Castle Hill Primary School

Overview

Castle Hill Primary School is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking an improvement from its previous ‘Requires improvement’ judgement. The report highlights a happy, safe environment where pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), develop strong friendships and feel secure. Leaders have established high expectations and a well-designed curriculum that inspires pupils and supports successful learning.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit ‘exemplary’ behaviour, creating a calm atmosphere that allows staff to focus on teaching.
• Leaders have designed an ‘ambitious curriculum’ that builds securely from early years, with staff skilfully adapting delivery for all pupils.
• Reading provision is strong, with staff receiving regular training and effectively supporting pupils who find reading difficult to ‘catch up quickly’.
• Staff provide prompt and effective support for pupils with SEND, ensuring they feel ‘connected with, and accepted by’ their peers.
• Leaders support staff well-being and workload positively, while pupils enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, teachers do not ensure pupils remember prior learning, which hinders the development of new knowledge; leaders must secure knowledge in long-term memory.
• The governing body does not review or challenge leaders’ work in sufficient depth, particularly regarding provision for pupils with SEND.
• Book provision in the early years is underdeveloped, limiting children’s access to high-quality fiction and non-fiction.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff who are vigilant, well-trained, and act promptly on concerns while liaising fully with external professionals.