Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #79 in Wiltshire public Top 60% UK

Castle Mead School

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

personMrs Emma Larkham

corporate_fareTHE MEAD ACADEMY TRUST

location_onTrowbridge, BA14 6GD

language Visit Website phone 1225768641

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

379

school

Expected Standard

60%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Castle Mead School is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Trowbridge, serving ages 2-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 60% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Castle Mead School is an academy sponsor led in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, admitting pupils aged 2-11. It is part of THE MEAD ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 376 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 6% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #79 of 174 primaries in Wiltshire and #8,652 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. 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.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.8 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

60%

LA 58%

Reading69% LA 73%

Writing67% LA 69%

Maths69% LA 71%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

56%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading62% LA 74% · Eng 74%

Writing72% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths72% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

38%

LA 56%England 60%

Reading44% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing56% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths56% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.8

Read

LA 0.5

-5.0 to -0.6

-1.2

Write

LA -0.1

-3.2 to 0.9

-2.2

Maths

LA -0.9

-4.3 to -0.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading59% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing79% LA 76% · Eng 78%

Maths72% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.9

Read

LA 0.1

-5.1 to -0.6

-1.2

Write

LA -0.4

-3.3 to 0.8

-2.4

Maths

LA -0.8

-4.3 to -0.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

35%

LA 62%

Reading55% LA 76%

Writing50% LA 77%

Maths35% LA 72%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.8

Read

LA 0.2

-5.6 to 0

-2

Write

LA -0.5

-4.6 to 0.6

-6.7

Maths

LA -0.9

-9.2 to -4.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 March 2023

Inspection Report

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14 June 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2023-03-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-06-14

Academy First Section 5 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

0.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.5%(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 376 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.5%, 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)	376	2	0.5%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	373	4	1.1%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	399	3	0.8%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	391	8	2.0%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	380	10	2.6%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	384	6	1.6%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	379	8	2.1%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	375	4	1.1%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	372	4	1.1%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	371	4	1.1%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	368	3	0.8%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	365	3	0.8%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	370	7	1.9%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	369	7	1.9%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	356	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	356	6	1.7%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	340	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	330	4	1.2%	0.4%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	332	19	5.7%	0.5%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	339	22	6.5%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	314	2	0.6%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	315	5	1.6%	0.4%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	306	16	5.2%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	262	8	3.1%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	256	4	1.6%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	249	9	3.6%	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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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.

Speech, Language & Communication 45 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 36 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 20 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 16 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory 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.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

90.0%Positive

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

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree24%

agree56%

disagree10%

strongly disagree7%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree50%

agree43%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree30%

agree36%

disagree10%

strongly disagree8%

don't know2%

not applicable14%

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

yes31%

no69%

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

strongly agree38%

agree41%

disagree14%

strongly disagree5%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree38%

agree39%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree43%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree33%

agree44%

disagree18%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree46%

agree47%

strongly disagree2%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree57%

agree37%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree34%

agree36%

disagree11%

strongly disagree6%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no17%

Top Primary Schools in Wiltshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St. Peter's CE Primary Academy

Good

location_on Salisbury, SP2 9FL

emoji_events #1 in LA

Colerne CofE Primary School

Good

location_on Chippenham, SN14 8DU

emoji_events #2 in LA

Mere School

Good

location_on Warminster, BA12 6EW

emoji_events #3 in LA

Ashton Keynes Church of England Primary School

Good

location_on Swindon, SN6 6NZ

emoji_events #4 in LA

Pewsey Primary School

Good

location_on Pewsey, SN9 5EJ

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Michael's CofE Aided Primary

Outstanding

location_on Marlborough, SN8 2BP

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire

St. Peter's CE Primary Academy

Colerne CofE Primary School

Mere School

Ashton Keynes Church of England Primary School

Pewsey Primary School

St Michael's CofE Aided Primary