About Castle School

Music by The Castle School Gospel Choir.

Quality Education in a Caring Environment

The Castle School was opened in 1965 and is split between two sites about half a mile apart. The Sixth Form Centre is housed in an attractive 1930s building, previously the site of Thornbury Grammar School. The school has high quality specialist teaching areas for all subjects including two well-resourced libraries and an excellent Inclusion unit. The school and community benefit from an outstanding art gallery (The Octagon) and excellent sports facilities including two sports halls, multi-gym, dance studio, Astroturf and extensive playing fields. The grounds are particularly well maintained and there are many attractive areas of garden. The school enjoys views over the Severn Estuary. There are approx 1700 students on roll, of which 350 are in the Sixth Form. The ability profile of the intake is generally above the national average. In all other respects however, the school is genuinely comprehensive, catering for a wide range of learning needs and talents.

The Castle School lies on the northern edge of the town of Thornbury which is located twelve miles north of Bristol. To the south Thornbury is six miles from the major M4/M5 interchange at Almondsbury and to the north four miles from the nearest M5 motorway interchange at junction 14. It is within easy reach of Gloucester, the Cotswolds, the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean as well as South Wales. Bristol is a large cosmopolitan city with a comprehensive range of regional services, shopping and entertainment facilities.

Thornbury contains a range of services and an attractive shopping area as well as supermarkets and a leisure centre. It has a pleasant mix of housing, including 18th and 19th century town houses, some substantial inter-war properties, estates of 1960s and 1970s public housing, now predominantly in private ownership and a range of well-designed modern edge of town developments.

The Castle School serves Thornbury and outlying villages and is fed by excellent primary schools, five within Thornbury itself, as well as those of a number of small nearby villages. Some students travel by Local Authority coaches that run from Oldbury, Hill, Tortworth, Falfield, Buckover, Charfield, Tytherington and Cromhall. A number of students travel in from north Bristol suburbs, using private coaches organised by parents.

Many of the staff live in the town itself and outlying villages. Others commute from Bristol to the south or Gloucestershire to the north. Property prices are broadly in line with the national average. Two bedroom properties start from about £140,000, four bedroom properties from about £250,000. Prices in Thornbury are generally higher than those in Gloucestershire and lower than those in suburban north Bristol. Local estate agents such as Bonds (01454 858007) or Castle (01454 414422) will be able to give you more details.

Specialist Status

The Castle School is a Leading Edge school, a specialist Visual Arts College and recognised as a High Performing Specialist School (HPSS) which works with other local schools to raise standards. The school has Basic Skills Quality Kitemark and achieved Full International School Status in 2007.

The School Day

The school operates a 50 period, 10 day fortnight with lessons of one hour duration. The school day for teaching staff begins at 8.40 am and, on days when there are no meetings, ends at 3.30 pm. Lunch is one hour. After school meetings last one hour. Parents’ Evenings start at 4.30 pm and end at 7.00 pm. Administrative staff hours can usually be negotiated.

The Castle School is a Leading Edge School. It works with the Local Authority to raise standards in other schools and is in partnership with Hanham High School and Bradley Stoke School.

The Sixth Form

Currently the Sixth Form offers over 30 subjects at Advanced Level plus a range of other vocational courses. There are also courses in ICT. Around 350 students follow a wide range of subjects and levels.

Academic Performance

Results in external examinations are well above the national average and the school enjoys an excellent reputation for academic success. Around 70% of students gain 5 or more GCSEs at A*-C. The average staying on rate into the Sixth Form is at present over 65% and A level results are outstanding - averaging a pass rate of 97% over the past four years, with 45% at A and B. Over 80 students leave each year to continue with degree courses, including a regular Oxbridge intake.

Staff

The staffing allocation is Head + 101 and rising. Every effort is made to involve all staff in the decision making process and Staff Development is a high priority. The school was first awarded Investors in People (IIP) in 1997, and re-accredited in 2000 and 2006, with the Assessor praising the school on all aspects of staff development and support.

Extra Curricular Activities

The school offers a wide range of extra curricular activities to provide a wide and varied corporate life. Sports, music, drama, fieldwork, foreign exchanges, skiing, work experience, both in this country and in Europe, are all prominent.

Castle School Association

This organisation, representing parents, friends and staff was set up when the school became comprehensive in 1972. besides offering assistance, as required, it organises many major social fund-raising events. For more information on the CSA look at their pages on this website.

View our thoughts on Castle School’s future: Our Preferred Future (PDF)