Castleton Primary School, Rochdale

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Castleton Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Published data shows that by the end of Year 6, the proportion of pupils who meet the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics has improved over time."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise pupils' regular attendance at school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a secure understanding of the quality of the curriculum and how it is taught."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years benefit from a carefully considered curriculum that provides them with the foundations they need to support their learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils, regardless of their barriers, needs or backgrounds, are welcomed at this school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders make decisions with pupils' best interests at heart."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development offer is a founding pillar of this school, on which everything else is built."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should embed the approach to attendance and punctuality so that pupils' attendance continues to rise and persistent absence reduces"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils secure their knowledge across the curriculum and have opportunities to apply and embed this learning in lessons so that they can achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that staff within the early years continue to secure children's foundational knowledge, especially in early writing, to further prepare them for the demands of the key stage 1 curriculum".

In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at Castleton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 84% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Rochdale and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 72% in reading and 64% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 34 families put Castleton Primary School as their first choice and 95 named it as one of their preferences, for 37 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 Castleton Primary School are St Gabriel's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale (0.2 miles, Good, 77% reading, 55% maths); St Edward's Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 77% reading, 71% maths); Sandbrook Community Primary School (0.7 miles, 66% reading, 65% maths); and Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.9 miles).

Castleton Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

25.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (47%), Asian (27%) and Black (13%).

Castleton Primary School had 19 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Castleton (Manchester) Rail Station, about 340 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hillcrest Road (opposite), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Castleton Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Castleton Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Castleton Primary School are Matthew Moss High School (1 mile); and St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy (1.4 miles).