Parkside Community School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of EMBARK MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Boythorpe Avenue, Boythorpe, Chesterfield, S40 2NS
01246 273458 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 16 July 2026.
In short: 5 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
92 pupils in this year group.
32% — 11 points below the Derbyshire average, and 14 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 32% | 43% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 41 | 45 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
103 pupils in this year group.
84% — 7 points below the Derbyshire average, and 8 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 84% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 22% | 34% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 5% | 13% |
| Further education college | 53% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 85% | 84% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Derbyshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 83 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 78 |
| Of those, offered a place | 78 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 139 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 91% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 51.9% | 30.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.4% | 3.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.4% | 14.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 1st highest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 45% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5% | 3.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.9% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 10th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 28.4% | 21.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 9th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Lower than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 50.0 | 24.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.9% | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils | 0.87% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 41% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.4 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 10th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6 | 11.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 11 state secondary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 65% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 16.2% | 12.0%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Brookfield Community School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Outwood Academy Newbold 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- Outwood Academy Hasland Hall 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 73% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Parkside Community School's Ofsted rating?
Parkside Community School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Parkside Community School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 32% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 14 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Parkside Community School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 78 families put Parkside Community School as their first choice for 83 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 78 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 149370.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.