The Castle School Catchment Area
The Castle School is a community special not applicable school in Newbury, West Berkshire , serving pupils aged 3-19, with 199 pupils, and a capacity of 212 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
3-19
Age range
199
Pupils
212
Capacity
94%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2014
The Castle School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Castle School?
The catchment area for The Castle School is the geographic zone West Berkshire uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. West Berkshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
The catchment area for The Castle School is set by West Berkshire and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
Get an alert if The Castle School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by West Berkshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find West Berkshire catchment area documents →The Castle School: 212 places, 94% filled: nearing capacity
The Castle School has a published admission number of 212 places. 199 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 94%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 212, West Berkshire's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 44.3% of pupils at The Castle School are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Newbury.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
West Berkshire publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find West Berkshire school admissions →
The Castle School: School Information
- Full address
- Love Lane, Donnington, Newbury, RG14 2JG
- Local authority
- West Berkshire
- School type
- Community special school
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 3-19 years
- Free school meals
- 44.3% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 110182
Other Not applicable Schools in Newbury
If The Castle School is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Newbury are the next closest alternatives.
Mary Hare School Catchment Area
Non-maintained special school · RG14 3BQ
Horris Hill School Catchment Area
Other independent school · RG20 9DJ
Thorngrove School Catchment Area
Other independent school · RG20 9PS
St Michael's School Catchment Area
Other independent school · RG20 9JW
iCollege Alternative Provision Catchment Area
Pupil referral unit · RG14 1QY
Engaging Potential Catchment Area
Other independent special school · RG14 2PR
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to The Castle School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: The Castle School
What is the catchment area for The Castle School? ▾
The catchment area for The Castle School is the geographic zone West Berkshire uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. West Berkshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Castle School oversubscribed? ▾
The Castle School is operating close to its capacity of 212 places (94% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for The Castle School? ▾
Admission to The Castle School is managed by West Berkshire. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does The Castle School cover? ▾
The Castle School is a not applicable school in Newbury, West Berkshire, serving pupils aged 3-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Castle School? ▾
The Castle School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2014. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.