WELCOME TO CASTLETHORPE FIRST SCHOOL
We are a small, village school with a strong family atmosphere, catering for children aged 4 – 7 years with approximately forty children on roll. We provide a high standard of education where children enjoy a friendly and caring school life. Our school provides a stimulating environment in which all children can become well motivated, independent learners.
They learn to take responsibility for themselves and to develop care and respect for their community. Children participate in small learning groups, enabling both learning difficulties and high attainment to be provided for. We have very strong links with our village community and make extensive use of our local environment.
In September 2005, Castlethorpe formed a school partnership with Emberton School. Our Headteacher divides her time equally between the two schools whilst each school retains their own budget and governing body.
“I was looking for a new challenge and have been interested in the idea of shared headship for some time. I shall undertake some teaching across school but no longer be responsible for a class. Both governing bodies and I are looking forward to the additional amount of time I shall be able to devote to the strategic leadership of the schools.”
We hope you find our website of interest. Do contact us if you would like any further information about our school.
Elsa Steel Headteacher
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LATEST NEWS FROM CASTLETHORPE
The internal refurbishments are now complete and staff are enjoying the improvements. more >> |
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SUBJECTS
Find out more about our exciting, enriched curriculum. more >> |
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SCHOOL ADMISSIONS POLICY
View the school admissions policy. more >> |
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SCHOOL GOVERNORS
View the list of current school governors more >> |
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OUR OFSTED REPORT
View the report from our April 2006 inspection more >> |
CASTLETHORPE FIRST SCHOOL PROSPECTUS
Click here to download our 2006 School Prospectus
(Requires a PDF Reader)
PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS
Castlethorpe School encourages a close partnership with parents as being important in the children's' development. Parents are very welcome in school. We appreciate the help given by parents working alongside teachers in the classroom and on occasions when we go out of school. These include our weekly visits to the village hall for P.E., to swimming, on walks and on occasional special visits.
Parents are most welcome to come in after school to see their child's work, talk about progress or to raise any concerns. Parents who are unable to come into school are similarly very welcome to contact the school by telephone and speak to the class teacher. If parents have a particular concern it would be a good idea to arrange an appointment for a convenient time to talk.
Parent Consultation Evenings
Parent Consultation Evenings are arranged in the Autumn and Spring terms to give an opportunity to discuss childrens' progress and future development. An Open Evening is held in the Summer term for parents to view children's work on display and discuss their child's annual report
Information Evenings for parents
Throughout the year we hold information evenings for parents on different aspects of school life. Some evenings focus on specific year groups within the school. Others target particular subject areas.
Curriculum plans for each class are sent home by letter.
Home School Agreement
At Castlethorpe School we have a Home – School agreement which provides a framework for partnership between home and school. This is an agreement entered into by the school, parents and the child.
Annual Parents Meeting
An annual parents meeting is organised by the Governors during the Autumn Term.
Links with other parents
If you are new to the village or live outside the village and would like to have contact with other parents please let the school secretary know (01908 510342).
CASTLETHORPE FIRST SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY
Castlethorpe First School is a small, rural village school in which we foster a warm family ethos, as summarised in our mission statement:
“We provide a high standard of education where children enjoy a friendly and caring introduction to school life. We create a stimulating environment in which all children can develop onto well-motivated independent learners. They learn to take responsibility for themselves and demonstrate care and respect for all their community”.
We have strong links within the village community. We also encourage the children and their parents to find out about and be involved in village life and the surrounding countryside.
The school is a Victorian building full of character and identity that has undergone a programme of modernisation to provide a bright and cheerful learning environment.
Because the school is small, each child gets to known every member of our school team very well. Each child's progress is closely monitored to ensure an enjoyable learning experience with us. Children participate with ease in our small learning groups, which enables any learning difficulties to be recognised early and appropriate supportive action to be taken. Those children showing ability beyond their peers are encouraged to develop on an individual basis with work assignments that continue to stretch them – so they don't get bored, they enjoy learning at their own level.
We have excellent relationships with the village playgroup and the nursery. We also work closely with Hanslope School to which most of our children transfer at the age of 7.
The enclosed information hopefully gives you all the information you need to choose Castlethorpe as the first school for your child. Even so, please do not hesitate to raise any queries you may have, through the school, with either Else Steel or myself.
David Barker
Chairman of the Governors
CASTLETHORPE FIRST SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Castlethorpe First School is a member of the Milton Keynes Primary Schools Learning Network. Last year we undertook classroom research to explore how we might improve the quality of children's writing through developing pupil self-assessment.
The strategies we developed, resulted in a marked improvement in children's writing throughout the school, and was reflected in our SATs results. These teaching strategies are now firmly embedded in everyday practice in the classroom.
We were thrilled to have our work published in the journal, Professional Development Today, and were delighted to have the opportunity to present our findings at the conference for the British Educational Research Association in Manchester , and at the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement in Barcelona . A copy of the paper, which was written in conjunction with two other schools in the network, can be requested by contacting us by email.
This year our research investigates the possibilities of developing children's creative skills by teaching a thinking skills programme. Staff and governors have received training, and this is now being put into practice in the classroom.
As part of our work, the staff participate in “Learning Walks” in other network schools, to develop ideas and share good practice. We are also fortunate to work alongside Professor Christopher Day from Nottingham University , who acts as our “critical friend” in our research projects.
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