PATHWAY
DOMINUS SAPIENTIAM DAT
I hope that everyone who walks through the door of the main house at Castle Court immediately has a sense of family and community. Whether it is in the classrooms where the pupils are able to engage in both project and inquiry-based learning, our rich arts programme, our extensive natural outdoor spaces or our small classes, our focus is on knowing, supporting and inspiring each individual child.
Nurturing intellectually curious pupils with a deep capacity for critical thinking and creative problem solving requires a strong relationship between all areas of life at Castle Court and each child; this is what lies at the heart of the Castle Court experience. Our pastoral and tutor team are committed to caring and honouring your child’s unique gifts and talents, each and every day.
Confident in their abilities and with a strong sense of self, Castellans are given opportunities to develop connections with the broader world around them. They are given the tools to move successfully onto their senior schools and beyond, and to be positive and proactive world citizens.
Forward thinking academic approaches, abundant creative and performing arts options, on top of a varied sports programme, provide your children with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, compassion and resilience through the 7Cs, which are the key skills that are developed in every Castellan : collaboration, courage, creativity, compassion, commitment, curiosity and courteousness.
I hope that you enjoy reading more as you explore life at Castle Court through this prospectus. However this will not give you the whole picture. I also encourage you to visit us in person. You will hear the joy and laughter that fills the campus and discover that the individual academic and social attention your child will receive is one of the things that makes Castle Court so special.
Katie Johnson – Head
THE CASTLE COURT PATHWAY: LIFE IN A PRE-SENIOR BACCALAUREATE (PSB) SCHOOL
AN OVERVIEW
Castle Court School has an outstanding record in preparing pupils for a wide variety of future schools, both state and independent, at a local and national level. This is achieved through a curriculum that embraces academic rigour but is delivered in a way which enthuses a child with a love of learning and a positive and happy school journey. Every child is given the opportunity to grow skills, acquire knowledge and develop their innate character, as well as enjoy their childhood in the safety of a nurturing environment. The landscape of tomorrow is ever-changing, but what is constant is our delivery of a broad curriculum which lays the foundation for your child’s love of learning, and firmly establishes curiosity, creativity, commitment, courage, collaboration, courtesy and compassion as the bedrock of the skills they need for their future.
But what does this look like in reality? We are proud of our well established ‘Castle Court Pathway’, which is a flagship model within the PSB school group. From our earliest years through to our senior section in Years 7 and 8, you can expect a school which delivers education ‘to the full’, providing your child an opportunity to flourish inside and outside the classroom, on the stage, in the studio, over the fields, in the woods, on the sports pitches and by the coast – this really is a place where our ‘classrooms don’t always have walls.’
Katie Johnson – Head
WHAT IS THE PRE-SENIOR BACCALAUREATE
(PSB) ?
Castle Court became a member of the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB) group in 2020 and has become a flagship school for our innovative teaching and initiatives – regularly hosting training for member schools and sharing excellence at a national level. At the heart of a ‘PSB’ education is a commitment to academic excellence alongside the freedom to offer opportunities for pupils to develop life-long skills, so much in demand by both senior schools, universities and future employers. What unites all the PSB schools (of which there are over 50 nationally and internationally) is a heart to; nurture pupils’ innate ability to learn, celebrate communication skills (in all their forms), allow leadership qualities to grow, encourage collaboration, reviewing, improving and reflection and where initiative, persistence and independence is rewarded.
Whilst the Pre-senior Baccalaureate is an initiative that supports pupils up to the age of 13, it forms part of a bigger family of schools withing the Learning Skills Trust. The education landscape is changing in our senior schools, including the admissions process which begins at a much earlier age (around 11 years old). There is a recognition that developing in children an ability to work independently, think critically, stay committed to longer project based tasks and to clearly express their ideas verbally and creatively has significant impact on their future academic achievement.
To that end, the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB) is – on the whole – based on the National Curriculum. Nevertheless, teachers have the freedom to adapt these curriculums and use best practice from other systems, tailored specifically to our wonderful Dorset location and the life experiences of our pupils. Therefore, what you will see is that the mode of delivery and its emphasis is different: the approach to the humanities, for example, allows considerably more freedom, in order to encourage individualised and focused study. What is important for 10-13 year olds is developing a passion for learning – not the need to acquire enough facts to pass a test – not to be able to write a “set” essay, not to parrot 20 capitals of the world. Best practice within PSB schools enables pupils to produce high quality work, driven by genuine interest in their subject. The PSB enable the brightest pupils to fly higher, while ensuring that all pupils show what they can do – not what they cannot. At Castle Court, we have seen the impact of this approach on the achievements of our pupils and the satisfaction of our parent body.
The following pathway helps to understand the foundational pillars of the PSB in the Castle Court setting. It is evident to see that many of the attributes - both in the curriculum we offer and character education which we wish to develop in our pupils – is ideally suited for a future facing 21st century education.
PRE PREP
The Castle Court Pathway begins in Pre-Prep. In Badger Cubs, Badgers and Reception classes, our PrePrep team ensure that they recognise and celebrate each child’s unique personality and learning journey. All children are encouraged and helped to form positive relationships with each other and with the adults who care for them in school. Parents are involved and welcomed into classrooms to share in the wonder of their child’s learning. The environments in which the children learn are exciting and stimulating, enabling learning, both outside in our glorious grounds and inside the classrooms, where there are excellent resources, up-to-the- minute IT provision and comfortable areas where the children can relax and be themselves.
“Pupils have high levels of self-esteem because they benefit from a caring and supportive environment that encourages them to be themselves and express their opinions“
Extract from ISI Inspection Report.
A recognition of the importance of the individual, positive relationships and an inspiring setting that makes the most of the school’s 60-acre site, enables excellent learning and development opportunities. These principles foster the characteristics of effective early learning, which are:
• Playing and exploring
• Active learning
• Creating and thinking critically
As the children move from the Early Years to Year 1 and 2, the importance of these principles continues to be central to life in the Pre-Prep. Each child is nurtured and follows their unique learning journey in these years. The children benefit from a very broad curriculum, where Forest School, drama, dance, sport and music skills are celebrated alongside mathematics and literacy. The Castle Court 7Cs underpin all the opportunities and experiences, and these values are recognised as being just as important as the academic subjects. There is nothing more amazing than a child’s capacity to learn: to see the world through the eyes of a child is to see a world of awe and wonder, of endless questions and possibilities. We nurture children’s innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge by giving them the time and space to explore, question and learn to collaborate with others, both in their classrooms and in the specialist facilities (ICT suites, Performing Arts Centre with its drama/dance studio and performance hall, plus the sports hall and astro) and across the school’s 60 acres of grounds. Our child-centred approach ensures that each child receives the attention and support they need to grow in confidence, develop academically and flourish as individuals.
JUNIOR (YEARS 3 AND 4): TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE
In Year 3, children move to the main school campus and have full access to all the specialist facilities at the school. Through a supportive, caring learning environment, children embrace all the new and exciting opportunities available to them and begin to become more independent.
At this stage, children benefit from being taught by year group teachers, who know them best, whilst also receiving specialist teaching in sport, music and the creative subjects. The curriculum is broad and wide ranging, using the best of the National Curriculum, but going further in terms of breadth of opportunity. For example, in Years 3 and 4, children receive STEM (bringing together science, technology, engineering and maths) lessons to help them understand the connections between subjects, as well as promoting their creativity and critical thinking skills. Children have sports matches for the first time and learn invaluable lessons about teamwork, resilience and being a positive role model to others. From Year 3, all children are given their own iPad which is used to enrich their learning experience and help them to develop the essential skills they will need in this technological age. Above all, the Junior years are about enjoyment, friendship and developing a love for learning.
MIDDLE (YEARS 5 AND 6): BROADENING UNDERSTANDING
From Year 5, children are taught by specialist teachers in all subjects to give them a greater breadth of understanding and inspire a passion for learning. Through the personalised tutor system, children are supported in developing the essential skills they will need to be life-long learners. There is a greater emphasis on children taking responsibility for their own learning by developing personal organisation, self-discipline and resilience. This is an important time for children academically as many will be sitting entrance exams to senior schools in the Autumn and Spring Terms of Year 6. Children, in most cases, are then offered a place at their senior school of choice.
To help ensure that each child is prepared for these important Year 6 entry tests, children receive study skills lessons as part of their curriculum. These lessons focus on developing skills in literacy, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, as well as developing critical thinking, a growth mindset and the ability to articulate their ideas and views. These important middle years are a huge time of growth for children both academically and pastorally. To reflect this, the reporting and assessment of pupils will now include reference to their progress across the whole breadth of the school curriculum, including academic progress and core learning and behavioural skills.
SENIOR (YEARS 7 AND 8): FUTURE LEADERS
This is the final stage of the children’s Pathway with us, and in many ways the most formative time of all.
“The high levels of achievement and progress, particularly for the older pupils, are strengthened by the implementation of the PSB programme.”
Extract from ISI Inspection Report.
As well as confirming their places at their senior school, a key aspect of our senior curriculum is preparing our children to be the leaders and role models of tomorrow in whatever field or setting they may find themselves. To achieve this, children need to have the confidence to be their own person; the resilience to bounce back when they encounter challenges; the humility to learn from others and the compassion to be positive contributors to their community and the wider world. Through our extensive Character and Values Education (CAVE) programme, children are given the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities, learn about themselves and be a positive role model to others. They attend workshops, undertake adventure days, enjoy outdoor learning, engage in social action and celebrate global cultures, and start to regularly enjoy partnerships with other organisations and external community groups. Leadership is a significant aspect of the experience in Year 7 and 8 as we seek to grow servant -hearted leaders, humbly and kindly supporting and nurturing our younger pupils.
A significant milestone is the Pre-Senior Project Qualification, which is the culmination of 6 months of learning, research and development of a subject area of interest to the individual. Again, through the support and careful guidance of an experienced tutor team, students are introduced to project skills as taught lessons and visits before being allowed to show incredible creativity in their chosen area – whether that is an extended academic essay, a personal project that results in a creative outcome (films, art, sculpture, podcasts, engineering project) or a community based project where pupils raise awareness for a particular issue, work with others or volunteer locally. The culmination of the PSB journey is the annual PSPQ exhibition and TEDX presentation evening which is testament to the transformative opportunities that pupils are given at Castle Court.
Children who leave Castle Court at the end of Year 8 do so with much more than just an impressive set of exam results and scholarships. We support them to be the best version of themselves so that they can embrace the challenges that lie ahead of them with confidence and be happy, successful and positive contributors in tomorrow’s world.
CHARACTER AND VALUES EDUCATION (C.A.V.E)
The ultimate difference that a Castle Court Education brings is our universal commitment to the development of the ‘whole-child’ as part of a pastorally strong and nurturing ‘Castle Court Family’. A unique offering within our school is the extensive Character and Values Education Programme, from which every child benefits and which permeates through our daily lives. Through partnering with a number of external organisations as part of the PSB group, we are able to develop key character traits and attributes such as resilience, self-regulation and emotional and social well-being each week.
“Every thought, every action and every connection is an opportunity to cultivate well-being – for ourselves, for our communities and for our planet.”
Holly Everett, Thoughtbox
Our triple wellbeing approach, focuses on three interconnected themes – self-care, people care and earth care, and throughout the year pupils can expect assemblies, tutor times, theme days, global outreach and education, opportunities for social action, outdoor learning, adventure days and camps, workshops, life skills sessions and relationship and health education.
Self Care ‘Cultivating Inner Foundations’ People Care ‘Building Caring Communities’ Earth Care ‘Revitalising Planetary Health’
Self Awareness Social Awareness Environmental Awareness
Self Compassion Compassion for othersCompassion for Nature
Resilience and AgencyCitizenship and BelongingRewilding and Regenerating
This also permeates the after school activity programme we offer our pupils and the regular activity weeks which we run in the summer term for years 3-8. Our activity programme is designed to nurture these character attributes in our pupils – from regular weekly sailing in the Autumn and Summer Terms, to climbing, cookery and Forest School, you will notice the Castle Court difference.
PASTORAL CARE
At Castle Court, the happiness and wellbeing of each and every child is paramount. As a family-orientated school we pride ourselves on the strength of our pastoral care system. We value the whole child and place their well-being at the heart of all we do so that they are nurtured and supported throughout their Castle Court journey.
Our Pastoral Care is underpinned by excellent relationships between staff and pupils where every child is known as an individual and their unique talents and qualities are recognised and developed. We want our pupils to be happy and fulfilled; to be able to bounce back from the inevitable set backs which will come their way and to make a positive difference to their community and wider world. We understand that life does not always run smoothly, but through open and honest communication, strong relationships built on mutual trust and a focus on developing character and essential skills, we aim to help pupils overcome the challenges they may face and in doing so unlock their full potential. At Castle Court, there is a comprehensive pastoral staffing structure in place to support pupils’ emotional and social development. All staff have a responsibility towards pastoral care, with Heads of Section, Form teachers and tutors overseeing the daily welfare of pupils. In Pre-Prep and the Junior years, the form teacher is predominantly responsible for the welfare of the children in their form group. The form teacher sees and teaches their form every day which ensures that they get to know each individual child. In Years 5 to 8, each child is also allocated a tutor. The tutor is responsible for the social, emotional and academic development of their tutees and acts as their advocate throughout the school.
Tutors meet with their tutees regularly twice a week. In the tutor sessions, pupils have the opportunity to discuss relevant topics and issues as a group, as well as meeting individually with their tutor to discuss their progress and set targets. As pupils progress through the school, it is expected that they will begin to lead these conversations by being able to reflect critically and accurately on their abilities and set their own effective targets for the future. This proactive approach to pastoral care aims to help pupils gain a better understanding of themselves and others, encourage them to build on their strengths and develop their weaknesses and to help them be positive contributors in school and in the wider community. As part of the PSB framework, tutors will be able to make the most of the monitoring it provides on the core skills, enabling them to develop an excellent understanding of their tutees’ strengths and areas for improvement. In turn, this will help our tutors to tailor their support even more individually to the needs of the children in their care.
“Year 8 pupils encapsulated the experience on offer at Castle Court by saying the school represents ‘freedom’, ‘opportunity’, ‘choice’, and ‘friendly faces’.”
Extract from ISI Inspection Report.
THE 7C s
At Castle Court we are committed to providing our children with a 21st Century education which enables them to lead successful and fulfilled lives in an ever-changing world. At the heart of this vision is the belief that education needs to focus on the whole child. Whilst academic progress is important, we are equally committed to developing in our children the key skills and characteristics which they will need to be successful in a rapidly changing world.
At Castle Court, we have identified 7 key characteristics, known as our 7Cs, which we want our children to demonstrate not only at Castle Court but throughout their lives. These 7 qualities underpin all aspects of life at Castle Court and the Castle Court family. Through assemblies and lessons, children learn about the meaning of each of these qualities and how they can demonstrate these in their learning, around the school and in their interactions with each other and the wider community. The children will in future be assessed across their core skills through interim and end of year reports, as character is just as important as academic success. We know that these qualities will equip our children to be the best they can be and enable them to confidently chart their own individual pathways in life.
SPORT ACROSS THE SCHOOL
At Castle Court, the values of sport, healthy competition, and the pursuit of excellence are woven into every aspect of our sports program. Above all, we aim for children to actively engage in and enjoy sports, cultivating lifelong skills and values while striving for personal achievement and success.
Our excellent facilities, including an astroturf hockey pitch and a soft-floor sports hall, provide children with year-round opportunities to participate in a wide variety of sports. While we uphold traditional sporting paths for boys (football, rugby, hockey, cricket) and girls (hockey, football, netball, cricket), we also encourage pupils to explore other sports like swimming, tennis, athletics, biathlon and cross-country. Partnerships with local providers further broaden our offerings, allowing pupils in Year 6 and above to try activities such as golf, rowing and skateboarding ensuring that every child can find their place in the sporting world as they prepare for life beyond Castle Court.
We emphasise the philosophy of “Sport for All,” promoting inclusivity and the opportunity for every pupil to develop their skills and find joy across different sports. By focusing on fostering healthy lifestyles and a lifelong love for sport, we prioritise personal growth and development over results and competition.
In recent years, we have enjoyed tremendous success across multiple sports. Our teams have won county titles in hockey, cricket, netball, and football, demonstrating the strength of our collective programs. Additionally, we are proud of the individual accomplishments of our pupils, including national-level success in biathlon, athletics and swimming championships. Many of our students have represented the school in county, regional, and national competitions, both for school sides and outside of school, reflecting both the breadth of talent at Castle Court and our commitment to helping every pupil reach their potential.
We are proud that many of our pupils have gone on to achieve County, National, and International honors in various sports, and we are delighted to have contributed to their success.
MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS
At Castle Court, collaboration between the music, drama and dance departments across a wide range of curricular and extra-curricular activities ensures that the school is a community in which the performing arts take centre stage.
Initially we seek to foster a love of music through class-based music lessons, in which the key strands of performing, composing, listening and appraising are explored. However, this is often only the start, as we also have the ability and creativity to integrate the skills and musicality developed through our excellent extra-curricular provision into the classroom.
Learning of individual instruments is actively encouraged from Year 2, and pupils in Year 3 and Year 4 pupils can join the free Group Tuition Scheme and have group lessons on a chosen orchestral instrument. All instrumental lessons are taken by our team of 12 specialist teachers.
Beyond the classroom, there are numerous opportunities for pupils to find and develop their musicality, whether in one of our informal choirs, our string, brass and percussion ensembles, or in one of our two orchestras. Performance opportunities are tailored to the needs of the individual pupils, whether in our junior and senior informal concerts, or as part of major whole-school concerts and events.
Beyond Castle Court, the children take part in regional and national orchestral courses, local singing festivals and bespoke performance opportunities, as we believe that taking our music-making beyond the walls of the school is an important aspect of our ethos. Many pupils progress through the grade examinations, with a number celebrating success at grade six (or beyond!) before they leave the school. Coupled with this, we have a strong record of securing music and performing arts scholarships to local senior schools and we work hard to ensure that the transition to those schools is as seamless as possible as pupils continue on their musical journey beyond Castle Court.
Through drama and dance lessons, we aim not only to have fun but to build confidence and self-esteem, develop creativity and communication skills and provide pupils with opportunities to work collaboratively with their peers.
Pupils in Years 3 to 7 receive timetabled drama and dance lessons delivered by specialist teachers. In drama, pupils develop performance skills, including mime, improvisation, characterisation, physical theatre, performance poetry and script work. In Year 8 pupils have a weekly drama lesson and develop their drama knowledge further. Topics include Commedia Dell’Arte, the practical study of a published play and a short course in Public Speaking. Across all years, pupils develop confidence in performing their work to others, as well as learning to respond positively as a member of an audience. Skills learnt in a drama lesson can transfer across the curriculum, from the development of speaking and listening skills, an integral part of the English curriculum, to the ability to problem solve and to manage and understand emotions.
In dance, during their time on the Castle Court Pathway pupils will learn ballet, street dance, hip-hop and African dance.
Opportunities to perform exist throughout the school. Children in Badgers, Reception and Pre-Prep perform nativity plays at the end of the Autumn Term. In Years 3 and 4 pupils present year group productions in the Spring Term with specialist input from the Performing Arts Department. Further up the school pupils have opportunities to perform in twice yearly ‘Performing Arts Presentations’ and in Years 6 to 8 pupils can audition for the senior production which is performed at the end of the Summer Term. Recent performances have included musical productions of ‘Dream On’, ‘Olivia’, ‘Matilda’ and ‘Peter Pan’.
For pupils who wish to develop their skills further in both drama and dance, there are also opportunities to do so in extra-curricular drama and dance clubs. Pupils in Years 4 and above can also choose to take private drama lessons and work towards LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) exams in either Acting or the Speaking of Verse and Prose.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Days at Castle Court are always full and varied.
The main school day begins at 8.25am and ends between 3.30pm and 4.15pm depending on the age of the child. However, pre and post school care is also available, so that we are able to look after every child from 7.45am to 5.45pm. There is no average day, but the timetable below outlines the timetable that the school follows on most days.
7.00am Before school sports clubs begin for children from Year 3 to Year 8 (Badminton, Swimming, Tennis)
7.45am Breakfast Club begins
8.15am Breakfast club ends. Children arriving for the day are dropped off in their classrooms
8.35am Assembly (Monday and Friday)
10.30am Break
12.00pm Lunch for children in Badger Cubs to Year 4
1.00pm Lunch for children in Year 5 to Year 8
2.00pm Matches (Tuesday for children in Year 3 to Year 4, and Wednesday for children from Year 5 to Year 8)
3.30pm School day ends for children from Badger Cubs to Reception
3.45pm School day ends for children in Year 1 and Year 2
4.15pm School day end for children in Year 3 to Year 8. Afternoon snack for those staying for clubs/after school care (children from Badger Cubs to Year 8).
4.45pm After school activities start
5.45pm After school activities and after school care finish.
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