Castle Mead Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Castle Mead Academy is an exceptional school. There is a 'can-do' culture where staff ensure that pupils take a full and active part in school life. Pupils proudly attend this aspirational and visionary school.

Pupils follow the 'Castle Credo' of be kind, work hard and build your character.

Pupils excel at Castle Mead due to the school's extremely high expectations of them. The behaviour of pupils is exemplary.

There is a consistently calm learning environment at this school. Pupils highly value that the environment enables their learning. The school does not tolerate bullying and discriminatory language.

On the rare occasion that there is a bullying... incident, the school takes effective action. Consequently, pupils feel happy and safe here.

Opportunities to develop pupils' talents and interests go beyond what is expected and are wide ranging through the 'enrichment electives' for all pupils.

Many pupils benefit from music and rowing scholarships. Disadvantaged pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), speak highly of these opportunities.

A comment typical of many parents and carers was: 'This is a fantastic school where the scholars are supported to achieve excellence for all.'



What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school's curriculum is meticulously planned, carefully sequenced and successfully implemented. It is ambitious and challenging. The school has a relentless focus for all pupils to achieve the very best outcomes they can.

The English Baccalaureate forms the backbone of the curriculum, and the uptake of languages is high.

Teachers are experts in the subjects that they teach. They present new content clearly.

Staff help pupils to build links between different pieces of knowledge. This helps pupils know and remember more. The school swiftly identifies pupils with SEND.

Pupils with SEND access the same curriculum as their peers. They achieve exceptionally well because staff know their individual needs and apply appropriate strategies to support them effectively. Staff help pupils to become independent and resilient learners.

As a result, all pupils have the confidence to attempt work that significantly challenges them.

Teachers are highly skilled at measuring pupils' successes. They routinely check what pupils know before moving on with new work.

Teachers use assessment well to inform future learning and address any gaps in knowledge that pupils have.

Reading is a priority in this school. Pupils at the early stages of learning to read receive carefully targeted support, which helps them to catch up quickly.

They develop confidence and fluency. Pupils read widely and often.

The school has extremely high expectations for pupils' behaviour.

Pupils consistently meet these high standards. Pupils' conduct creates a positive environment in lessons, resulting in no lost learning time.

The school has a sharp focus on raising attendance rates.

Staff work tenaciously with families to develop pupils' positive habits of regular attendance.

The school enriches pupils' personal development through a carefully considered curriculum and range of planned activities. Pupils have many opportunities to develop resilience and self-confidence.

All pupils learn to recite key poems from the 'Castle Canon', as they move through the school. Pupils do this with pride. Year 7, for example, recited 'Invictus' and explored resilience.'

Castle Character Time' provides exceptional opportunities to nurture all pupils' talents and interests. This includes, for example, learning to speak Mandarin, debating skills, international film studies and the photography society. The school's personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum enables pupils to discuss topical issues.

Pupils learn how to look after their mental and physical health.

The school has a robust and highly effective careers programme. The school ensures that there is impartial advice available for pupils in all year groups.

Year 10 pupils benefit from well-planned work experience.

Trustees ensure that there is challenge and accountability at all levels of management. Governors know the school exceptionally well.

The vision and values are a constant that drives the work that they do. Teachers' professional development is rigorously supported to sustain their deep subject knowledge and refine their pedagogical approaches. The well-being of staff is a priority.

Workload is routinely considered and managed effectively. The school is involved in and committed to supporting other trust schools and the wider education community.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.