The Castle School, Newbury
The Castle School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Newbury. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Castle School in detail
The Castle School in its own words
In its own words: "To create a happy, secure and stimulating learning environment which will encourage and challenge our learners to develop their skills and knowledge as far as they can and provide the best education possible. The Castle School exists to provide a caring, nurturing and outstanding educational community for the learners of West Berkshire and beyond."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Castle School are Northcroft Vocational School (1 mile); Engaging Potential (1.4 miles, Good); Mary Hare School (1.4 miles, Good); and The Grange School (3.2 miles, Outstanding).
Northcroft Vocational SchoolEngaging PotentialMary Hare SchoolThe Grange School
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
38.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Castle School has an education, health and care plan (228 of 228 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Castle School provides for pupils with autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Newbury Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Donnington Park (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 117 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 West Berkshire (26), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Castle School issued 13 suspensions, 6.5 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its October 2014 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
38.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, SEMH, MLD +2
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from The Castle School
Wishing everyone a wonderful Summer
20 Jul 2026
Magical Day at Fairytale Farm
16 Jul 2026
Farewell to our Leavers
16 Jul 2026
Day out at Dinton
8 Jul 2026
Odiham on track
24 Jun 2026
Duke of Edinburgh final prep
12 Jun 2026
From The Castle School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with The Castle School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Castle School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Castle School is in West Berkshire; for families living there:
Apply to West Berkshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 West Berkshire is 3 (the median across 99 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
108%
Over capacity
228 pupils
212 places
16 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Newbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Newbury
Across West Berkshire council
Places available
2,143
Applications
1,680
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All secondary applications across West Berkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
228
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Castle School provides for pupils with autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
228
Total Pupils
163
Boys
65
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
40
Teachers
5.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,479
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.6%
Overall absence
42.0%
Persistent absence
157
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
Questions parents ask about The Castle School
What are SATs results like at The Castle School?
Of the pupils at The Castle School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Castle School's Ofsted rating?
The Castle School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Castle School?
No fixed boundary. When The Castle School is oversubscribed, West Berkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Castle School?
The Castle School has around 228 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Castle School have specialist SEN provision?
The Castle School provides for pupils with autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Castle School?
12.6% of sessions were missed at The Castle School in 2024/25. 42% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Castle School?
Apply through West Berkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The 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 The Castle School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 West Berkshire is 3 (the median across 99 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Castle School?
The Castle School is at Love Lane, Donnington, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2JG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)