SchoolScoresThe Community College, Bishop's Castle
Foundation school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Brampton Road, Bishops Castle, SY9 5AY
01588 638257 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 April 2015.
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 |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
102 pupils in this year group.
35% — 2 points below the Shropshire average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Shropshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 35% | 37% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 43.4 | 42.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 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.
87 pupils in this year group.
85% — 6 points below the Shropshire average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Shropshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 85% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 15% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 49% | 45% | 13% |
| Further education college | 17% | 19% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 13% | 5% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 87% | 85% |
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 Shropshire. 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 45 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 44 |
| Of those, offered a place | 44 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 66 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Shropshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 18th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.3% | 21.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 18th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Higher than 24% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.9% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Higher than 35% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8% | 13.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 17th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Higher than 3% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.5% | 5.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 11th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Lower than 41% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.9% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Lower than 39% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 25.6% | 23.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Lower than 53% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.3 | 26.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 11th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Lower than 46% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.2% | 8.3% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.19% | 0.17% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 10th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Higher than 59% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.2 | 17.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 10th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Higher than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4 | 12.8 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 19th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Shropshire. Higher than 9% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 6.3% | 13.2%* | 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.
Questions parents ask
What is The Community College, Bishop's Castle's Ofsted rating?
The Community College, Bishop's Castle was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 April 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The Community College, Bishop's Castle do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 35% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Community College, Bishop's Castle oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 44 families put The Community College, Bishop's Castle as their first choice for 45 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 44 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 123564.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.