Valley Park School, Maidstone

In its own words: "Our vision is for Valley Park to be a centre for both academic and pastoral excellence and we believe that these two key aspects of school life are inseparable."

From the headteacher's welcome: "As the Headteacher of Valley Park School, I am delighted to introduce you to our vibrant and inclusive learning community. Our dedicated team of staff and I are committed to providing an exceptional education for all our students. At Valley Park, our core values of ambition, respect and kindness underpin everything we do."

In 2026, pupils at Valley Park School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

33% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is up from 37.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.6: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.5, against 44.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 223 families put Valley Park School as their first choice and 980 named it as one of their preferences, for 237 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 56 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Valley Park School are Invicta Grammar School (0.1 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 70.8); School of Science and Technology Maidstone (0.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 49.1); Maidstone Grammar School (0.7 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 67); and Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (1.3 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 62.7).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Valley Park School.

Valley Park School is one of 9 schools run by Valley Invicta Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.6 in 2024/25.

130 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Valley Park School (as of September 2025): 72% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (86%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).

Of the 266 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 45% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 179 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 44% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 37% into work. 1% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 239 pupils (15.4%) received SEN support and 24 (1.5%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Maidstone East Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Turkey Mill (opposite), 160 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Valley Park School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 434 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Valley Park School issued 196 suspensions, 12.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Valley Park School are Valley Invicta Primary School At East Borough (0.3 miles); Maidstone, St John's Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles); South Borough Primary School (0.9 miles); and Park Way Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.