Secondary school

Castle Newnham School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Bedford
  • MK41 9DT
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Sep 2018

Homes near this school

Finding homes near…

The area around it

Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,170 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 67%

Top % in England, by year
2021/22: top 83%83%2022/23: top 76%2023/24: top 75%2024/25: top 67%

Against East of EnglandArrows: East of England rank change since 2021/22

Attainment 842.7 · East of England 45.94/10 Below+17.3 pts
Grade 5+ English and maths34.2% · East of England 44.9%3/10 Below−7.7 pts
EBacc point score4.16 · East of England 4.016/10 Middle+17 pts
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.01 · East of England −0.026/10 Middle
Show exam results by year
Attainment 8
2021/22: 41.5 · 116 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 40.9 · 148 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 40.7 · 115 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 42.7 · 149 pupils · East of England 45.8542.740.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
2021/22: 41% · 116 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 36% · 148 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 33% · 115 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 34.2% · 149 pupils · East of England 44.9%41%33%

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in97.2%
103 of 106 who put it first2019 · 100.0%2026 · 97.2%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st106103
2nd19340
3rd974

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2024

  1. 2006Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2009Satisfactoryas predecessor
  3. 2011Satisfactoryas predecessor
  4. 2013Goodas predecessor
  5. 2018Goodas predecessor
  6. 2024Remains Goodas predecessor

4 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · inspected as predecessor

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026744
Free school meals (past 6 years)20.1%
First language not English21.1%
SEN support12.7%
EHC plan6.3%
Absence (sessions missed)7.6%
Persistently absent pupils23.7%

Girls 50.7%Boys 49.3%

99.2% full · 750 places

Parent View

As at 6 Apr 2026 · 23 responses (3.1% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school78.3% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school78.3% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved69.6% agree
  • Has your child been bullied at this school?26.1% yes
  • When the bullying took place the school dealt with it quickly and effectively · asked only of the 26.1% who said Yes above50% agree
  • Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities?47.8% yes
  • The school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 47.8% who said Yes above45.5% agree
  • The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know60.9% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 13% had no concerns to raise55% agree
  • When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart69.6% agree
  • The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well60.9% agree
  • Would you recommend this school to another parent?69.6% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.2
Pupils per adult12.9
  • Classroom teachers 38.9
  • Leadership 4.3
  • Teaching assistants 7.7
  • Other support 19

Teachers 43.2 FTE · Whole workforce 69.9 · 96 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£8,204
Spend per pupil£8,311
Staff spend per pupil£6,332
Reserve per pupil£129
  • +£97,000revenue reserve
  • −£80,000in-year balance

Grants £7,765 · self-generated £461 · premises £476 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: BEDFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS TRUST LIMITED (12 academies) · trust reserve £6,498,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

122 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained84.4%
  • Education79.5%
  • Apprenticeship3.3%
  • Employment1.6%
  • Not sustained7.4%
  • Unknown8.2%