Castle Primary School

Castle Primary School is performing well overall, showcasing a good level of education with outstanding elements in behavior, attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. Pupils express happiness in attending school, benefiting from reliable routines that foster confidence and high expectations. While the quality of education is strong, especially in reading and mathematics, concerns exist regarding the achievement of some disadvantaged pupils, who are not yet reaching their full potential. The school's leadership and management are solid, and the supportive environment enhances the overall experience for students and staff alike.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate exemplary behavior and high levels of respect.
• There is a strong focus on developing reading and mathematics from early years.
• Staff are well trained with good subject knowledge.
• Pupils enjoy a wide variety of extra-curricular activities.
• Strong relationships between teachers, pupils, and parents contribute to a supportive learning environment.
• The school has effectively implemented changes in the curriculum post-COVID-19.

Areas for Improvement

• Some disadvantaged pupils are not achieving as highly as they could.
• Teaching may not be adapted well enough to meet the needs of all pupils consistently.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Castle Primary School attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

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, 0.5% of pupils at Castle Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). 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 Primary School had 20.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.7% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

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, 15.4% of pupils at Castle Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Castle Primary School received £6,373 and spent £6,407 for each of its 384 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £36,000 (-£93 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).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Fareham · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

What is Castle Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Castle Primary School is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was Castle Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Castle Primary School was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does Castle Primary School have?

Castle Primary School has 384 pupils on roll.

What age range does Castle Primary School cover?

Castle Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Castle Primary School?

Castle Primary School is at Castle Street, Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 9QQ.