Castlewood Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 4 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Castlewood Road, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9USOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Castlewood Primary School is a primary school in Horsham for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 332 schools in West Sussex. It ranks 5th of 26 primary schools in Horsham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2013.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 20 March 2013, report published 22 April 2013

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 January 2023

Leaders are determined that by the time pupils leave Castlewood, they will be 'world ready'. This ambition is realised through a school-wide culture of high expectations in terms of pupils' learning, behaviour and character development. As a result, pupils achieve well and show resilience with their learning. Parents and carers appreciate this culture, with one saying, 'The exceptional teaching inspires my child, not only to reach their potential but also to foster an understanding of the world around them, enhancing their overall well-being.' Pupils behave extremely well. They work hard in their lessons and are polite and respectful. Pupils are well looked after and safe at school. They are not concerned about bullying because they know that it is rare and that, when it does occur, it is swiftly and effectively dealt with. The 'heart, brain and soul' learning powers are valued by pupils and motivate them. They take great pride in being awarded points that lead to certificates in celebration assemblies. Pupils also enjoy being members of their castle houses and the resulting relationships they build across year groups. The Year 6 house captains take their responsibilities seriously. These include leading interesting and informative house assemblies and launching exciting competitions.

What the school should improve

  • In the English curriculum, a clear progression of grammar and vocabulary has only recently been implemented. As a result, pupils' writing is not yet as strong as it could be. Leaders should continue to support teachers in embedding this work to strengthen pupils' writing further.
  • In a few foundation subjects, leaders have only recently determined the progression of essential concepts and vocabulary that pupils need to learn. This means that some pupils are not able to explicitly make links between previous and current learning. Subject leaders should continue with this work to ensure that pupils accumulate the necessary knowledge and skills.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

29 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths72%

72%, 10 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths17%

17%, 9 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score109

109, 3 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score108

108, 3 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score108

108, 3 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

205 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals2.9%

2.9%, 23.6 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language5.4%

5.4%, 16.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support13.2%

13.2%, 1.6 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.4%

4.4%, 1.6 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Castlewood Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Southwater Junior Academy0.4 milesOfsted: Good69% met the expected standard
Southwater Infant Academy0.4 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
St Andrew's CofE Primary School2 milesOfsted: Good69% met the expected standard
St Mary's CofE (Aided) Primary School2 milesOfsted: Good67% met the expected standard
Barns Green Primary School2 milesOfsted judgements: Good89% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mrs Kirsty Anstee-Brown
Address
Castlewood Road, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9US
Local authority
West Sussex
URN
131130

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.