Castleton Primary School, Rochdale
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Castleton is a genuinely inclusive school where every child feels they belong. Teachers know your child well as an individual and provide tailored support to overcome any barriers to learning. The school excels at building children's confidence and vocabulary from the early years onwards, with strong focus on reading, writing and maths.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive culture where all pupils, including those with SEND and EAL, feel welcomed and supported
- Effective curriculum focus on vocabulary development and writing, with improving achievement in reading, writing and mathematics
- Positive behaviour and attendance improving over time, with pupils showing respect and responsibility
- Excellent pastoral support and mental health provision through the Butterfly Room
- Leaders and governors deeply committed to the school community with strong relationships with families
Areas for Improvement
- Persistent absence rates remain above the national average despite improvements
- Some pupils in Key Stage 1 not applying handwriting and spelling skills well enough in written work, and some not fully developing writing skills for Key Stage 1
- Not all staff consistently apply the agreed teaching approach across the full curriculum
- Some opportunities beyond the local area are not fully established, limiting pupils' wider experiences and aspirations
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips, visits, clubs, school council
Castleton Primary School is a welcoming, inclusive school serving a diverse community where leaders prioritize pupil wellbeing and have improved teaching in mathematics and writing. The school meets expected standards across most areas with a strong focus on personal development and safeguarding.
At a Glance
31.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 74%. Maths has improved from 64% to 84%. Writing has declined from 66% to 61%.
Class Sizes
22.8
Avg class size
18.2
Infant (KS1)
27.5
KS2
13
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
352 pupils
350 capacity
2 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Rochdale
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Rochdale
Admissions Demand - Rochdale
Places available
3,187
Applications
2,652
Got 1st preference
91.7%
Got preferred school
98.2%
Primary admissions across Rochdale (2025/26)
Inspection History(108)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.93168%
Overall absence
17.99308%
Persistent absence
289
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Castleton Primary School
Nearby Schools
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