Academy converter · Kent

Valley Park School

11–18Ages
1,555Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136581URN

Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, ME14 5DT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

4.1per place

1.1 above Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

980 applications for 237 places · 22nd of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

41.8of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

55th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 28 January 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

4.1applications per place, Year 7

1.1 above Kent median (3.1) 1.9 above England median (2.2)

980 applications · 237 places offered · 223 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 4.1; Kent median median 3.1
2025 3.9; Kent median median 3.0
2024 3.7; Kent median median 3.2
2023 4.3; Kent median median 3.2
2022 3.8; Kent median median 2.9
2021 4.9; Kent median median 3.6
2020 4.3; Kent median median 3.1
2019 4.2; Kent median median 2.9
2018 4.1; Kent median median 3.1
2017 3.8; Kent median median 3.0
2016 3.8; Kent median median 3.3
2015 4.3; Kent median median 3.2
2014 3.7; Kent median median 3.1

More applications per place than the Kent median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Kent median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	237	980	4.1	223	0.94
Sep 2025	235	920	3.9	205	0.87
Sep 2024	238	870	3.7	141	0.59
Sep 2023	237	1,007	4.3	221	0.93
Sep 2022	269	1,023	3.8	295	1.10
Sep 2021	268	1,299	4.9	241	0.90
Sep 2020	263	1,128	4.3	411	1.56
Sep 2019	265	1,114	4.2	431	1.63
Sep 2018	264	1,080	4.1	435	1.65
Sep 2017	268	1,006	3.8	424	1.58
Sep 2016	268	1,022	3.8	371	1.38
Sep 2015	239	1,035	4.3	358	1.50
Sep 2014	238	875	3.7	265	1.11

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

264 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)41.855th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%56th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths56%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.60

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	264	41.8	33%	56%	–
2024/25	263	37.6	25%	56%	–
2023/24	266	39.2	28%	55%	−0.60
2022/23	265	38.9	26%	53%	−0.42

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Valley Park SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

4.1applications per place 41.8Attainment 8
Invicta Grammar School
0.2 km · Kent

Outstanding2024

2.8applications per place 70.8Attainment 8 Selective
School of Science and Technology Maidstone
0.4 km · Kent

Outstanding2023

6.3applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
Maidstone Grammar School
1.1 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

3.1applications per place 67.0Attainment 8 Selective
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
2.0 km · Kent

Outstanding2023

5.3applications per place 62.7Attainment 8 Selective
The Maplesden Noakes School
2.2 km · Kent

Good2024

4.0applications per place 36.0Attainment 8
New Line Learning Academy
2.8 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 29.2Attainment 8
St Augustine Academy
2.8 km · Kent

2026

2.0applications per place 35.4Attainment 8
Oakwood Park Grammar School
2.9 km · Kent

Remains Good2024

3.8applications per place 66.1Attainment 8 Selective

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136581 · 886/4249
Trust: Valley Invicta Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,157 pupils · 1,555 on roll
Free school meals: 23.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2011
Replaced: Valley Park Community School (URN 131245)
Address: Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, ME14 5DT
Local authority: Kent · Maidstone

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources