Park View School
Chester le Street, DH3 3QA · County Durham · secondary school
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21st of 30 secondary schools in County Durham we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 4.4/10 against 886 of them, against 4.3/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 42.2 · 43 | 46% | 1.97 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.14 · 39 | 38% | 1.50 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.8 · 54 | 15% | 0.84 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Park View School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 39.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.4, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.14 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Robotics, Coding, Poetry, and Combined Cadet Force clubs. Sports include Football, Rugby, Netball, Dodgeball, Futsal, Boxercise, and Basketball. The arts programme features a school show. Trips include an outward bounds residential in Scotland, a ski trip, and residential trips to France. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,631 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,484. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What support is available for pupils whose Progress 8 score is below 0? How are places allocated for the next entry year?
What Ofsted said about Park View School
Overview
Park View School is described as a place where pupils learn to be “resilient, respectful and empathetic,” creating a “positive learning atmosphere.” The report highlights that the school has high expectations which pupils “rise to this challenge and thrive in their studies,” with particular praise for the “excellent” sixth-form provision. Overall, the school is judged to be Good across most key areas, with Outstanding sixth-form provision.
Strengths
- The sixth-form provision is “excellent,” with students achieving “exceptional outcomes” and benefiting from a “breadth of study routes and enrichment activities.”
- Teachers are “knowledgeable” and “bring lessons to life,” ensuring all pupils, including those with SEND, can study a diverse range of subjects.
- Staff provide effective personal support and “individualised and unbiased” careers guidance to prepare pupils for their next steps.
- The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities, including sport, arts, and educational visits, which broaden pupils’ experiences.
- Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with an open culture that puts pupils’ interests first.
Areas to improve
- The delivery of the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme lacks consistency, meaning “some pupils do not fully grasp certain key concepts.”
- Some aspects of the personal development offer are not delivered with the same rigour, leading to a “less cohesive experience” for some pupils.
- Leaders are taking steps to tackle instances where the progress of some pupils is “lagging behind.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 47.5 |
| 2024/25 | 46.4 |
| 2025/26 | 46.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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