The Castle School is a council-run special school in Newbury, West Berkshire, for children and young people aged 3 to 19. It supports autism, SEMH, moderate learning and 2 other needs.
- Ages 3–19
- 228 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
School details
- Type
- Council special school
- Ages
- 3 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 228 (places for 212)
- Headteacher
- Mr Jon Hewitt (Headteacher)
- Free school meals
- 37.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Berkshire
- School reference (URN)
- 110182
Needs it supports
5 needs: autism, SEMH and 3 more
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
Cognition and learning
- Moderate learning difficulty Other schools for this in West Berkshire (1)
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in West Berkshire (1)
- Profound and multiple learning difficulties Other schools for this in West Berkshire (1)
Social, emotional and mental health
- Social, emotional and mental health Other schools for this in West Berkshire (1)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often West Berkshire council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, October 2014; school remains Outstanding (April 2024)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in October 2014. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
Since then: School remains Outstanding (ungraded inspection, April 2024).
Contact and getting there
Love Lane, Donnington, Newbury, RG14 2JG
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Trinity School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- The Winchcombe School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.5 miles
- Speenhamland School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
All SEND schools in West Berkshire
By need in West Berkshire: Autism (6) · Hearing (4) · SEMH (2) · Moderate learning (2) · Severe learning (2) · PMLD (2) · Dyslexia and SpLD (2) · Physical (2)
Questions about The Castle School
How do I get a place at The Castle School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult The Castle School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does The Castle School support?
Autism, social, emotional and mental health, moderate learning difficulty, severe learning difficulty and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does The Castle School take?
Aged 3 to 19, boys and girls.
What is The Castle School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in April 2024 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is The Castle School?
Love Lane, Donnington, Newbury, RG14 2JG, in West Berkshire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.