Castlethorpe First School

About Castlethorpe First School

Castlethorpe First School is a small state primary in Milton Keynes, serving children from age 4 to 7, and it currently has 35 pupils against a capacity of 45. That means there is some spare room, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 35 applications for just 11 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of over three applicants per place. All 11 first-preference families were offered a spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 11.4%, which is below the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively affluent local intake. The school is non-denominational and mixed, and the headteacher is Emma Wallace. With such a small roll, it offers an intimate setting where children stay for just three years before moving on to a middle school.

Academically, Castlethorpe First School received an Outstanding rating from Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in May 2025, with every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision — all judged Outstanding. The school had also been rated Outstanding in its previous inspection in 2014, so this is a sustained track record of excellence. While the school is too young to have KS2 SATs results (it only goes up to Year 2), the Ofsted report highlights strong early years outcomes and personal development. In the local authority, 13 out of 89 primary schools hold an Outstanding rating, so Castlethorpe sits in a select group. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 95% of the 19 respondents would recommend the school, and 95% strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, forest school, gymnasium, sensory room, playing fields, sports hall, and even a chapel. Clubs include chess, eco club, art club, science club, and film club, while sports on offer are cross country, rounders, gymnastics, and netball. For children with additional needs, the school has SEND provisions covering social, emotional and mental health, speech, language and communication, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Russell Street School, 4.1 km away. Castlethorpe is best suited to families looking for a small, nurturing first school with a strong track record, where children can build firm foundations before moving on at age 7. Its oversubscription means applying early is wise.

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