Castle School Curriculum Vision
At Castle School, we create an environment rooted in expert relational practice, combined with high expectations and tailored support to meet individual needs. This approach leads to strong academic achievement and social-emotional development, equipping students with skills that extend beyond their time at Castle School. As a result, our pupils are well-prepared for post-16 destinations and enjoy enhanced life opportunities.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4, all pupils follow a personalised curricular pathway designed to meet their individual needs and future aspirations. The focus is on acquiring specialist subject knowledge and working towards accredited outcomes that prepare them for the next steps in education, training, or employment. Students work towards Entry Level qualifications, Functional Skills, GCSEs and additional qualifications. This academic programme is complemented by tailored Personal Development and an Alternative Provision offer, supporting the broader development of each learner.
CEIAG activities and Post 16 destinations are a key measure for Castle School, and we support pupils with securing a Post 16 destination. Every pupil has access to a level 6 trained Careers Advisor. Pupils are exposed to visiting local Post 16 destinations who we work very closely with to ensure every pupil accesses the right setting that meets their needs. Throughout KS4 we ensure pupils are engaged in trips and experiences to help them make informed decisions and expose them to the world of work and life beyond Castle School. We run a series of mock interviews via external stakeholders to prepare pupils for life experiences during recruitment for a job. Each pupil has a dedicated keyworker to support them through the application process. We have an excellent track record of securing destinations for Castle students.
Examination & Assessment Results
Given the complexity of SEMH and educational needs of some of our pupils, and the diverse curriculum pathways we offer, individual attainment at Castle School goes far beyond what is reflected in the GIAS performance tables. We recognise that publicly available attainment data for specialist settings does not capture the full depth and quality of our provision, and that direct comparisons between such settings can be misleading. However, our commitment to both local and national initiatives underpin a curriculum that is broad, knowledge-based, and grounded in strong values. This approach supports ambitious outcomes for all pupils. The strength of our provision is evident in our sustained post-16 destinations data and the high-quality outcomes pupils achieve, relative to their individual starting points on entry to Castle School.
Castle KS4 Curriculum Pathway Summary
