Castel Primary Validation published

MEDIA RELEASE

Embargoed until 00.01am Friday 22^nd June 2012

Castel Primary makes impressive progress

Castel Primary's recent validation report has judged the school to be well developed in seven of the eight key areas reviewed as part of the inspection process.

The independent validators found that pupils thoroughly enjoy their time at school, achieve well and look set to exceed the Bailiwick averages at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

'Pupils make good progress in developing their self-confidence and the personal qualities that will enable them to be responsible citizens and effective contributors,' notes the Report.

'Teaching and assessment are well developed and improving. Building on the excellent classroom relationships, teachers provide pupils with activities that engage their attention and encourage them to work hard.'

The main purpose of school self-evaluation and its validation is to support school improvement through celebrating what schools do well and pinpointing those aspects that need improving. The team of validators look at the school's own judgements on how they feel they are performing, observe lessons, scrutinise school documentation, talk to staff and pupils, look at pupils' work and analyse the views of parents.

Impressive progress has been made over the past year in implementing new systems for monitoring pupils' progress and the school has a readily accessible mechanism for monitoring the progress of each pupil and of analysing the data by sub-group to see if pupils are making the required progress. Following a dip in standards in Year 6 in 2011, progress has accelerated across the school.

'The headteacher demonstrates the drive and determination to provide pupils with a successful education. Since his appointment, he has built a school-wide commitment to improvement,' notes the Report.

Behaviour in lessons and around the school is impressive and helps pupils enjoy lessons and the wide range of additional opportunities open to them, particularly in sport and music.

As well as a continued drive to raise achievement for all pupils, the school recognises that progress is uneven across the school and that improvement is needed in:

· the progress of more able pupils, so that larger proportions reach Level 3 in Key Stage 1 and Level 5 in Key Stage 2

· the progress across Key Stage 2 of the group of pupils with average attainment at the end of Key Stage 1

· writing in the earlier years in Key Stage 2, especially for boys

· the consistency of pupils' progress and their confidence and capacity to think and work independently through developing the skills to do so.

The Report recommends that the school takes the following actions to build on the considerable amount of good practice the validators observed.

· improve the consistency of teaching, assessment and the curriculum by: extending opportunities to work independently; stretching the more able pupils; clarifying learning targets in lessons and in marking; more extended writing in lower Key Stage 2; planning investigations to ensure that core skills develop fast enough; and the use made of laptop computers

· Strengthen the monitoring of the school's work by focusing more closely on new initiatives and taking prompt action when they are not working well enough.

Headteacher, Richard Fyfe, is very pleased with the validation report.

'We are very proud of the hard work that the children, teachers and teaching assistants put in on a daily basis and the positive support we have from our parents. This sense of purpose and community came through very clearly in our report,' he said.

'There are many positives in this report which we need to celebrate. There are always things to improve upon and Castel is no exception. The school is currently reviewing our Action Plans to address these areas.'

A copy of the full validation report is available at www.education.gg/VSSE

Note to Editors
For further comment please contact Richard Fyfe, Headteacher, on 257368

Glossary
Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2)<BR>Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6)

Level 2 -expected level of attainment at the end of Key Stage 1
Level 4 - expected level of attainment at the end of Key Stage 2

For further information about the curriculum please go to www.education.gg/KS1andKS2

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