Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #12 in Shropshire public Top 28% UK

The Community College, Bishop's Castle

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

personMr Reuben Thorley

location_onBishops Castle, SY9 5AY

phone 1588638257

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

groups

Students

520

trending_up

Attainment 8

43.4

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#10 in Shropshire

#2,031 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Community College, Bishop's Castle is a Foundation school secondary school in Bishops Castle, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Community College, Bishop's Castle is a foundation school in Bishops Castle, Shropshire, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 526 pupils on roll, of whom 13% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 43.4, placing the school #10 in Shropshire and #2,031 of 3,216 nationally. 35.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 13.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 5.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

43.4

Grade 5+ E&M

35.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)13.0%

Entering EBacc31.40%

EBacc APS3.81

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.22

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30.80%

EBacc APS4.02

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS4.27

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.43

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44%

EBacc APS4.94

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc21%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.39

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS4.62

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.39

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44%

EBacc APS4.67

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

85%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)69%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment13%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)65%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment18%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

82%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)66%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment13%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)69%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 June 2023

Inspection Report

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05 June 2018

Inspection Report

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23 April 2015

Inspection Report

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27 June 2013

Inspection Report

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02 May 2013

Inspection Report

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15 June 2011

Inspection Report

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01 December 2010

Inspection Report

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26 May 2010

Inspection Report

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01 November 2006

Inspection Report

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05 November 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-06-05

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-04-23

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-05-02

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

5.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.0%(21 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 526 pupils. During this period, there were 28 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.3%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	526	28	5.3%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	525	32	6.1%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	521	15	2.9%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	523	15	2.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	525	16	3.0%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	513	15	2.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	520	20	3.8%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	519	15	2.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	510	7	1.4%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	512	19	3.7%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	512	12	2.3%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	487	9	1.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	487	7	1.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	482	16	3.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	472	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	472	16	3.4%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	467	9	1.9%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	460	6	1.3%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	461	13	2.8%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	465	9	1.9%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	462	11	2.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	447	5	1.1%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	444	10	2.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	427	5	1.2%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	423	2	0.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	421	2	0.5%	3.1%	0

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

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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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 47 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 12 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

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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.

82.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

84.0%Positive

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

27.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree20%

agree50%

disagree13%

strongly disagree6%

don't know11%

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

strongly agree14%

agree45%

disagree24%

strongly disagree10%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree28%

agree31%

disagree11%

strongly disagree6%

don't know3%

not applicable21%

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

yes13%

no87%

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

strongly agree35%

agree18%

disagree29%

strongly disagree6%

dont know12%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree32%

agree46%

disagree11%

strongly disagree4%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree29%

agree48%

disagree14%

strongly disagree4%

don't know6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree32%

agree50%

disagree10%

strongly disagree8%

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

strongly agree24%

agree63%

disagree11%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree16%

agree59%

disagree12%

strongly disagree1%

don't know12%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree20%

agree48%

disagree11%

strongly disagree7%

don't know14%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes80%

no20%

Top Secondary Schools in Shropshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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The Priory School

Good

location_on Shrewsbury, SY3 9EE

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The Corbet School

Good

location_on Shrewsbury, SY4 2AX

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Sir John Talbot's School

Good

location_on Whitchurch, SY13 2BY

emoji_events #3 in LA

The Lacon Childe School

Requires improvement

location_on Kidderminster, DY14 8PE

emoji_events #4 in LA

Church Stretton School

Good

location_on Church Stretton, SY6 6EX

emoji_events #5 in LA

Oldbury Wells School

Good

location_on Bridgnorth, WV16 5JD

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Shropshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary 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 Secondary Schools in Shropshire

The Priory School

The Corbet School

Sir John Talbot's School

The Lacon Childe School

Church Stretton School

Oldbury Wells School