Castle Hill Primary School

About Castle Hill Primary School

Castle Hill Primary School sits within Calderdale, a local authority where primary provision is strong — seven schools hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, and the competition for places is evident. Among the 82 primary schools in the borough, Castle Hill ranks 32nd, placing it comfortably in the top half. Its closest peers by ranking score include St Mary's CofE (VC) J and I School, All Saints' CofE Primary School, and The Greetland Academy, all of which sit higher in the local table. Headteacher Duncan Hetherington leads a mixed, state-funded primary for pupils aged 3 to 11, with a current roll of 176 children against a capacity of 259. The school has no religious character and offers nursery provision. With 22.6 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake reflects a broadly typical mix for the area. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26: 33 applications were received for 16 places, with all 16 first-preference families offered a spot, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.06.

Academically, Castle Hill performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 63 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — above the Calderdale local authority average of 59 per cent. The school’s ranking score of 63 places it in the top 50 nationally by this metric, and within Yorkshire and the Humber it sits at the 46th percentile. Subject-level scores are encouraging: 93 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 106, while reading saw 81 per cent at expected and an average score of 107. Writing was the weakest area, with 63 per cent reaching the expected standard and only 7 per cent achieving a higher standard. At the higher end, 33 per cent of pupils achieved a higher standard in reading, compared with 19 per cent in maths and 7 per cent in writing. Ofsted’s most recent inspection in April 2024 rated the school Good overall, with Good across all categories including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This represents a consistent picture: the previous inspection in 2015 also rated the school Good overall.

The school offers a practical, well-resourced environment for families. Facilities include a sports hall, playing fields, a gymnasium, a forest school area, a sensory room, and a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, athletics, swimming, tennis, dance, cricket, and football, while after-school clubs extend to coding, chess, book club, choir, art club, and science club. For children with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disability. With a capacity of 259 and only 176 pupils on roll, there is room for growth, though the oversubscription figures suggest strong local demand. This is a school that suits families looking for a Good-rated, community-focused primary with a broad extracurricular offer and a track record of above-average KS2 outcomes within Calderdale. Its nursery provision makes it a natural choice for families wanting continuity from age 3 through to Year 6.

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