Castle Academy, Northampton

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Castle Academy on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff continually foster the importance of regular attendance."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders provide incredibly well for pupils' wider development."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Despite the challenges of the school's context, pupils attain in line with national averages by the end of Year 6."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school's ambitious curriculum is impressive and well designed for all subjects."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders place great importance on children having the right start to their education in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders make inclusion a high priority."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the community the school serves."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to ensure that staff deliver the curriculum consistently well, using the agreed teaching strategies and adaptations effectively"; "Leaders should further embed improvements in the early years to ensure that staff maximise children's engagement and learning through consistent and deliberate high-quality interactions"; "Leaders should robustly monitor and review their inclusion strategies to ensure that they have the intended impact on best supporting pupils' learning, especially those who are disadvantaged".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is our belief that each individual pupil should receive an education that is rich in terms of knowledge, skills concepts and relationships, developing the ability to challenge and communicate as well as supporting the individual in developing self-confidence and self-belief. We educate our pupils to reach their full potential in an inclusive, happy and secure environment."

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 2.30pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Castle Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in West Northamptonshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 76% in reading and 78% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 53 families put Castle Academy as their first choice and 94 named it as one of their preferences, for 54 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Castle Academy are Spring Lane Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 72% reading, 78% maths); Earl Spencer Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 67% reading, 60% maths); St James Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 86% reading, 78% maths); and Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School (0.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 79% maths).

Castle Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Castle Academy is one of 12 schools run by East Midlands Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

74.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (30%), Black (21%) and Mixed (8%).

Castle Academy has a SEN unit for other difficulties or disabilities and speech, language and communication needs: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Northampton Rail Station, about 840 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Gala Casino (adjacent), 160 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Castle Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 1071 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Northamptonshire (90), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Castle Academy issued 6 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Castle Academy are Northampton International Academy (0.1 miles), Malcolm Arnold Academy (0.8 miles) and Northampton School for Boys (1.4 miles).