OUTSTANDING is the only way to describe Castle Hill School.
At least that’s the opinion of Ofsted inspectors who have just awarded the Newsome Road South special school the coveted top grade in every single area.
Staff and governors are delighted by the news. This is the second outstanding grade for the school and the third for head teacher Gill Robinson.
Judith Waddington, chairman of the governors, said: “The governors are very proud of the excellence of the learning and life-enhancing experiences that the students receive here each and every day.
“To have this provision yet again recognised by Ofsted as outstanding in every area is wonderful.
“The commitment and expertise of all the staff under the inspirational leadership of Gill Robinson fills me with awe and admiration every time I visit.”
Schools are graded in four main areas:
Achievement of pupils
Quality of teaching
Behaviour and safety of pupils
Leadership and management.
They also receive a further all-important grade for Overall Effectiveness.
In each area, Castle Hill was graded as outstanding. And the nine-page report heaps praise on all aspects of the school and its staff.
Ofsted inspectors have suggested that the only improvement Castle Hill can make is to become a role model and teacher school by entering into partnerships with, and helping, other schools.
The report, carried out on December 12 and 13, states: “This is an outstanding school. Children get off to an excellent start in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The sixth form is outstanding.
“Achievement is outstanding because teachers and teaching assistants have high expectations for each and every pupil and set them challenging targets.
“The quality of teaching is outstanding across the school. Teachers make learning fun.
“Staff develop caring and supportive relationships with pupils. As a result, pupils feel very safe in school and behave exceptionally well.
“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.”
Castle Hill School caters for three to 19-year olds with the most severe or profound learning difficulties from all over Kirklees. It currently has 106 pupils in average class sizes of nine with 130 staff.
