Newcastle CofE Primary School
Newcastle, Craven Arms, SY7 8QLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Newcastle CofE Primary School is a primary school in Craven Arms for ages 5 to 11. It is one of the 183 schools in Shropshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 19 March 2014, report published 8 April 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 4 May 2023
There is a family feel to Newcastle CofE Primary. Because of its size, everyone knows and cares for one another. Older pupils look after younger pupils and are positive role models to them. For example, they play an active role in assemblies to encourage all to take part. At social times, pupils from all year groups play happily together. They respect any differences between them. One pupil captured the feelings of others, describing the school as 'special' because of how well everyone gets on with each other. Pupils enjoy their lessons and time in school. They rise to the high expectations their teachers have of them. They like the opportunities to learn in different ways. This includes learning in the outdoor classroom and forest school. Pupils go on memorable trips to enhance their learning, such as to museums and a historic prison. As part of a federation of schools, pupils benefit from opportunities to socialise and learn alongside other children of their own age. This includes going on trips together, participating in sporting competitions and in a choir. Recently, pupils enjoyed welcoming friends from the other schools to their picnic to celebrate the King's Coronation. They also learned about possible careers through the joint forensic science investigation day.
What the school should improve
- Some pupils do not have reading books that are well matched to their current reading ability. This means they encounter some words they are not yet ready for and struggle to read as fluently as they should. Leaders should ensure that all pupils have access to and read a range of books that are appropriately matched to their reading ability to enable them to become fluent and confident readers.
- The design of the curriculum does not help pupils acquire a secure and deep enough understanding of the diversity of modern Britain. This means that pupils are unclear and sometimes anxious about life and experiences that are different to those familiar to them. Leaders should ensure that pupils' learning in PSHE and the enrichment opportunities on offer carefully address any gaps, so pupils are fully prepared for life in modern British society.
Pupil numbers and mix
21 pupils on roll, with places for 56
Schools near Newcastle CofE Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St George's CofE Academy, Clun | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 57% met the expected standard |
| Bishops Castle Primary School | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 50% met the expected standard |
| Lydbury North Church of England Primary School | 7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 14% met the expected standard |
| Clunbury CofE Primary School | 8 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 67% met the expected standard |
| St Mary's CofE Primary School | 9 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 5 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kathryn Roberts
- Phone
- 01588640260
- Address
- Newcastle, Craven Arms, SY7 8QL
- Local authority
- Shropshire
- URN
- 123488
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.