Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #75 in Kent public Top 40% UK

Valley Park School

verifiedData: DfE & Ofsted 2024/25

personMr D Jones

corporate_fareVALLEY INVICTA ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onMaidstone, ME14 5DT

language Visit Website phone 1622679421

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,655

trending_up

Attainment 8

37.6

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GCSE Rank

#73 in Kent

#2,817 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Valley Park School is a Academy converter secondary school in Maidstone, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Valley Park School is an academy converter in Maidstone, Kent, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of VALLEY INVICTA ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,595 pupils on roll, of whom 23% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 37.6, placing the school #73 in Kent and #2,817 of 3,216 nationally. 24.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 4.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 20 A-level subjects. 18.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 5.9% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.54 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.6× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.4:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 4.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: Department for Education 2024/25, Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

37.6

Grade 5+ E&M

24.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)4.9%

Entering EBacc35.00%

EBacc APS3.2

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.6

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39.50%

EBacc APS3.36

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc43%

EBacc APS3.31

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.5

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc42%

EBacc APS3.64

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc85%

EBacc APS3.95

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.22

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc83%

EBacc APS3.95

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.54

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*2.9%

Achieving A*–A5.9%

Achieving A*–B18.5%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered20

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.32

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate95.00%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate90.9%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

28 January 2025

Inspection Report

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04 March 2020

Inspection Report

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28 January 2015

Inspection Report

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18 April 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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27 September 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-01-28

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2020-03-04

Exempt School Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2013-04-18

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2010-04-26

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

4.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.6%(57 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,595 pupils. During this period, there were 72 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.5%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,595	72	4.5%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,608	78	4.9%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,652	62	3.8%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,651	84	5.1%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,658	100	6.0%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,648	69	4.2%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,655	116	7.0%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,670	79	4.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,646	108	6.6%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,648	137	8.3%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,656	161	9.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,665	87	5.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,668	16	1.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,674	43	2.6%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,658	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,658	38	2.3%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,656	34	2.1%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,610	34	2.1%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,620	44	2.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,624	31	1.9%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,555	25	1.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,570	28	1.8%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,580	10	0.6%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,512	35	2.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,514	29	1.9%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,512	39	2.6%	3.1%	4

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 79 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 53 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 36 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 20 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

8.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

13.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

8.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

disagree20%

strongly disagree80%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

agree13%

disagree38%

strongly disagree50%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

agree13%

disagree25%

strongly disagree60%

don't know3%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes28%

no73%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

agree9%

disagree36%

strongly disagree45%

dont know9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

agree15%

disagree33%

strongly disagree35%

don't know18%

My child does well at this school.

agree10%

disagree50%

strongly disagree30%

don't know10%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

agree3%

disagree48%

strongly disagree48%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree3%

agree68%

disagree18%

strongly disagree5%

don't know8%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree3%

agree65%

disagree13%

strongly disagree3%

don't know18%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

agree8%

disagree38%

strongly disagree48%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

no100%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Kent

Dartford Grammar School

The Judd School

Tonbridge Grammar School

Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

Invicta Grammar School