SchoolScoresCastle Newnham School
Academy · All-through, ages 4 to 16 · Mixed
Part of BEDFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS TRUST LIMITED
Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3EP
01234 303403 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 17 March 2026 , published 19 May 2026.
In short: 7 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Bedford comparisons use the 12 of its 20 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 8 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 | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 9th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 80% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 9th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 84% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 9th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 34% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 73% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 25 parents whose child had been bullied 9th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 24% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 40% | 46% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 13 parents who had raised a concern 9th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 32% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 66% | 75% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 23 parents of children with SEND 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 24% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 48% | 49% | 67% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 9th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 32% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71%said yes | 74% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Bedford figures pool parents at the Bedford 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
90 pupils in this year group.
67% — 10 points above the Bedford average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 77% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 77% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bedford. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 88 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 69 |
| Of those, offered a place | 68 (99%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 160 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
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
| Pupils | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 19th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.3% | 23.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 67% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.7% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.8% | 9.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 62% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.0% | 23.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 97% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.6% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 96% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.7% | 23.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 83% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.7 | 15.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 95% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 1.1% | 7.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.28% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 99% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 24.7 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 85% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.6 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 67% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 16.5% | 12.2%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Bedford School 0.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 51% A*/A at A level
- Goldington Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong · 64% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bedford Girls' School 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 30% A*/A at A level
- Bedford Free School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020), confirmed 2025 · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- KWS School 0.8 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected
- Bedford Modern School 1.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 45% A*/A at A level
- Bedford Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bedford Greenacre Independent School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 17% A*/A at A level
- Mark Rutherford School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 2 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Thomas More Catholic School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Castle Newnham School's Ofsted rating?
Castle Newnham School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 17 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 7 expected, and safeguarding was met.
Would parents recommend Castle Newnham School?
71% of the 17 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Castle Newnham School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Castle Newnham School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 69 families put Castle Newnham School as their first choice for 88 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 151125.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.