The Castle School, Bristol

Ofsted's report card from its 31 March 2026 inspection grades The Castle 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. "Pupils learn the planned curriculum as they move between year groups."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance have prioritised raising the attendance of pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders, with the support of the trust, have planned a broad and ambitious curriculum for pupils in each key stage."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils' individual needs are quickly identified."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance have a clear shared vision for an inclusive and caring school that is part of the local community."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have planned a personal development programme that is well matched to the school's local context."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have planned a 16-19 study programme that is both ambitious and aligned with students' needs and aspirations."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is consistently taught in a highly effective way so that all pupils, regardless of their barriers to learning, achieve as well as possible".

In 2026, pupils at The Castle School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 52, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.3 in South Gloucestershire and 47 across England.

51% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in South Gloucestershire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 52.4.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.33: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 35.6, against 55.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and French.

For September 2026 entry, 235 families put The Castle School as their first choice and 371 named it as one of their preferences, for 256 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 secondary schools to The Castle School are Marlwood School (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.3); and Brimsham Green School (6.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.3).

The Castle School's 2026 results were higher than all 2 of them.

The Castle School is one of 20 schools run by Pathway Trust, an academy trust.

233 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Castle School (as of April 2026): 94% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 78% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (78%).

Of the 259 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 126 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 52% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 34% into work. 27% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 130 pupils (9.2%) received SEN support and 44 (3.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Castle School.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Castle School (e-bound), 40 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Castle School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 8th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 56 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in South Gloucestershire (116).

In 2024/25, The Castle School issued 199 suspensions, 13.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to The Castle School are Manorbrook Primary School (0.2 miles); St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury (0.3 miles); Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury (0.5 miles); and Gillingstool Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.