Valley Park School is a secondary school in Maidstone, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Valley Park School currently has around 1595 pupils on roll, which is about 138% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 43.7% boys and 56.3% girls. Around 21.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 8.1%. Persistent absence is recorded at 25%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (64.2%). other white pupils make up about 10.7%
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 98% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (92%) , including 56% who stay in school sixth forms and 35% progressing to further education , while 4% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, ME14 5DT |
| Website: | http://www.valleypark.viat.org.uk/ |
| Telephone: | 01622679421 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Kent |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr D Jones |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 136581 |
Ofsted inspection date: 28/01/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1157 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1595 |
| Number of Boys: | 697 |
| Number of Girls: | 898 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 8.1% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 25% | 8.2% |
| White British | 64.20% | 1024 |
| Other White | 10.70% | 170 |
| Other Mixed | 4.70% | 75 |
| African | 4.50% | 72 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 3.50% | 56 |
| Other Asian | 3.40% | 55 |
| White and Asian | 1.70% | 27 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.30% | 21 |
| White and Black African | 1.10% | 18 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.90% | 15 |
| Indian | 0.90% | 14 |
| Chinese | 0.80% | 13 |
| Caribbean | 0.70% | 11 |
| Unclassified | 0.60% | 10 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.30% | 5 |
| Pakistani | 0.30% | 4 |
| Irish | 0.20% | 3 |
| Other Black | 0.10% | 2 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Invicta Primary School At East Borough Vinters Road , ME14 5DX | 3out of 4 | 481 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| East Borough Primary School Vinters Road , ME14 5DX | - not rated | 481 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Maidstone, St John's Church of England Primary School Provender Way , Grove Green ME14 5TZ | - not rated | 921 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Maidstone, St John's Church of England Primary School Provender Way , Grove Green ME14 5TZ | - not rated | 921 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Philip's CofE Infant School Melville Road , ME15 7UT | - not rated | 1,124 yd | Voluntary controlled school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Park School Huntsman Lane , ME14 5DT | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Vinters Boys' School Huntsman Lane , ME14 5DT | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| Valley Park Community School Huntsman Lane , ME14 5DT | - not rated | 0 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Invicta Grammar School Huntsman Lane , ME14 5DS | 4out of 4 | 233 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Invicta Grammar School Huntsman Lane , ME14 5DR | - not rated | 341 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isp Maidstone Melville Road , ME15 7UT | - not rated | 1,124 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Threshold Learning Centre Howard De Walden , Bluett Street ME14 2UG | - not rated | 1,258 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| MEPA ACADEMY 27 & 29 EARL STREET , MAIDSTONE ME14 1PF | - not rated | 1,406 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Mid-Kent Behaviour Service & Education Office Bishops Terrace , Tonbridge Road ME14 1AF | - not rated | 1,520 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Leigh Academy Snowfields Popesfield Way , ME14 5GA | 4out of 4 | 1,812 yd | Free schools special | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.