Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #4 in Bedford public Top 20% UK

Castle Newnham School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Ruth Wilkes

location_onBedford, MK40 3EP

language Visit Website phone 1234300800

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2013

groups

Students

679

school

Expected Standard

74%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Castle Newnham School is a Foundation school primary school in Bedford, serving ages 4-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Ranks in the top 20% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Castle Newnham School is a foundation school in Bedford, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 679 pupils on roll.

In 2024, 74% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 9% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #4 of 53 primaries in Bedford and #2,896 of 15,713 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2013. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 14.1%.

In the 2023/24 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 54%England 61%

Reading86% LA 70% · Eng 74%

Writing76% LA 64% · Eng 72%

Maths81% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

51%

LA 51%England 60%

Reading78% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing55% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths72% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.9

Read

LA 0.2

0.5 to 3.3

-3.1

Write

LA -1.2

-4.4 to -1.8

1.1

Maths

LA -0.1

-0.2 to 2.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

67%

LA 55%England 65%

Reading78% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 67% · Eng 78%

Maths72% LA 71% · Eng 79%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.7

Read

LA -1.5

-3.4 to -0.1

-2.8

Write

LA -2.5

-4.3 to -1.2

-3.2

Maths

LA -2.1

-4.6 to -1.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 45%

Reading-% LA 56%

Writing-% LA 65%

Maths-% LA 57%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -2.9

Write

LA -2.4

Maths

LA -2.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

No digital report timeline available.

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2013-10-03

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2008-03-13

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.5%(3 pupils)

Summer term 2024

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.063% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Summer term of 2024, this school served a headcount of 658 pupils. During this period, there were 5 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.8%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2023/24 (Summer term)	658	5	0.8%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	659	3	0.5%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	659	4	0.6%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	676	4	0.6%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	679	3	0.4%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	671	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	662	1	0.2%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	664	0	0.0%	0.5%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	659	1	0.2%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	668	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	667	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	664	1	0.2%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	679	1	0.1%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	679	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	672	2	0.3%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	643	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	643	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	642	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	552	0	0.0%	0.5%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	553	1	0.2%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	550	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	478	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	476	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	479	0	0.0%	0.5%	0