SchoolScoresThe Castle School
Special school · All-through, ages 3 to 19 · Mixed · Nursery class · Sixth form
Love Lane, Donnington, Newbury, RG14 2JG
0163542976 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 7 October 2014.
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 | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 25 April 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 88% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 28 parents who had raised a concern | 89% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 94%said yes | 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. 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
11 pupils in this year group.
0% — 57 points below the West Berkshire average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Berkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
18 pupils in this year group.
100% — 5 points above the West Berkshire average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Berkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 100% | 95% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 54% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 6% | 13% |
| Further education college | 0% | 25% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 100% | 100% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 West Berkshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | West Berkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 46.2% | 42.0%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 100.0%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.0%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 8.5% | 12.6%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 12.6% | 10.4%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 42.0% | 30.3%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 6.5 | 10.0 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 4.0% | 7.2% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 5.8 | 5.0 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 16.4% | 14.2%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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 special schools
- Northcroft Vocational School 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong
- Engaging Potential 1.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Mary Hare School 1.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 16% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Castle School's Ofsted rating?
The Castle School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 October 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 25 April 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
Would parents recommend The Castle School?
94% of the 33 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend The Castle School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 110182.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.