Community school · Norfolk

Redcastle Family School

2–11Ages
277Pupils
PrimaryPhase
120905URN

St Martin's Way, Thetford, IP24 3PU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.3per place

0.3 above Norfolk median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Norfolk

63 applications for 28 places · 41st of 180 in Norfolk

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

70%met the expected standard

Norfolk 57% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 15 November 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.3applications per place, Reception

0.3 above Norfolk median (2.0) close to England median (2.2)

63 applications · 28 places offered · 30 named it first

2026 2.3; Norfolk median median 2.0
2025 2.7; Norfolk median median 2.0
2024 1.9; Norfolk median median 1.7
2023 1.6; Norfolk median median 1.7
2022 1.7; Norfolk median median 1.7
2021 2.2; Norfolk median median 1.7
2020 1.9; Norfolk median median 1.7
2019 2.2; Norfolk median median 1.7
2018 1.9; Norfolk median median 1.7
2017 2.1; Norfolk median median 1.6
2016 2.0; Norfolk median median 1.6
2015 2.3; Norfolk median median 1.7
2014 1.7; Norfolk median median 1.6

More applications per place than the Norfolk median in 12 of 13 years.

This school
Norfolk median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	28	63	2.3	30	1.07
Sep 2025	29	78	2.7	41	1.41
Sep 2024	26	49	1.9	32	1.23
Sep 2023	30	47	1.6	35	1.17
Sep 2022	25	43	1.7	25	1.00
Sep 2021	30	66	2.2	44	1.47
Sep 2020	30	58	1.9	30	1.00
Sep 2019	29	64	2.2	25	0.86
Sep 2018	30	56	1.9	29	0.97
Sep 2017	30	63	2.1	35	1.17
Sep 2016	30	60	2.0	34	1.13
Sep 2015	30	68	2.3	37	1.23
Sep 2014	30	52	1.7	30	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 73% · Writing 82% · Maths 85% → all three 70% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard70%51st of 263 in Norfolk

Norfolk 57% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard73%

Norfolk 73% England 78%

Higher standard24%

Norfolk 30% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard82%

Norfolk 68% England 75%

Greater depth3%

Norfolk 7% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard85%

Norfolk 71% England 77%

Higher standard27%

Norfolk 19% England 24%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Norfolk median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	70%	0%	104	108
2023/24	71%	6%	105	104
2022/23	71%	13%	104	107

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Redcastle Family SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

2.3applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Queensway Junior Academy
0.6 km · Norfolk

Serious weaknesses 2026

51%met the SATs standard
Queensway Infant Academy
0.7 km · Norfolk

2026

1.4applications per place
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy
0.7 km · Norfolk

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 27%met the SATs standard
Norwich Road Academy
1.1 km · Norfolk

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.6applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Drake Primary School
1.8 km · Norfolk

2026

1.8applications per place 40%met the SATs standard
Admirals Academy
2.1 km · Norfolk

Good2024

57%met the SATs standard
Raleigh Infant Academy
2.1 km · Norfolk

Good2022

2.2applications per place
Barnham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
3.8 km · Suffolk

Remains Good2022

2.2applications per place 57%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 120905 · 926/2252
Capacity: 302 pupils · 277 on roll
Free school meals: 36.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: SEN unit
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: St Martin's Way, Thetford, IP24 3PU
Local authority: Norfolk · Breckland

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources