Castle School

Castle School is a community special school for pupils aged 7 to 18 with moderate learning difficulties and a growing number of pupils with more complex needs, including autism; all pupils have an education, health and care plan. This was its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the school remains highly ambitious and inclusive. Pupils are described as thriving in a warm and welcoming environment, making good progress from their individual starting points, with their special educational needs and/or disabilities well understood and supported.

Strengths

• Warm and welcoming learning environment where pupils thrive
• Highly ambitious culture that helps pupils believe they can succeed
• SEND are quickly identified and well supported
• Behaviour is exemplary, with tolerance and respect modelled by staff
• Highly effective pastoral support helps pupils recover when they are upset
• Outstanding personal development programme with extensive opportunities
• Strong community-based learning and preparation for life in modern Britain
• Reading is a priority, with effective support for early readers
• Curriculum is relevant and brought to life through practical application
• Strong careers education and well-matched work experience
• Excellent sixth-form transition planning and weekly college visits
• Governors are highly supportive and fulfil their statutory duties
• Staff are positive about leaders’ support for workload and well-being

Areas for Improvement

• The writing curriculum in key stages 2 and 3 does not build on pupils’ prior learning in a clear, sequential way
• Weak writing curriculum sequencing limits pupils’ writing stamina and fluency
• Some subject leaders do not have sufficient oversight of curriculum implementation
• In a few subjects, pupils do not learn as well as they could because subject leadership oversight is not strong enough

In 2024–25 pupils at Castle School attended 89.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 32.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.9% of pupils at Castle School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Castle School had 9.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Castle School had 247 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Castle School received £19,984 and spent £18,149 for each of its 247 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,145,000 (£8,685 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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What is Castle School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Castle School is Good, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Castle School last inspected by Ofsted?

Castle School was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Castle School have?

Castle School has 247 pupils on roll.

What age range does Castle School cover?

Castle School for pupils aged 7 to 18.

What are Castle School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Castle School?

Castle School is at Odell Road, Leamore, Walsall, West Midlands, WS3 2ED.