Castle Academy, Doncaster
Castle Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Doncaster, part of Astrea Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 51st-highest of the 96 schools in Doncaster with published results, and 7,842nd of 14,452 across England. It was 71% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Doncaster (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Castle Academy in detail
Castle Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Castle Academy is in Conisbrough, within Doncaster, South Yorkshire, near Barnsley and Rotherham. We’re a small, welcoming school with seven classes for children aged 4 to 11. We’re part of the Astrea Academy Trust, a group of schools that supports learning beyond the classroom."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include STEM and art.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Castle Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 74% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 77% in Doncaster and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 86% in reading and 76% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Castle Academy
For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Castle Academy as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 21 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Castle Academy are Rowena Academy (0.4 miles, Outstanding); Morley Place Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 89% reading, 87% maths); St Alban's Catholic Primary and Nursery School (0.6 miles, 58% reading, 63% maths); and Denaby Main Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 75% reading, 81% maths).
Castle Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Rowena AcademyMorley Place AcademySt Alban's Catholic Primary and Nursery SchoolDenaby Main Primary Academy
The trust
Castle Academy is one of 26 schools run by Astrea Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
41.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 31 pupils (21.7%) received SEN support and 8 (5.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Castle Academy had 11 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Conisbrough Rail Station, about 350 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Low Road/Priory Close (adjacent), 20 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Castle Academy issued 29 suspensions, 19 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Leaders at Castle Academy have established influential values. These include scholarship, aspiration and empathy. Staff consistently display these values through their interactions with pupils. This inspires pupils to do the same. They take pride in their learning and treat those around them with the utmost respect. Leaders have shaped a highly inclusive school culture. Pupils feel valued and are proud to be part of their school community. The school is a very happy place to learn.
The school has established an ambitious curriculum for pupils to study. From Reception to Year 6, pupils master the skills that they need to become independent learners. This motivates pupils to be resilient when learning something new or mastering a new skill. Leaders bring the curriculum to life for pupils through the many opportunities that are offered. Pupils join in regular activities to learn outdoors. Some play in the Samba band and others take part in author visits. Pupils build their confidence by taking on many leadership roles within the school. These roles are a golden thread that inspire pupils to make a significant contribution to their school community. They work alongside leaders to help make their school the best it can be.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Leaders have established an ambitious curriculum that starts in early years. Children immerse themselves in colour mixing and printing. They investigate the textures that they create with magnifying glasses. They compare these textures to the objects around them. Children find this learning enthralling. Children in early years develop impressive knowledge.
Across the school, the most important knowledge that pupils need to learn has been identified. In history, pupils learn about concepts such as cause and effect. Pupils use this knowledge to explain the impact of the industrial revolution on migration. In geography, pupils participate in 'we are Conisbrough' in order to learn about their local area. Pupils use this local knowledge to make comparisons with other geographical regions. Sometimes, the way new knowledge is shared with pupils does not help them to make connections to the things that they already know. Pupils have some gaps in the important knowledge that they need.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development, Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
41.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 86% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 74% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.8
Avg class size
20.5
Infant (KS1)
24.0
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Castle Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Castle Academy.
- Active Care - Morley Place Academy790m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Castle Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Castle Academy is in Doncaster; for families living there:
Apply to Doncaster for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 6 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Doncaster is 10 (the median across 143 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Castle Academy
Will you get a place at Castle Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Castle Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Castle Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Castle Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Doncaster, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Castle Academy for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Doncaster got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
71%
Available places
149 pupils
210 places
61 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Doncaster
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Doncaster
Across Doncaster council
Places available
4,235
Applications
3,089
Got 1st preference
96.5%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across Doncaster council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
31
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
27.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
143
Total Pupils
73
Boys
70
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
13.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,648
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,208
Per pupil
£1104k
Total funding
£94k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.8%
Overall absence
18.5%
Persistent absence
151
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Castle Academy
Questions parents ask about Castle Academy
What are SATs results like at Castle Academy?
Of the pupils at Castle Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 74% did so in maths.
What is Castle Academy's Ofsted rating?
Castle Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024.
What is the catchment area for Castle Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Castle Academy is oversubscribed, Doncaster allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Castle Academy?
Castle Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 71% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Castle Academy?
Classes at Castle Academy average 23.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Castle Academy?
Castle Academy has around 143 pupils on roll. 41% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Castle Academy?
5.8% of sessions were missed at Castle Academy in 2024/25. 18.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Castle Academy?
Apply through Doncaster's coordinated admissions process, naming Castle Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Castle Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Castle Academy: Active Care - Morley Place Academy (790m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Castle Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 6 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Doncaster is 10 (the median across 143 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Castle Academy?
Castle Academy is at Low Road, Doncaster, DN12 3DW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)