Castlewood Primary School

Castlewood Primary School maintains a good standard of education as evidenced by its recent inspection. The school's leadership aims for students to become 'world ready', fostering a culture of high expectations in learning, behaviour, and character development. The strong emphasis on teaching reading and mathematics has led to noticeable success for pupils, who are well-supported and demonstrate resilience. Parents commend the exceptional teaching which not only promotes academic achievement but also enhances students' overall well-being. However, while the school is performing well, there are areas identified for improvement. The teaching of writing does not match the high standards seen in reading and mathematics, prompting leaders to initiate clearer progressions in grammar and vocabulary. Further, in a few foundation subjects, the development of a clear sequence of learning is still underway. Despite these concerns, the school community, including staff and governors, exhibits a strong sense of teamwork and commitment to providing quality education.

Strengths

• Strong emphasis on high expectations in learning and behaviour
• Engaging and ambitious curriculum
• High-quality teaching of reading across all subjects
• Strong subject knowledge among teachers
• Well-structured support for pupils with special educational needs
• Effective safeguarding culture and practices
• Positive and respectful pupil behaviour

Areas for Improvement

• Pupils' writing skills not as strong as reading and mathematics
• Some foundation subjects lack a clear progression of learning

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 Castlewood Primary School attended 96.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.6% 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, 1.5% of pupils at Castlewood 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 Castlewood Primary School had 19.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.2% 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, 13.2% of pupils at Castlewood Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.4% 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 Castlewood Primary School received £6,428 and spent £6,063 for each of its 205 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £175,000 (£854 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 Horsham · West Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Castlewood Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Castlewood Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2023.

When was Castlewood Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Castlewood Primary School was last inspected in March 2023.

How many pupils does Castlewood Primary School have?

Castlewood Primary School has 205 pupils on roll.

What age range does Castlewood Primary School cover?

Castlewood Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Castlewood Primary School?

Castlewood Primary School is at Castlewood Road, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 9US.