Somerset
The Castle School
GCSE results 2026: every Somerset school ranked · how England did
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 52.7 is above the national average of around 46.
- 52.7
- Attainment 8
- 57%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made above-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely above zero, which is strong evidence of added value.
- +0.60
- Progress 8
- [0.42, 0.79]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 237 | 336 | 234 (70%) | 707 |
| September 2025 | 237 | 365 | 234 (64%) | 583 |
| September 2024 | 233 | 307 | 230 (75%) | 517 |
| September 2023 | 234 | 323 | 233 (72%) | 537 |
| September 2022 | 238 | 269 | 234 (87%) | 500 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Somerset’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 239 | 52.7 | — | 57.3% | 18.0% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 239 | 53.4 | — | 57.7% | — | 30.1% | 4.7 |
| 2023/2024 | 234 | 55.3 | +0.60 | 58.5% | — | 21.4% | 4.8 |
| 2022/2023 | 239 | 53.1 | +0.21 | 54.0% | — | 23.4% | 4.5 |
| 2021/2022 | 240 | 55.1 | +0.21 | — | — | 24.0% | 4.7 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Somerset for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 136916 |
| Local authority | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy converter |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-19 |
| Headteacher | Headteacher James Lamb |
| Trust | BLACKDOWN EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | Does not apply |
| Postcode | TA1 5AU |
| Pupils | 1,202 |
| FSM eligible | 12.4% |
Contact and identifiers
Wellington Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5AU
http://www.castleschool.co.uk/1823274073| DfE number | 4358 |
| UKPRN | 10034180 |
| Opened | 1 Jul 2011 |
| GIAS updated | 23 Mar 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 23 Mar 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 23 Nov 2023 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | S5 Inspection |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 3 Oct 2023 |
| Publication date | 23 Nov 2023 |