Academy converter · Shropshire

Bishops Castle Primary School

4–11Ages
128Pupils
PrimaryPhase
145672URN

Oak Meadow, Bishops Castle, SY9 5PA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

0.5 below Shropshire median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Shropshire

12 applications for 8 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

50%met the expected standard

Shropshire 61% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 11 October 2023Ofsted'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

Inspection history

11 October 2023
Graded inspection: Good
15 September 2022
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns)

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

1.5applications per place, Reception

0.5 below Shropshire median (2.0) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

12 applications · 8 places offered · 8 named it first

2026 1.5; Shropshire median median 2.1
2025 1.5; Shropshire median median 1.9
2024 1.4; Shropshire median median 2.0
2023 1.6; Shropshire median median 2.0
2022 1.4; Shropshire median median 1.9
2021 1.4; Shropshire median median 1.6
2020 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.6
2019 1.1; Shropshire median median 1.7
2018 1.2; Shropshire median median 1.7; as the previous school
2017 1.4; Shropshire median median 1.7; as the previous school
2016 1.1; Shropshire median median 1.6; as the previous school
2015 1.0; Shropshire median median 1.6; as the previous school
2014 1.5; Shropshire median median 1.6; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Shropshire median in 0 of 8 years.

This school
Shropshire median

Dashed bars: as Bishops Castle Primary School (URN 123354), the previous school.

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	8	12	1.5	8	1.00
Sep 2025	13	20	1.5	13	1.00
Sep 2024	20	28	1.4	20	1.00
Sep 2023	12	19	1.6	12	1.00
Sep 2022	14	20	1.4	14	1.00
Sep 2021	14	19	1.4	13	0.93
Sep 2020	14	18	1.3	13	0.93
Sep 2019	8	9	1.1	8	1.00
Sep 2018 *	14	17	1.2	14	1.00
Sep 2017 *	12	17	1.4	12	1.00
Sep 2016 *	17	18	1.1	15	0.88
Sep 2015 *	15	15	1.0	12	0.80
Sep 2014 *	10	15	1.5	10	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 67% · Writing 71% · Maths 63% → all three 50% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard50%67th of 95 in Shropshire

Shropshire 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard67%

Shropshire 75% England 78%

Higher standard25%

Shropshire 30% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard71%

Shropshire 74% England 75%

Greater depth4%

Shropshire 10% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard63%

Shropshire 73% England 77%

Higher standard21%

Shropshire 17% England 24%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Shropshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	50%	4%	103	103
2023/24	18%	0%	98	97
2022/23	53%	5%	107	106

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

Bishops Castle Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.5applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Lydbury North Church of England Primary School
4.2 km · Shropshire

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 14%met the SATs standard
Norbury Primary School and Nursery
6.1 km · Shropshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 89%met the SATs standard
Stiperstones CofE Primary School
6.1 km · Shropshire

Remains Good · improving2024

4.0applications per place
St George's CofE Academy, Clun
8.4 km · Shropshire

Remains Good2022

1.2applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Newcastle CofE Primary School
9.6 km · Shropshire

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place
Clunbury CofE Primary School
9.8 km · Shropshire

2026

4.0applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Chirbury CofE VC Primary School & Busy Bees Nursery
11.3 km · Shropshire

Some aspects not as strong2025

1.2applications per place 22%met the SATs standard
Wistanstow CofE Primary School
11.7 km · Shropshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.8applications per place 30%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: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 145672 · 893/2029
Trust: Diocese of Hereford Multi Academy Trust
Capacity: 175 pupils · 128 on roll
Free school meals: 28.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2018
Replaced: Bishops Castle Primary School (URN 123354)
Address: Oak Meadow, Bishops Castle, SY9 5PA
Local authority: Shropshire

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