OA - Cambridge
Ofsted: GoodAcademy alternative provision converter
Cambridge · CB4 2BD · Cambridgeshire
Ages 5–16
- FSM80.0%
0.2 miles away
OpenOfsted: Requires improvementURN 134972
Castle School, Cambridge
Community special school · Cambridge · CB4 2EE
Ages 2–19 · 233 pupils · Cambridgeshire
Ofsted
Requires improvement
Attainment 8
0.5
Overall absence
13.2%
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
Requires improvement
Inspection date
2024-05-14
- Overall effectiveness
- Requires improvement
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding effective
- Yes
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 4 (2023/24)
Progress 8-1.57
−20+2
Attainment 80.5
English & maths grade 5+0%
English & maths grade 4+0%
EBacc entry0%
EBacc APS: 0.0
Key stage 2 (2023/24)
Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence13.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)36.6%
Unauthorised2.4%
- Authorised absence
- 10.9%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 5.4%
- Enrolments in measure
- 186
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
Capacity fill100%
233 pupils · 234 places
- Pupils on roll
- 233
- Boys / girls
- 152 / 81
- School capacity
- 234
- Capacity fill
- 233 / 234 (100%)
- Free school meals
- 51.9%
- FSM pupils
- 95
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Community special school
Age range
Ages 2–19
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
3 / 6
- NurseryHas Nursery Classes
- Sixth formHas a sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Special classes
- Has Special Classes
- Governance
- Community special school
- Headteacher
- Ms Charlotte Whysall
Location
- Address
- Courtney Way
- Postcode
- CB4 2EE
- Town
- Cambridge
- County
- Cambridgeshire
- Local authority
- Cambridgeshire
- District
- Cambridge
- Constituency
- Cambridge
- Urban/rural
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed community special school, Ages 2–19, in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, 233 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 51.9%.
Nearby schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
Milton Road Primary School
Ofsted: Not judgedCommunity school · Primary
Cambridge · CB4 2BD · Cambridgeshire
Ages 5–11
- KS275%
- Absence4.5%
- FSM13.7%
- Demand0.97
0.2 miles away
Chesterton Community College
Ofsted: Not judgedAcademy converter · Secondary
Cambridge · CB4 3NY · Cambridgeshire
Ages 11–18
- Att862.4
- P81.1
- EM5+69%
- Absence5.3%
0.2 miles away
Arbury Primary School
Ofsted: School remains GoodCommunity school · Primary
Cambridge · CB4 2DE · Cambridgeshire
Ages 5–11
- KS267%
- Absence5.3%
- FSM40.3%
- Demand0.94
0.3 miles away
St Luke's CofE Primary School
Ofsted: Requires improvementAcademy sponsor led · Primary
Cambridge · CB4 3JZ · Cambridgeshire
Ages 4–11
- KS282%
- Absence7.2%
- FSM37.3%
- Demand1.00
0.4 miles away
North Cambridge Academy
Ofsted: Standards maintainedAcademy sponsor led · Secondary
Cambridge · CB4 2JF · Cambridgeshire
Ages 11–16
- Att846.7
- P80.2
- EM5+38%
- Absence10.0%
0.5 miles away
Other independent school
Cambridge · CB4 1NQ · Cambridgeshire
Ages 13–24
- Att83.6
- EM5+0%
0.5 miles away
Colleges Nursery School
Ofsted: School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 NextLocal authority nursery school · Nursery
Cambridge · CB4 2LD · Cambridgeshire
Ages 2–5
- FSM0.0%
0.5 miles away
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Contact
- Headteacher
- Ms Charlotte Whysall
- Telephone
- 01223442400