Park Prewett Partnership Statement from Castle Hill Junior School
Perhaps the best way for any resident of the Park Prewett-Rooksdown development to get to know
Castle Hill Junior School is to come and visit us. We have an open door invitation policy and you
would find us doing what we do every day and that is aiming to provide a world class education for
every pupil in our care. Castle Hill is a multi-award winning junior school with an outstanding local,
national and indeed international reputation. Visitors from other countries regularly come to see
the school in operation as do national leaders, MPs and Ministers of State.
‘Castle Hill Junior School is a shining example.’ Mr Nick Gibb, School’s Minister 2012.
Perhaps the best way to capture feedback on the school’s current performance is to cite the last
Ofsted report from December 2010.
‘Overall effectiveness: how good is the school?
The school’s capacity for sustained improvement.
Grade 1
Grade 1
‘Castle Hill Junior School is an outstanding school. The inspirational headteacher’s determination
that the school will offer the best to its pupils so that they can fully capitalise on their strengths and
talents is shared by the whole school community. The motto ‘Aiming for Excellence’ is embedded
exceptionally well in all the school’s work. Extremely thorough and accurate self evaluation
continually drives forward improvement very successfully. Leaders and managers at all levels are
excellent. The deputy head teacher’s outstanding skill in monitoring and tracking pupil’s progress
ensures that subject and year leaders have an excellent awareness of where improvement is needed.
The governing body supports the school equally well in important aspects such as partnerships and
engagement with parents and carers, helping to achieve excellence in these areas.’
The school never stands still and we believe that by having a new school site in Park Prewett
presents a once in a lifetime opportunity: to share our passion by creating two world class schools
that work as one.
We will:

share the very best of practise and expertise in both schools, always learning from what
works

raise and develop the aspirations of all the pupils in our care

develop the all round child, including an insistence on the highest standards of behaviour,
where exceptional manners are the norm and a strong belief in a caring and competitive
environment are at the heart of what we do!
Parental engagement is high at Castle Hill Junior School and we regularly seek feedback from our
stakeholders. We have excellent relationships with local businesses and well established
relationships with local colleges and universities in particular, The University of Winchester. We
have a strong track record of supporting other schools that were in challenging circumstances. Such
support could not have been given without an exceptional staff.
Latest Parental feedback stated that;
100% felt the education is good
100% thought their child felt safe at school
100% thought the school has a positive image in the local community
100% felt teaching is good with 99% feeling their child was making good progress
100% felt staff ensured their child is mature and independent
We already have an excellent relationship with many Park Prewett parents and residents, who we
hope hold the school in high esteem. We would see the new school as an extension of this model
and deepening of this partnership for the benefit of each and every child. Streamlining resources
benefiting from economies of scale and maximising not only value for money but also simple clear
governance that reflects all stakeholders.
We are fortunate to have many good schools in Basingstoke and want to make it clear that if the
case for not expanding these schools cannot be sustained then as a result of this demographic we do
feel we can bring a great deal to the table. It is over to the community, but as we said at the start of
this statement come and see us in action!