The Castle School
84%
Capacity
1,449
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About The Castle School
The Castle School is a large, mixed secondary in South Gloucestershire, currently educating 1,449 pupils against a capacity of 1,733, meaning it is not yet full but clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 351 total applications for 220 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.6, and made 210 offers to first-preference applicants. This suggests a strong local reputation, though not the most competitive in the area. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14.7%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools and indicates a genuinely mixed intake. The school is non-denominational and led by headteacher Jessica Lobbett. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2021, confirmed the school remains Good, following a full graded inspection in 2012 that also rated it Good overall. The previous graded inspection in 2009 had judged the school Outstanding, so the current rating represents a slight but stable step down.
Academically, The Castle School performs well above the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.33 places it third out of 16 schools in South Gloucestershire, comfortably in the top 25% nationally. This is a strong result compared with the LA average Progress 8 of -0.25, meaning pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers in other local schools. Attainment 8 sits at 50.6, and 72.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 51.4%, with 38.2% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.22, which is below average, and the average points per entry is 33.56, equivalent to a C+ grade. The sixth form is rated as having a below average progress banding, so while the main school is a clear strength, post-16 outcomes are less impressive.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre. Sports provision is extensive, with rowing, rugby, cricket, dance, and swimming among the options. There are also clubs such as debate, Model UN, and a gardening club. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and specific learning difficulties like dyslexia. With 220 places available and 351 applications, it is oversubscribed but not prohibitively so, meaning families with a strong local connection have a realistic chance. This school will suit families who prioritise strong GCSE progress and a well-resourced environment, but who are less concerned about sixth-form value-added performance. Its mixed intake and solid Ofsted rating make it a reliable, inclusive option in South Gloucestershire.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Park Road, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS35 1HT |
| Headteacher | Jessica Lobbett |
| Local Authority | South Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,449 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,449 / 1,733 (84% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (25 Nov 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.33)
778th of 3,141
Nationally
59th of 306
In South West
3rd of 16
In South Gloucestershire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
39.4
'22/23
35.1
'23/24
33.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2356%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 245 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)56%
- FE college30%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Sixth form college2%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2347%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 146 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
26%
Russell Group
25%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)47%
- Employment32%
- Not sustained12%
- Further education4%
- Apprenticeship2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology49
- Mathematics40
- Biology35
- History32
- Geography25
- Chemistry22
- Economics22
- English Literature22
- Sociology22
- Art and Design (Graphics)20
- English Language20
- Physics20
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed220
351
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
210 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:00
Source: thecastleschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British73.0%
- Asian10.2%
- White (other)7.5%
- Mixed5.7%
- Black0.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
6
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Castle School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Park Road, Bristol
South Gloucestershire, BS35 1HT
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