CASTLE VIEW ACADEMY JUDGED ‘GOOD’ IN LATEST OFSTED REPORT
Chloe Witherden
/ Categories: General
Students and staff at Castle View Academy in Portsmouth are beginning the new academic year with celebrations this week, after being rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in all categories.
Following a full Section 5 inspection in June, inspectors have praised a wide range of the school’s strengths, including their ambitious curriculum, high-quality pastoral care and positive environment for learning. Ofsted’s report was clear that “at the very heart of Castle View Academy is a desire for all pupils to achieve excellence”.
Among the areas singled out for praise was the curriculum, which inspectors said leaders had developed in recent years to ensure it is “ambitious and well-structured”. This is supported by high-quality teaching and planning that gives pupils the support they need to progress, including those with additional needs.
Throughout the report, inspectors highlighted the positive environment for learning, where students know what is expected of them and meet the high expectations of staff. Leaders in particular were said to “work hard to ensure that they make a difference to the lives of pupils”. This commitment was echoed by the feedback of students, who were said to be “proud of their school” and feel safe and well cared for.
In addition to the focus on academic achievement, there was praise for the way staff ensure students are prepared for the future. This includes through opportunities for wider development such as education on personal health, welfare, finance and career aspirations in order to prepare students for life beyond school.
The highly encouraging ‘Good’ Ofsted is further backed up by the schools’ GCSE successes this summer. Year 11 student, Alfie Grimes, achieved seven 9s, one 8 and a distinction. He will be going to Eton College on a scholarship for students from disadvantaged backgrounds in September.
Christian Down, Principal at Castle View Academy, said:
“This recent Ofsted report is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our excellent staff team and our students, and is something that I know our whole school community will take pride in.
“As inspectors have rightly noted, our goal as teachers is for every student to achieve excellence and to leave us with the skills, qualifications and experiences they need to be successful young adults. This report confirms the steps we are taking are the right ones and demonstrates how far we have come in recent years.
“We are very grateful for the way everyone associated with our school has supported our ambitions for our students and for our school. With a new academic year underway, we are excited to continue to deliver on this and take Castle View Academy from strength to strength.”
Dame Sally Coates, Director of Secondary Education at United Learning, said:
“We are very pleased that the inspectors concluded that Castle View Academy is now a ‘Good’ school in all areas and found a great deal to commend about its high academic standards, the breadth of the curriculum and its strong pastoral systems. The past two and a half years have been very challenging, but it is clear from this report that the entire school community has worked hard to ensure that it continues to move from strength to strength.”