Bishop Parker Catholic School, Milton Keynes
Bishop Parker Catholic School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Milton Keynes. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 31st-highest of the 60 schools in Milton Keynes with published results, and 6,834th of 14,452 across England. It was 76% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Milton Keynes (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Bishop Parker Catholic School in detail
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Bishop Parker Catholic School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 78% in Milton Keynes and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 87% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Bishop Parker Catholic School
For September 2026 entry, 17 families put Bishop Parker Catholic School as their first choice and 47 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Bishop Parker Catholic School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bishop Parker Catholic School are The Premier Academy (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 85% reading, 85% maths); Drayton Park School (0.2 miles, 74% reading, 81% maths); Water Hall Primary School (0.6 miles, Requires improvement, 38% reading, 50% maths); and Knowles Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 94% reading, 90% maths).
Bishop Parker Catholic School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
The Premier AcademyDrayton Park SchoolWater Hall Primary SchoolKnowles Primary School
Who goes there
40.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (38%), White British (24%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 29 pupils (14.4%) received SEN support and 1 (0.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Bishop Parker Catholic School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bletchley Rail Station, about 1160 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bala Way, 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bishop Parker Catholic School issued 18 suspensions, 9.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Bishop Parker Catholic School are Lift Sir Herbert Leon (0.4 miles) and Lord Grey Academy (1.3 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from March 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are inspired at this thoughtful, caring school. The ambitious curriculum connects pupils' learning in creative and effective ways. The school library is well loved and appreciated by all. Pupils enjoy the range of texts, including classic mythology and traditional tales. In subjects such as history, pupils remember key events and know about different eras, such as the Stone Age. Pupils value their educational trips and residential stays. These are memorable experiences. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive highly skilled and effective support. Pupils are well prepared for their next stage of education.
Pupils feel safe and are happy. One pupil commented: 'I love my school because of all the people here. There are friends all around us.' Older pupils take on responsibilities such as being part of the chaplaincy team, a school councillor, a librarian or a play leader. They act as role models for younger pupils and help playtimes to be calm and respectful. Behaviour inside and outside the classrooms is positive. If pupils do present any challenging behaviour, this is managed sensitively and with care so that learning is not disrupted.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Pupils learn to read well. Staff teach phonics effectively from the beginning of early years. Pupils read books that are closely matched to the sounds that they have learned. Staff check how well pupils read and adapt lessons to make sure that reading develops consistently. If pupils fall behind, they get the support that they need to catch up quickly. Pupils' achievement in phonics has improved rapidly since the most recent published outcomes. Staff have strong subject knowledge. This has been helped by changes to the school's adopted phonics scheme. Practice could be even stronger by sharing phonics training more widely to develop expertise across the whole staff team.
From Ofsted's September 2023 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
29.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 87% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 87% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 83% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.0
Avg class size
19.7
Infant (KS1)
27.3
KS2
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bishop Parker Catholic School
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Bishop Parker Catholic School, with their latest published grades:
- Eaton Mill Nursery - Day nursery, 0.2 milesOfsted, 13 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Bletchley Montessori Day Nursery and Preschool - Day nursery, 0.3 milesOfsted report card, 26 November 2025: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Little Tinkers Preschool@ Fern Grove - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted, 2 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- The Palace Day Nursery - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted, 15 September 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Little Tinkers Preschool @ Holne Chase - Day nursery, 0.9 milesOfsted, 22 November 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bishop Parker Catholic School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bishop Parker Catholic School is in Milton Keynes; for families living there:
- Milton Keynes's school travel policy: School Travel Support Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 9 slight.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Milton Keynes is 8 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bishop Parker Catholic School
Will you get a place at Bishop Parker Catholic School?
For 2026 entry it had 17 first choices for 18 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
76%
Available places
160 pupils
210 places
50 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Across Milton Keynes council
Places available
4,130
Applications
3,155
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Milton Keynes council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the Catholic Primary planning area (Milton Keynes) will have 219 spare primary places in 2027/28.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
29
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
14.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
202
Total Pupils
93
Boys
109
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
16.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,033
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,564
Per pupil
£1135k
Total funding
£64k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.0%
Overall absence
19.4%
Persistent absence
155
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Bishop Parker Catholic School
Questions parents ask about Bishop Parker Catholic School
What are SATs results like at Bishop Parker Catholic School?
Of the pupils at Bishop Parker Catholic School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Bishop Parker Catholic School's Ofsted rating?
Bishop Parker Catholic School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2023, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in March 2014, it was rated Good.
Is it hard to get a place at Bishop Parker Catholic School?
Bishop Parker Catholic School was not full in 2025: it ran at 76% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Bishop Parker Catholic School?
Classes at Bishop Parker Catholic School average 24 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils.
How many pupils go to Bishop Parker Catholic School?
Bishop Parker Catholic School has around 202 pupils on roll. 30% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bishop Parker Catholic School?
6% of sessions were missed at Bishop Parker Catholic School in 2024/25. 19.4% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near Bishop Parker Catholic School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 9 slight. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Milton Keynes is 8 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bishop Parker Catholic School?
Bishop Parker Catholic School is at Hunter Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK2 3BT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)