Castle Newnham School
| Type | Primary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 4-11 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Goldington Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 3EP |
| Phone | 01234303403 |
| Reference Number | 151125 |
Castle Newnham School is performing well with a strong positive culture and robust safeguarding measures in place. Pupils generally achieve well, making secure progress in their learning and demonstrating positive behavior and high levels of attendance. The curriculum is sequenced and ambitious, equipping students for future educational stages, while personal development programs instill a strong sense of community and respect. The school is currently transitioning through significant changes as it prepares to merge with a high school to become an all-through institution, revealing a context of growth and adaptation.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 622 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 53.05%
Girls: 46.95% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 9.2% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 17.2% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 29.7 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 29.5 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 29.8 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 | 43 | 88 |
| 2 | 46 | 43 | 89 |
| 3 | 38 | 51 | 89 |
| 4 | 49 | 41 | 90 |
| 5 | 51 | 38 | 89 |
| 6 | 61 | 28 | 89 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 57.6% |
| White, Other | 13.2% |
| White & Asian | 4.8% |
| African | 4.2% |
| Mixed, Other | 4.2% |
| Indian | 2.9% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 2.4% |
| Asian, Other | 2.1% |
| Pakistani | 1.6% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.3% |
| Unclassified | 1.1% |
| Chinese | 0.6% |
| Irish | 0.6% |
| Caribbean | 0.6% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Expected standard |
| > Leadership & Governance | Expected standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Expected standard |
| > Achievement | Expected standard |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Expected standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Expected standard |
| > Inclusion | Expected standard |
| > Early Years | Expected standard |
| Last Report Date | 17 Mar 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 17 Mar 2026 | School inspection |
| 06 Sep 2024 | Academy conversion letter |
Strengths
- Strong overall pupil achievement and progression
- Positive culture of safeguarding and pupil welfare
- Ambitious and well-structured curriculum
- Effective teaching with skilled staff
- High levels of pupil engagement and participation
- Strong personal development and wellbeing programs
Areas for Improvement
- Need to more consistently address gaps in pupils' learning
- Need for more precise identification of barriers to learning
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 67% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 8% |
Average Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
| Subject | School | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 106 | ||
| Maths | 105 |
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 42 | 2 |
| Third Preference | 29 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 1 | 0 |
| Name | Distance |
|
St John Rigby Catholic Primary School
Polhill Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9DQ |
0.45 miles |
|
Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School
Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7QZ |
0.77 miles |
|
Hazeldene School
Stancliffe Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9AT |
0.78 miles |
|
The Hills Academy
Stancliffe Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9AT |
0.8 miles |
|
Priory Primary School
Greyfriars, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1JD |
0.91 miles |
|
Polam School
45 Lansdowne Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 2BU |
0.98 miles |
|
Livingstone Primary School
Clapham Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7LG |
0.99 miles |
|
Goldington Green Academy
Goldington Green, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 0DP |
1.07 miles |
|
Brickhill Primary School
Dove Road, Brickhill, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7AA |
1.13 miles |
|
Shackleton Primary School
Pearcey Road, Shackleton Primary School, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9LZ |
1.13 miles |
|
Cherry Trees Nursery School
Hawkins Road, Bedford, MK42 9LS |
1.14 miles |
|
Edith Cavell Primary School
Manton Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7NH |
1.15 miles |
|
King's Oak Primary School
Oak Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0HH |
1.2 miles |
|
Peter Pan Nursery School
Edward Road, Bedford, MK42 9DR |
1.26 miles |
|
Cauldwell School
Edward Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9DR |
1.28 miles |
|
Scott Primary School
Hawk Drive, Brickhill, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7JA |
1.3 miles |
|
Putnoe Primary School
Church Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 0DH |
1.41 miles |
|
Queen's Park Academy
Chestnut Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4HA |
1.57 miles |
|
Great Ouse Primary Academy
Seaforth Gardens, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4TJ |
1.61 miles |
|
Westfield Primary School
Chester Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4HW |
1.69 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Bedford School
De Parys Avenue, Bedford, MK40 2TU |
0.43 miles |
|
Castle Newnham School
Polhill Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9DT |
0.44 miles |
|
Goldington Academy
Haylands Way, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9BX |
0.53 miles |
|
Bedford Girls' School
Cardington Road, Bedford, MK42 0BX |
0.59 miles |
|
Bedford Free School
Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AD |
0.75 miles |
|
Bedford College
Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AH |
0.75 miles |
|
KWS School
51 Brunel Road, Bedford, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9TJ |
0.77 miles |
|
Bedford Modern School
Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7NT |
1.29 miles |
|
Bedford Academy
Mile Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9TR |
1.46 miles |
|
Bedford Greenacre Independent School
Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7FZ |
1.47 miles |
|
St John's School
Austin Canons, Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8AA |
1.54 miles |
|
Mark Rutherford School
Wentworth Drive, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 8PX |
1.57 miles |
|
St Thomas More Catholic School
Tyne Crescent, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7UL |
1.57 miles |
|
Biddenham International School and Sports College
Biddenham Turn, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4AZ |
1.84 miles |
|
Grange Academy
Halsey Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8AU |
2.07 miles |
|
Daubeney Academy
Orchard Street, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7PS |
2.23 miles |
|
Cambian Walnut Tree Lodge School
Renhold Road, Wilden, Bedford, MK44 2PT |
3.04 miles |
|
Kempston Academy
Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7EB |
3.12 miles |
|
Ridgeway School
Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7EB |
3.2 miles |
|
Lincroft Academy
Station Road, Oakley, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK43 7RE |
3.48 miles |