Castle Hill Community Primary School

Castle Hill Community Primary School has shown considerable improvement since its last inspection, moving from a grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' overall. The school's commitment to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment is evident through its strong relationships between staff and pupils. Parents appreciate the school's focus on individual needs and the broad curriculum which includes various opportunities for personal and academic development. However, while the quality of education has improved, particularly in behavior and personal development, there are still areas that require further attention, particularly in the consistent implementation of the newly developed mathematics curriculum.

Strengths

• Strong relationships based on mutual respect between staff and pupils.
• A nurturing and caring environment that promotes pupil flourishing.
• Broad curriculum that includes rich learning experiences and trips.
• High priority given to reading with a strong emphasis on development.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs.
• Consistent behavior policies resulting in outstanding behavior.
• Developed character education that fosters positive attitudes.

Areas for Improvement

• Newly developed mathematics curriculum is not fully implemented.

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 Hill Community Primary School attended 90.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 25.2% 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, 1.2% of pupils at Castle Hill Community Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was 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 Hill Community Primary School had 18.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.6% 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, 14.2% of pupils at Castle Hill Community Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 8.4% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 14 pupils.

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 Hill Community Primary School received £9,345 and spent £9,554 for each of its 369 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £211,000 (£573 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 Folkestone · Kent local authority: places and applications

What is Castle Hill Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Castle Hill Community Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Castle Hill Community Primary School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Castle Hill Community Primary School have?

Castle Hill Community Primary School has 395 pupils on roll.

What age range does Castle Hill Community Primary School cover?

Castle Hill Community Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Castle Hill Community Primary School?

Castle Hill Community Primary School is at Sidney Street, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 6HG.