The Castle School
Taunton, TA1 5AU · Somerset · secondary school
1st of 28 secondary schools in Somerset we can score, 35 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 the 644 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.7/10 among them, against 8.3/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 94 | 35% | 3.28 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 57.7 · 79 | 30% | 2.37 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.6 · 88 | 25% | 2.20 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 53.4 · 81 | 10% | 0.81 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. In 2024/25, 57.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 53.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.6 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than peers nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.7 out of 10 among them, against 8.3 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils join clubs for creative writing, public speaking, debating, Warhammer, photography, and languages. Music provision includes choirs, orchestras, a mini orchestra, woodwind groups, a steel pan group, Indonesian Gamelan workshops, and rock/pop bands. Trips cover outdoor education, universities, art galleries, theatre, concerts, and orchestras.
Getting in. The school has 1202 pupils in a capacity of 1188, meaning it is over capacity by 14. The school is over its stated capacity, so places are competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school manage the pressure of being over capacity? What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How do the music groups balance rehearsal time with academic work?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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