SchoolScoresCastle Hill Infant School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of ASSET EDUCATION
Dryden Road, Ipswich, IP1 6QD
01473 741758 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 15 January 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 4 December 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
40 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Ipswich comparisons use the 36 of its 62 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 26 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Ipswich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 11th highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 89% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 24 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 91% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 82% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 13 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 88% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 73% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Ipswich figures pool parents at the Ipswich schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Suffolk. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 77 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 68 |
| Of those, offered a place | 68 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 136 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 24 places for speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 27th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.6% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 99% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.4% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 46th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 23% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.4% | 14.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 26th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.4% | 12.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 48th lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 19% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 46th lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 24% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.9% | 12.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 54th lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 7% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 8.6 | 5.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 47th lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 21% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.45% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 40th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 25% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.3 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 51st highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 10% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.0 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 46th highest of 52 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 18% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 15.0%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Castle Hill Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dale Hall Community Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2019 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Pancras Catholic Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Beeches Community Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitehouse Community Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Springfield Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Springfield Infant School and Nursery 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Handford Hall Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Ipswich 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Margaret's CEVAP School, Ipswich 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Castle Hill Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Castle Hill Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 15 January 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 4 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Would parents recommend Castle Hill Infant School?
100% of the 40 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Castle Hill Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Castle Hill Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 68 families put Castle Hill Infant School as their first choice for 77 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 68 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 141372.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.