SchoolScoresCastleton Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Hillcrest Road, Castleton, Rochdale, OL11 2QD
01706 631858 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 12 May 2026 , published 24 June 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
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Rochdale comparisons use the 23 of its 41 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 18 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 | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 19th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 18% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 17th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 18th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 20% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 89% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 13 parents who had raised a concern 12th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 32% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 78% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 16th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 21% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81%said yes | 87% | 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. Rochdale figures pool parents at the Rochdale 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
31 pupils in this year group.
55% — 3 points below the Rochdale average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 55% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 61% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 84% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 104 | 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 Rochdale. 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 37 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 34 |
| Of those, offered a place | 34 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 95 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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
| Pupils | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 22nd highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 33.0% | 32.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 28th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 35% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.2% | 14.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 23rd highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.0% | 27.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 30th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 26% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 5.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 31st lowest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 20% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 18.0% | 14.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 30th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 42% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 29th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 43% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 36th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 26% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.4 | 21.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 35th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 16% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.6 | 9.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 35th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.4%* | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- St Gabriel's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Edward's CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sandbrook Community Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 needs attention · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ashfield Valley Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marland Hill Community Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brimrod Community Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's CofE Primary School, Thornham 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Nuqtah Primary School 1.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong
- St Mary's CofE Primary School, Balderstone 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Castleton Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Castleton Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 12 May 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.
How did Castleton Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 55% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Castleton Primary School?
81% of the 16 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Castleton Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Castleton Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 34 families put Castleton Primary School as their first choice for 37 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 34 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 105765.
- 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.