Support and encouragement
IN January 2016 Ofsted reported that Caludon Castle is a good school for a number of reasons. Here is an extract from the extensive and highly favourable report:
“The headteacher, leaders and governors have successfully created a culture where every pupil is valued, supported and encouraged to achieve the best that they can.
“The quality of care and guidance is excellent. Leaders and governors have an accurate view of the academy’s strengths and weaknesses because they regularly review their own work and the difference it is making to teaching and to pupils’ learning. Progress in English is well above that seen nationally. Disabled pupils and those with special educational needs make good progress because of the excellent care and good support that staff provide.
“Teaching is good across the academy overall and in English, drama, music, history and science inspectors saw evidence of outstanding teaching over time. Teachers are using the academy’s new assessment system effectively to plan lessons that meet the needs of pupils well.
“Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a strength in the academy. Pupils in the main school and learners in the sixth form have an excellent understanding of the wider world, their responsibilities as future citizens and the importance of respect and tolerance. Behaviour is good in lessons and around the academy because the expectations of leaders and teachers are high. Pupils arrive at lessons keen to learn. Safeguarding is effective. Leaders have ensured that systems are in place to rapidly identify and address any concerns that may arise.”
Head teacher Mrs Michele Marr explained how Caludon Castle School has developed its reputation for academic success and good citi- “Our facilities are excellent and well reward activities and these are well debating clubs. We want students to zenship: “Since January 2016, the cared for. Many subjects are piloting received by students. All students leave Caludon well prepared for their school has continued to grow in new learning environments to complete the ‘Caludon Experience’ future role in society, both learning strength and we are an over-subscribed develop students to be more resilient which develops spiritual, moral, and working in the 21st century.” school. Our motto ‘Respect to and able to cope with high level social and cultural aspects of their all, from all’ permeates throughout thinking. learning, including university trips, and we are proud of our students “Our graduation programme provides theatre trips, gallery visits, trips and their understanding a way to recognise the achievements abroad, taking part in maths challenges, of being good of all our students. Each year attending STEM clubs, participating citizens. Student leaders group participates in a range of in sporting, drama and participate fully in the life of our school. This includes subject ambassadors who advise on further improving the teaching of subjects they enjoy, school council members who make recommendations to school policy and those students who want to make a difference and fundraise for charity.
“Excellent learning and teaching is at the heart of the school and our outstanding staff go that extra mile to ensure children achieve their best. Every student in school can tell you about our ‘Take it Further’ strategy which provides stretch and challenge opportunities within lessons. Students enjoy learning. We promote maths, English, science, history, geography, French and Spanish as part of the EBACC qualification, but also enable children to excel in art, music, drama, technology and sport. Providing students with choices for their future is important to us.
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“This is what this year’s summer exams results proved,” Mrs Marr continued. “We were extremely proud of our students, especially as they were the first to face the more rigorous exam system.
“The vast majority of our students took GCSE English, maths, double or triple science, plus four options which included art, business, drama, French, Spanish, history, geography, health and social care, creative media, media studies, music, philosophy, citizenship, computer science, sociology, PE, hospitality and catering, and product design and they achieved well in these subjects with a high number of A grades.
“And 75 per cent gained five or more GCSEs at A*-C, 64 per cent achieved A*-C (4+) in both English and maths, 83 per cent achieved A*-C (4+) in English and 71 per cent (4+) in maths.
“More than 287 A-level qualifications were taken by 129 students and 100 per cent of them achieved A*-E in all of their subjects. Of those qualifications 50 per cent of the grades are A*to B and 80 per cent are A* to C. Currently, well over 100 students have a place at university and several students are going on to higher apprenticeships.”