Castletown Primary School
Sunderland, SR5 3EQ · Sunderland · primary school
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24th of 73 primary schools in Sunderland we can score, 81 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 — 8.6/10 against 2,176 of them, against 7.3/10 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 | 76.0 · 80 | 41% | 3.25 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 34% | 1.76 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 9.0 · 61 | 26% | 1.56 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Castletown Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 76.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the figure was 9.0% against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2022. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join arts and crafts, computing, cooking, darts, gardening, outdoor play, and movie night clubs. Both a breakfast club and an after-school club are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 347 pupils against a stated capacity of 450. 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 who are not yet meeting the expected standard in maths? What specific activities are included in the weekly computing club? How does the school manage transitions for children moving from Year 6 to secondary school?
What Ofsted said about Castletown Primary School
Overview
Castletown Primary School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories. Pupils are described as ‘welcoming, respectful, hardworking, caring and kind’, with strong behaviour and a positive attitude towards learning. The school has successfully addressed learning gaps from the pandemic, particularly in reading, and maintains high staff morale.
Strengths
- Reading is a ‘strength of the school’, with phonics integrated into daily teaching and expert support for lower-attaining pupils.
- Pupils ‘embody the school values’ and feel safe, knowing how to raise concerns with adults or the school counsellor.
- The curriculum in subjects like mathematics and art is well-planned, with lessons that ‘build learning progressively’ and help pupils embed key ideas.
- Staff morale is high, with leaders ensuring workloads are manageable and colleagues described as an ‘extended family’.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive the ‘same curriculum offer’ alongside targeted support and vocabulary reminders.
Areas to improve
- Curriculum thinking in some foundation subjects is ‘muddled’ and lacks structure, meaning essential knowledge is not clearly identified or linked.
- Assessment systems in some subjects are ‘not sharp enough’, failing to check if knowledge has transferred to long-term memory or to identify gaps consistently.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with ‘meticulous’ systems to keep pupils safe and staff trained to spot signs that a pupil may need extra help.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 62% |
| 2023/24 | 70% |
| 2024/25 | 76% |
| 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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