Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #25 in Norfolk public Top 34% UK

Redcastle Family School

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

personMr James Julian

location_onThetford, IP24 3PU

language Visit Website phone 1842752239

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

253

school

Expected Standard

70%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.2x

summarize

Redcastle Family School is a Community school primary school in Thetford, serving ages 2-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 34% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Redcastle Family School is a community school in Thetford, Norfolk, admitting pupils aged 2-11. The school has approximately 269 pupils on roll, of whom 41% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #25 of 265 primaries in Norfolk and #3,380 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.3 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)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

70%

LA 53%

Reading73% LA 69%

Writing82% LA 63%

Maths85% LA 66%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 49%England 61%

Reading76% LA 69% · Eng 74%

Writing76% LA 59% · Eng 72%

Maths82% LA 64% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 49%England 60%

Reading81% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing81% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths81% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.9

Read

LA -0.8

-3.1 to 1.4

1.1

Write

LA -1.7

-1.1 to 3.2

2.6

Maths

LA -1.5

0.5 to 4.7

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 58%England 65%

Reading57% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Writing67% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths83% LA 71% · Eng 79%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.3

Read

LA -0.9

-4.5 to -0.1

-1.1

Write

LA -1.1

-3.1 to 1.0

1.0

Maths

LA -1.5

-1.0 to 2.9

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 57%

Reading50% LA 70%

Writing70% LA 73%

Maths70% LA 68%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

-4.2

Read

LA -0.8

-6.5 to -1.9

-3.5

Write

LA -0.9

-5.7 to -1.3

-3.2

Maths

LA -1.3

-5.3 to -1.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 November 2022

Inspection Report

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05 July 2017

Inspection Report

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13 March 2014

Inspection Report

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18 December 2012

Inspection Report

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11 October 2012

Inspection Report

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07 December 2009

Inspection Report

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14 March 2007

Inspection Report

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14 October 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2022-11-15

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-07-05

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-03-13

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2012-10-11

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

0.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.7%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 269 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.7%, 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.
2024/25 (Spring term)	269	2	0.7%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	256	5	2.0%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	262	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	258	5	1.9%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	245	5	2.0%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	261	3	1.1%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	253	3	1.2%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	241	8	3.3%	0.6%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	247	7	2.8%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	241	5	2.1%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	231	7	3.0%	0.5%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	242	8	3.3%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	231	1	0.4%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	232	9	3.9%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	246	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	246	2	0.8%	0.4%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	234	6	2.6%	0.6%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	227	3	1.3%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	227	4	1.8%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	224	3	1.3%	0.5%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	226	9	4.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	229	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	235	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	242	3	1.2%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	243	6	2.5%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	245	7	2.9%	0.5%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 28 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 26 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 20 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

80.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

80.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

16.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree52%

agree20%

disagree16%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree40%

agree32%

disagree16%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree36%

agree4%

disagree16%

strongly disagree16%

not applicable28%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes44%

no56%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree55%

agree9%

disagree18%

strongly disagree18%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree48%

agree40%

disagree4%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree64%

agree20%

disagree4%

strongly disagree12%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree40%

agree40%

disagree16%

strongly disagree4%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree36%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree60%

agree28%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree52%

agree20%

disagree12%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes76%

no24%

Top Primary Schools in Norfolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery, Wymondham

Outstanding

location_on Wymondham, NR18 0HL

emoji_events #1 in LA

Stalham Academy

Good

location_on Norwich, NR12 9PS

emoji_events #2 in LA

Charles Darwin Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Norwich, NR1 1DJ

emoji_events #3 in LA

Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School

Good

location_on Wisbech, PE14 8EY

emoji_events #4 in LA

North Wootton Academy

Good

location_on King's Lynn, PE30 3PT

emoji_events #5 in LA

Stradbroke Primary Academy

Good

location_on Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LZ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Norfolk arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Norfolk

Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery, Wymondham

Stalham Academy

Charles Darwin Primary School

Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School

North Wootton Academy

Stradbroke Primary Academy