below average’, with negative scores across every subject pillar: English at -0.49, maths at -0.55, EBacc subjects at -0.69, and open subjects at -0.6. The basics measure (grade 5 or above in English and maths) sits at 27.8%, while the grade 4+ threshold reaches 54.5%. Only 4.1% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above, and EBacc entry is at 39.5%. At KS5, the picture is similarly subdued: the value-added score is -0.32, with a progress banding of ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry is 24.18, equivalent to a D+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C-. Ofsted’s most recent inspection in January 2025 rated the school Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and sixth-form provision, maintaining the same rating it held in 2020.

The school is a large, mixed, non-denominational secondary with a capacity of 1,157 but currently housing 1,595 pupils, meaning it is significantly over capacity. It offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and sixth-form centre, plus clubs from orchestra to Model UN and DofE. SEND provision is extensive, covering ten categories from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and multi-sensory impairment. Parent View responses from 130 respondents show 72% would recommend the school, with strong agreement on happiness (81% agree or strongly agree) and safety (87%). However, only 38% felt bullying is dealt with quickly, and 36% disagreed that concerns are handled properly. This school may suit families who value its inclusive SEND support, wide extracurricular offer, and local popularity, but who are prepared for academic outcomes that trail the county average.

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