The Castle School is a mainstream secondary school in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 130 of its 1,416 pupils (9.2%) were getting SEN support and 44 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,416 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in South Gloucestershire.
9.2% get SEN support
130 of 1,416 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
44 of 1,416 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health64
- Autism29
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia21
- Speech, language and communication14
- Moderate learning difficulty11
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,416 (places for 1,733)
- Headteacher
- Ms Jo Cowper
- Part of
- Pathway Trust
- Free school meals
- 14.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- South Gloucestershire
- School reference (URN)
- 139348
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask South Gloucestershire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, March 2026: Expected standard in every area
Inspected in March 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2021).
Contact and getting there
Park Road, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1HT
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- New Siblands School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Castlefell School Independent · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
- Brimsham Green School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 6.1 miles
- Yate Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 7.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Manorbrook Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.3%, EHC plans 1.7% 0.2 miles
- St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 9.1%, EHC plans 2% 0.3 miles
- Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 20.8%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in South Gloucestershire SEND schools in South Gloucestershire
Questions about The Castle School
How many pupils at The Castle School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 130 of the 1,416 pupils (9.2%) were getting SEN support and 44 (3.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Castle School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (64 pupils), autism (29 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (21 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Castle School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at The Castle School?
Through South Gloucestershire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to The Castle School?
You can ask for The Castle School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does The Castle School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Brimsham Green School, about 6.1 miles away.
Where is The Castle School?
Park Road, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1HT, in South Gloucestershire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), 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.