Castle Hill Junior School
Ipswich, IP1 6QD · Suffolk · primary school
Check the area around this school
126th of 232 primary schools in Suffolk we can score, 253 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 4.3/10 against 2,024 of them, against 3.7/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 57.0 · 32 | 40% | 1.29 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 6.0 · 45 | 25% | 1.12 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Castle Hill Junior School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 57.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the figure was 6.0% against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Children's University, Kidslingo (Spanish), and No Outsiders clubs. Sports include football, multisports, and dodgeball, while arts and music offer CDC Street Dance and CDC Dance. Both a breakfast club and an after-school club are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 288 pupils against a stated capacity of 360. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to bridge the gap between the 57.0% expected standard and the national median? What specific strategies are used to raise the 6.0% higher standard attainment? How does the recent Good inspection influence current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Castle Hill Junior School
Overview
Castle Hill Junior School is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking an improvement from its previous ‘Requires improvement’ judgement. The report describes a school where pupils are ‘happy and safe’, benefiting from ‘calm and purposeful’ classrooms and a ‘broad and well-planned curriculum’. Leaders have successfully steered the school through change, ensuring high standards in core subjects and effective support for vulnerable pupils.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate ‘respectful and positive’ relationships with staff and peers, showing ‘empathy and understanding’ towards each other.
- Reading is a clear priority, with ‘effective support’ helping struggling pupils to ‘catch up quickly’ and become ‘fluent, confident readers’.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are ‘fully included’ and make ‘good progress’ through tailored curricula and coordinated agency support.
- The curriculum in English, mathematics, and science is strong, with ‘important knowledge’ clearly identified and sequenced.
- Leaders provide robust support for staff development, ensuring teachers ‘get the support they need to develop their expertise’.
Areas to improve
- In some foundation subjects, subject-specific knowledge is ‘not sufficiently detailed’, leading to gaps in pupils’ understanding.
- Leaders have not consistently checked that the curriculum is ‘implemented consistently well across classes and year groups’ in certain subjects.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 41% |
| 2023/24 | 48% |
| 2024/25 | 57% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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