Welcome to Castleton Primary School
Pupil and staff wellbeing
Positive attitudes and kind behaviour are modelled and celebrated throughout the school and we use Class Dojo to reward children for demonstrating our desired ‘gem powers’. All pupils can identify trusted adults within school to whom they could turn if they had any worries and we access resources through Compass Buzz, the PSHE Association and a range of external agencies in order to provide social, emotional and mental health support to pupils. We also value our committed staff team and we are working towards the Workplace Wellbeing Award. Outdoor learning, including Forest Schools
Outdoor learning is a key feature of our provision and children have regular opportunities to participate in a range of activities either on the school grounds or within a local woodland area, to which we have been kindly granted access. Hidden behind our historic building are extensive grounds, which include fantastic tiered gardens featuring a pond, greenhouse, adventure play area, stage, quiet zone, forest school site and, in the near future, an outdoor classroom! We also benefit from direct access to the local playing fields and cricket grounds, as well as having a regular booking at the village hall. Small school, great ambitions
Our staff are committed to providing a wealth of opportunities to all pupils, ensuring that no child’s experience is limited by the small size of the school, low staff numbers or their individual needs. Past activities have included clubs such as choir, communication/ signing, Japanese, yoga and sports; regular swimming lessons for all age groups; and the opportunity to compete in sporting and technology events. We offer instrumental lessons taught by a peripatetic teacher and we are currently working towards the Arts Discover award. In KS2, children have weekly French lessons taught by a specialist teacher from a local secondary school. Many pupils enjoy taking on leadership responsibilities, including being a school council representative. Opportunities to work collaboratively with pupils from other schools within the Trust are actively planned into the school year – we even maintained virtual links during the lockdown period with cross-school transition meetings for our Year 6 leavers. We ensure that pupils from this small village community have opportunities to develop confidence and build relationships with their peers beyond Castleton, in preparation for their eventual transition to secondary school. Pupils talk passionately about their local community and its heritage and are also aspirational about their future plans, with many pupils already undertaking proactive steps towards their personal goals. Staff have high expectations of all pupils and are keen to develop their resilience, independence and communication skills. Staff, pupils, parents and governors have worked together to create a set of oaths, which aim to enhance pupils’ broader development during their time at Castleton in order to ensure that all pupils are effectively prepared for the next stage of their educational journey. Working with parents
Whilst current restrictions mean we are unable to welcome parents into the school building during school hours, we aim to keep parents and carers involved with their child’s learning through weekly newsletters, regular Facebook updates, messages via the ‘My Child at School’ app and information about rewards through Class Dojo. Either the headteacher or teacher in charge are available on the playground every morning and afternoon and class teachers are on hand to answer any queries or arrange a longer conversation if needed. I hope this page and our school website will give you a flavour of the fantastic opportunities life at Castleton Primary has to offer. If you are a prospective parent and would like to ask a question or arrange an appointment to view the school from 3:30pm onwards, please contact the school office.
