The Castle School, Bristol Review 2026: Academic Ambition in a Market Town Setting

Set in the historic market town of Thornbury on the northern fringes of Bristol, The Castle School serves a broad community as a large, high performing comprehensive. With a student capacity of over 1,700, it is a significant presence in South Gloucestershire, known for combining a traditional academic focus with a modern, inclusive ethos. The school has been led by Headteacher Jessica Lobbett since September 2023, following her long tenure within the school leadership team. This internal transition has provided stability while fostering a renewed focus on curriculum depth.

The Castle School consistently achieves results that place it in the top tier of local state schools. In 2024, its GCSE outcomes and Progress 8 scores confirmed its status as a school where students of all abilities make strong gains from their starting points. It operates across two main sites, Park Road and Gloucester Road, providing a distinct environment for the sixth form while maintaining a unified school identity.

The atmosphere at The Castle School is one of purposeful activity. Despite its large size, the school maintains a sense of order and individual recognition through its well established house system. Students are assigned to one of four houses: Balmoral, Buckingham, Caernarvon, or Windsor, which provides a smaller community framework for pastoral care and internal competition.

The physical environment reflects the school's heritage and its growth. The Park Road site blends mid-century architecture with more recent additions, including the community sports centre and the Octagon Drama Studio. In 2024, the school opened a new Post-16 Centre and a 20-classroom Maths and Science building, significantly modernizing the STEM facilities. There is a palpable sense of pride in the school's history, yet the daily interactions between students and staff are informal and respectful.

Being part of the Castle School Education Trust (CSET), the school benefits from shared expertise across local schools. However, it retains a distinct Thornbury feel, deeply connected to the town's social fabric and drawing many students from families who have attended the school for generations.

Academic performance is a clear strength, with metrics that consistently sit above England averages. In 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.6, comfortably exceeding the England average. The Progress 8 score of +0.33 indicates that students achieve approximately a third of a grade higher across their subjects than they would be expected to elsewhere.

Ranked 1,491st in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and 17th among schools in the Bristol area, The Castle School sits within the national typical band, representing solid performance in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). Within the GCSE cohort, 25% of all entries achieved the top grades of 9 to 7, while 30.1% achieved a grade 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc).

At A-level, the school ranks 1,313th in England (FindMySchool ranking). Nearly half of all students (47.42%) achieved grades of A*, A, or B. While these results are strong, they align closely with England averages, marking the school as a reliable choice for post-16 study that provides a clear bridge to higher education.

The curriculum is broad and balanced, designed to keep doors open for students as long as possible. In the lower years, there is a heavy emphasis on the core disciplines of English, Mathematics, and Science, but the school remains committed to the arts and humanities. The EBacc entry rate is healthy, reflecting a commitment to traditional academic subjects.

Teaching staff are often described as subject specialists who are passionate about their fields. The latest inspection highlights that teaching follows clear structures and expectations are consistently high. In the sixth form, this translates into more seminar-style learning, particularly in popular subjects like History, Psychology, and the Sciences. The school uses modern learning tools to help students structure their revision and independent study, a technique that has been credited with boosting confidence in the lead-up to formal examinations.

The Castle School has a strong track record of successful transitions. According to 2024 leavers data, 55% of students progressed to university. The school also sees a significant number of students entering the workforce directly or starting apprenticeships (8%), reflecting strong links with local industry.

In the measurement period, 15 students applied to Oxbridge, resulting in one student securing a place at Cambridge. While the school does not have the exam factory reputation of some urban grammars, its elite university pipeline is consistent. Recent destinations include the University of Birmingham and the University of Bristol, with students pursuing a wide range of degrees from Computer Science to Economics. Higher-level apprenticeships are also a growing trend, with students securing prestigious placements at companies like British Airways.

Securing a place at The Castle School is a challenge for those living outside the immediate area. The school is consistently oversubscribed; for the most recent entry cycle, there were 351 applications for 220 places, giving it a subscription proportion of 1.6. This means that for every 10 places available, 16 families applied as their first preference.

Admission for Year 7 is coordinated by South Gloucestershire Council. Priority is given to looked-after children, those with siblings already at the school, and those living within the designated catchment area. Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to the last distance offered. For Year 12, students from both The Castle School and Marlwood School apply through a shared system, with external applications also welcomed.

The Castle School places a high premium on student wellbeing, managed through the house system. Each student has a tutor who serves as the primary point of contact for families, ensuring that no one gets lost in the crowd of over 1,500 students. The house system creates a smaller, more intimate feel within the larger institution.

Specialist support is available for students with additional needs, though the school is a mainstream setting. Support is integrated into the classroom through teaching assistants and differentiated learning plans. The school also provides access to mental health support through its pastoral hubs, offering a safe space for students who may be struggling with the pressures of secondary life.

The extracurricular life of the school is varied, with a notable strength in the performing arts and sport. The school production is an annual highlight, often involving large numbers of students in performance, technical, and orchestral roles.

Sport

The school utilizes its extensive grounds for rugby, football, netball, and athletics. It has a strong reputation in local South Gloucestershire leagues and frequently reaching regional finals in hockey.

Music & Arts

The Octagon Drama Studio provides a professional-grade space for rehearsals and exhibitions. The school has a vibrant music department, with many students taking part in choirs and ensembles.

STEM Excellence

With the opening of the new 20-classroom Maths and Science building in 2024, facilities for STEM are now among the best in the region. The school encourages participation in the UK Maths Challenge and coding clubs.

DofE

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is highly popular here, with large cohorts completing their Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards annually.

Fees & Financial Aid

This is a state school with no tuition fees. As an academy, it is centrally funded by the government. Families are responsible for costs associated with school uniform, optional music lessons, and school trips. For students in the sixth form, the 16-19 Bursary Fund is available to help with essential education-related costs for those from lower-income households. Details on eligibility and how to apply are available on the school website.

The school day typically runs from 8:40 am to 3:10 pm for main school students, while sixth form students follow a 8:40 am to 3:00 pm schedule with the centre remaining open for study until 4:00 pm. Thornbury is served by school buses that transport students from the surrounding rural areas. For primary-aged siblings, CSET provides wraparound care at Lyde Green and other local primary sites, but secondary students typically engage in after-school clubs or independent study.

• Oversubscription: The school is a victim of its own success. With a subscription proportion of 1.6, families living on the edge of the catchment area may find it difficult to secure a place.
• Large School Scale: For some students, a school of 1,700 can feel overwhelming. While the house system mitigates this, those seeking a small, intimate environment may prefer different options.
• Split Site: The sixth form has historically operated across different sites. While the 2024 building projects have centralized much of the provision, students still move between locations, which requires a degree of maturity and organization.
• Academic Pace: The school has high expectations. While it is inclusive, the pace of learning in the top sets is demanding and requires a consistent commitment to homework and independent study.

The Castle School remains one of the most reliable and high performing state options in the Bristol region. It offers a balance: it is large enough to provide a vast range of subjects and clubs, but its house system ensures a level of pastoral care that feels personal. It best suits academically motivated students who want a traditional comprehensive experience and families who value a school with deep roots in its local community. The main challenge for many will be the competitive admissions process. Families interested in this option can use the Saved Schools feature to manage their shortlist.