Caslon Primary Community School

About Caslon Primary Community School

Caslon Primary Community School’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit above the Dudley local authority average, but the picture is more mixed than that headline suggests. The school’s combined reading, writing and maths expected standard score of 67% beats the LA average of 59% by eight percentage points, placing it 24th out of 69 primary schools in the borough. That’s a solid mid-table position, though it’s worth noting that the three top-performing schools in Dudley all scored 81 or higher. Where Caslon really stands out is in maths: 88% of pupils reached the expected standard, and the average maths score of 104 is strong. Reading also performs well, with 76% at expected and an average score of 106. The catch is that no pupils reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, and writing higher attainment sits at 0%, suggesting that while most children are meeting the benchmark, very few are exceeding it.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 judged it as Requires Improvement overall, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2015. The inspection found that quality of education, early years provision, and leadership and management all require improvement, while behaviour and attitudes and personal development were rated Good. Parent feedback from the same period is notably divided: 69% of respondents would recommend the school, but only 44% strongly agreed that their child is happy, and just 25% strongly agreed that concerns are dealt with properly. A significant 38% of parents didn’t know whether bullying is dealt with effectively, which may reflect the small sample size of 16 responses. On the academic side, the school’s national ranking for KS2 expected standards places it in the 39th percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly two-fifths of schools nationally.

Caslon is a two-form entry primary with a nursery, and it was oversubscribed for 2025/26, receiving 45 applications for 26 places, with all 25 first-preference families offered a spot. The school serves a community with above-average disadvantage: 35.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Facilities include a library, dining hall, forest school, outdoor playground and a chapel, and the school offers a wide range of clubs from book club to coding, plus sports including gymnastics, swimming and cross country. SEND provision is broad, covering moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, hearing impairment and social, emotional and mental health support, with a resourced provision on site. For families prioritising strong maths outcomes and a school that reflects the local community, Caslon is a reasonable option, though the Requires Improvement rating and mixed parent views mean it’s worth visiting to see if the recent inspection findings feel like a fair reflection of day-to-day life.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Caslon Primary Community School

Helpful Guides for Parents