Castle Hill School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Children get off to an excellent start in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

They quickly become familiar with the routines which cue them into changes in the day and begin to develop the skills they need to learn. The sixth form is outstanding. Students enjoy a curriculum which is very well matched to their needs to ensure they are as well prepared as possible for their future lives.

Achievement is outstanding because teachers and teaching assistants have high expectations for each and every pupil and set them challenging targets. These ensure that all pupils make at least good progress and many make outstanding progress in their... academic, personal, social and emotional development. Staff develop caring and supportive relationships with pupils.

As a result, pupils feel very safe in school and behave exceptionally well. The quality of teaching is outstanding across the school. Teachers make learning fun.

They plan personalised programmes which are delivered by highly skilled teaching assistants. The teachers and teaching assistants work together in highly effective teams to find imaginative ways to help pupils learn. Leadership and management, including the governing body, have not been content with the previous outstanding inspection result.

Under the inspirational leadership of the headteacher, they have been highly ambitious for the school and continued to drive improvements in the quality of teaching and pupil achievement. The school has yet to determine the impact that becoming a teaching school is likely to have on the achievement of its own pupils and those at partner schools.

Information about this school

All pupils have a statement of special educational needs.

The greatest proportion of pupils has severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties, many with associated sensory impairments. A minority of students also have autism spectrum conditions. A majority of pupils have complex communication, medical and health needs; some of these may be life-limiting.

Pupils may be admitted to the school at other than the usual starting times and particularly to join the sixth form from other schools. About a quarter of pupils are known to be eligible for additional funding through the pupil premium which is higher than the national average. Almost half of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds and for many of these, English is an additional language.

Castle Hill staff provide outreach support to schools and other settings in the area on request. The school holds a number of awards including specialist status in communication and interaction, quality standards in careers and primary science and the Disport PMLD Kite Mark. The school has applied to become a teaching school through the National College of School Leadership.