Schools by area › South Gloucestershire › The Castle School
The Castle School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Park Road, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 1HT · thecastleschool.org.uk · 01454 862100
On the mapSearch near BS35 1HT
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 52.4
- average Attainment 8 score. South Gloucestershire 42.9, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,416
- 82% of 1,733 places
- Local authority
- South Gloucestershire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 14.6%
- First language not English
- 16.3%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Pathway Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 235 families put the school first and 256 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 256 | 235 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 220 | 210 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 260 | 227 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 205 | 178 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 197 | 178 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 52.4, and 58.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across South Gloucestershire it was 42.9, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (33.8 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲52.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲58.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲74.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲58.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.93 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 43.6 | −15.8 |
| Further education | 37.1 | +6.4 |
| Other education | 0.8 | −0.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 6.6 | +4.2 |
| Employment | 3.1 | +0.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.8 | +4.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.1 | +2.6 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 133 students | C+ (33.8) | Average -0.06 | |
| 136 students | C+ (33.8) | Average -0.06 | |
| 30 students | Merit+ (28.4) | Average -0.16 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 116 | C+ (33.6) | -0.22 |
| 2022/23 | 148 | B- (35.1) | — |
| 2021/22 | 140 | B (39.4) | — |
| 2018/19 | 148 | B- (36.4) | +0.06 |
| 2017/18 | 158 | C+ (34.5) | +0.20 |
| 2016/17 | 167 | C+ (34.2) | +0.10 |
| 2015/16 | 174 | C+ (33.8) | +0.05 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 51.6 | +4.9 |
| Further education | 2.4 | −1.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.8 | +1.5 |
| Employment | 34.1 | +2.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.2 | −8.1 |
| Activity not captured | 4 | +0.7 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Castle School on 31 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 31 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jan 2009Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding
What parents said
94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (233 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 94%
- Positive
- 89%
- Replies
- 233
- 16% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 85% who raised concerns
based on 42 parents (18%) whose child was bullied
based on 56 parents (24%) with SEND