Castle School, Walsall
Castle School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 18 in Walsall. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Castle School in detail
Castle School in its own words
In its own words: "Castle is a successful 7 - 18 special school for pupils who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The school is designated for pupils with moderate learning difficulties; however, the majority of pupils have additional needs, including autism, speech and language difficulties and some behavioural issues."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, multi-sports, dance, coding, gardening, art and sewing.
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Castle School are Phoenix Academy (under 0.1 miles, Good); Mary Elliot Academy (0.6 miles); Ryecroft School (0.9 miles); and Old Hall School (1.1 miles, Good).
Phoenix AcademyMary Elliot AcademyRyecroft SchoolOld Hall School
What parents say
14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Castle School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 27 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 96% to a further education college.
Who goes there
53.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 9.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (71%), Asian (13%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Castle School has an education, health and care plan (247 of 247 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Castle School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bloxwich Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Leamore Lane (after), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Castle School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Castle School issued 3 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from July 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Castle School excels at creating an inclusive environment where every pupil is supported to succeed. Staff understand each child's needs - both academically and emotionally - and pupils develop strong confidence and life skills alongside their learning. The school goes above and beyond with enrichment activities, excellent careers support, and genuine preparation for adult life.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour and attitudes from pupils, with staff actively modelling tolerance and respect
- Outstanding personal development programme that builds pupils' confidence, independence and life skills
- Strong support for pupils with SEND, quickly identifying needs and putting appropriate provision in place
- Engaging curriculum that excels in reading and brings learning to life through practical application
- Excellent preparation for pupils' next steps, with strong careers education and work experience opportunities
Areas for Improvement
- Writing curriculum in key stages 2 and 3 is not clearly sequenced, limiting pupils' ability to build writing skills over time
- Some subject leaders lack sufficient oversight of how teachers are implementing the curriculum, so they cannot identify where staff need support
- Not all pupils are securely learning important knowledge in every subject due to inconsistent implementation
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear systems in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Castlefest music festival, community singing events, sixth-form mentoring of younger pupils, work experience opportunities, college visits for sixth-form students
Castle School has created a warm and welcoming learning environment where pupils thrive and make good progress. The school is highly ambitious for all its pupils, with outstanding behaviour, attitudes, and personal development.
At a Glance
53.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Hearing +6
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
14 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 0% to 7% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Castle School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Castle School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Castle School is in Walsall; for families living there:
Apply to Walsall for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 33
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 33 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 26 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 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 Walsall is 20.5 (the median across 134 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
120%
Over capacity
247 pupils
205 places
42 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Walsall
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Walsall
Across Walsall council
Places available
4,069
Applications
3,782
Got 1st preference
77.4%
Got preferred school
94.0%
All secondary applications across Walsall council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
247
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Castle School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
247
Total Pupils
177
Boys
70
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
29
Teachers
8.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,897
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.9%
Overall absence
32.0%
Persistent absence
200
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Castle School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Castle School
What are SATs results like at Castle School?
Of the pupils at Castle School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 7% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Castle School's Ofsted rating?
Castle School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Castle School?
No fixed boundary. When Castle School is oversubscribed, Walsall allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Castle School?
Castle School has around 247 pupils on roll. 53% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Castle School have specialist SEN provision?
Castle School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Castle School?
10.9% of sessions were missed at Castle School in 2024/25. 32% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Castle School?
Apply through Walsall's coordinated admissions process, naming Castle School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Castle School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 33 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 26 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 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 Walsall is 20.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Castle School?
Castle School is at Odell Road, Leamore, Walsall, West Midlands, WS3 2ED.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)