Castle Academy vs The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in East Midlands, England, 85 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Castle Academy
Northampton · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
455 students
The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold
Nottingham · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
454 students
| Measure | Castle Academy Northampton, East Midlands | The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold Nottingham, East Midlands |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 57 Top 50% | 77 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #509 of 1,516 | #180 of 1,516 |
| National rank | #6573 of 15,697 | #2622 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Academy |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 3–11 | Ages 3–11 |
| Students | 455 | 454 |
| Pupils on roll | 455 | 454 |
| Free school meals | 20.3% | 8.5% |
| Capacity filled | 108.3% | 129.3% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 69% | 74% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 7% | 12% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | – |
| EBacc average points | – | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Northampton | Nottingham |
| region | East Midlands | East Midlands |
| Website | castle.emat.uk | www.goodshepherd.notts.sch.uk/ |
The verdict
- •The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold scores higher on the Success Index (England) (77.2 vs 56.5).
- •The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (74% vs 69%).
- •The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold does better on ks2: higher standard (12% vs 7%).
- •Castle Academy is the larger school with 455 students compared with 454.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Castle Academy better than The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold?
On the Success Index (England), The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold ranks higher (77.2 vs 56.5 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Castle Academy and The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold?
About 85 km in a straight line, between Northampton and Nottingham in East Midlands.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Castle Academy: 455. The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold: 454. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Castle Academy and The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold rank in East Midlands?
Castle Academy is 509th of 1,516 and The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary, Arnold is 180th of 1,516 among primary schools in East Midlands on the 2025 Success Index (England).