Castle School, Cambridge, Cambridge
Castle School, Cambridge is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Cambridge. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Castle School, Cambridge in detail
Castle School, Cambridge in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am incredibly proud to be the Headteacher of Castle School-a place where learning and working feel both inspiring and purposeful. Here, every learner is supported through a personalised approach that recognises their unique strengths and needs. We are dedicated and strive to deliver the highest quality teaching which is underpinned by well-supported staff and evidence-based practice."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Castle School, Cambridge are The Cavendish School (1.8 miles, Outstanding); Hope Tree School (2.4 miles, Good, selective); Gretton School (2.4 miles, selective); and Holme Court School (2.9 miles, Good).
The Cavendish SchoolHope Tree SchoolGretton SchoolHolme Court School
Where pupils go next
Of the 19 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 95% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 5% to an apprenticeship.
Who goes there
48.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 22.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Castle School, Cambridge has an education, health and care plan (233 of 233 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cambridge North Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Courtney Way (near), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Castle School, Cambridge stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 596 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 Cambridgeshire (57), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Castle School, Cambridge issued 3 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years, Sixth form.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Quality of education (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
48.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Writing has improved from 0% to 17% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Castle School, Cambridge
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Castle School, Cambridge from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Castle School, Cambridge is in Cambridgeshire; for families living there:
- Cambridgeshire's school travel policy: School Travel Assistance Policy - Mainstream September 2025 326KB - pdf
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 15 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle.
7 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 Cambridgeshire is 5 (the median across 312 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
99%
Near capacity
233 pupils
234 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Cambridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cambridge
Across Cambridgeshire council
Places available
7,228
Applications
6,755
Got 1st preference
88.3%
Got preferred school
96.6%
All secondary applications across Cambridgeshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
233
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
233
Total Pupils
152
Boys
81
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
40
Teachers
5.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,917
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.0%
Overall absence
37.2%
Persistent absence
188
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, Cambridge
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Castle School, Cambridge
What are GCSE results like at Castle School, Cambridge?
In the 2025 results, pupils at Castle School, Cambridge achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Castle School, Cambridge's Ofsted rating?
Castle School, Cambridge was rated Requires Improvement at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2013 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Castle School, Cambridge?
No fixed boundary. When Castle School, Cambridge is oversubscribed, Cambridgeshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Castle School, Cambridge?
Castle School, Cambridge has around 233 pupils on roll. 49% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Castle School, Cambridge?
12% of sessions were missed at Castle School, Cambridge in 2024/25. 37.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Castle School, Cambridge?
Apply through Cambridgeshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Castle School, Cambridge 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, Cambridge?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 15 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle. 7 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 Cambridgeshire is 5 (the median across 312 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Castle School, Cambridge?
Castle School, Cambridge is at Courtney Way, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB4 2EE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)