Providing the highest quality of educational opportunity for all children
Castle Hill Primary School, is a county community school for girls and boys between the ages of 4 and 11.
The catchment area (the area serving the school) is bounded by Roman Road and Roman Way (from the junction with Firs Way to the railway bridge), the Winklebury Centre, the Greenway footpath and the railway. Also included is the new housing development (Park Village) in the hospital grounds.
As a result of the consultation for additional primary school places in Park Prewett, Rooksdown, Hampshire County Council decided to increase the physical capacity of Castle Hill Junior School. This has enabled the school to admit pupils at age 4+ and to increase the provision by 210 places, in the first phase of the strategic expansion of the school.
The provision of the additional primary places will be managed by the Headmaster and Governors of the former Castle Hill Junior School and from September 2015, the school is now known as Castle Hill Primary School. The school retains the former junior school facility; known as Castle Hill Primary School – Greenbank Campus. The new build on the Rooksdown estate, is known as Castle Hill Primary - Rooksdown Campus.
Greenbank Campus is situated in the heart of Winklebury surrounded by a heavily populated residential estate, established in 1968. We are fortunate to be surrounded by open land and to process our own allotment and playing fields.
The Rooksdown Campus is designed to have a ‘Contemporary Rural’ feel. This takes into consideration the design principles of the adjacent housing development, the beautiful school grounds and chalk flower meadow.
Castle Hill Primary School is maintained by the Hampshire Education Authority. On the Greenbank Campus the school has eight self-contained classrooms and caters for a two-form intake. On the Rooksdown Campus the school has fourteen self-contained classrooms and caters for a two-form intake, and is growing year on year.
It is a school with very high expectations; our aim is to provide the highest quality of educational opportunity for all children.The school has a strong local, national and indeed international reputation based on outstanding results and awards for excellence over many years. These results have been achieved through partnership with the entire community.
High standards of behaviour, adherence to a strict uniform policy, support with homework are just some examples of our core values. If you share such values, then join us and together we can help Castle Hill Primary School on it's continuing journey of excellence.
Achieving Excellence
Below are some highlights from our ongoing journey in search of excellence:
- Early Years National Mark 2022
- Celebration of 42 years in education. 33 years as head.
- The Mayor of Basingstoke visits, 2022
- Service on national charity board of directors at Headteachers into Industry
- Letter from King Charles congratulating the school on its achievements.
- Castle Hill Junior selected to build and run first new primary build in Basingstoke in twenty years. 2015.
- Head invited to Buckingham Palace in recognition of 25 years of service. The heads journey from one of the youngest locals appointed in the country to one of the longer serving (and still loving it), 2015
- Congratulations from Dame Maria Miller MP, Interim international schools award.
- Music Mark Selection
- Castle Hill hosted National Conference with national speaker presenting to invited educational leaders
- Head invited to 10 Downing Street in recognition of educational leadership, 2014
- Fellowship awarded for research at University of Winchester, 2014
- Head contributed to the review of the National Curriculum. 2013
- South & South East in Bloom Silver Gilt Award 2012
- Sports awards- PE Team
- Visits and congratulations from Roy Perry, Leader of Hants, John C, Steve Crocker
- Global High Performance Learning award of World Class School Status in 2018 & 2022. First State Primary School on Planet Earth to receive it!
- Selection for the Prestigious Parliamentary review ,2019 / 2020.
- Board of Governors invited to awards ceremony in House of Commons celebrating educational excellence.
- JDF Martin invited by Secretary of State for Education to serve as primary adviser for National Curriculum and thanked for outstanding input
- John Martin worked as advisor for South East England with nineteen local authorities, for CPD development. Thanked for outstanding year. 2003
- Global interview with Sky News and local.
- BBC to help share covid challenges/ strategies.
- Congratulations for Sir Michael Wilshaw on “our excellent school”
- To give each and every child the knowledge and skills to … team for a happy productive … in a civil society where manners matter!
- Healthy Schools Status 2012
- South & South East in Bloom Silver Gilt Award 2011
- International Schools Award 2011
- ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted, December 2010
- ‘Outstanding’96% Health & Safety citation, December 2010
- Investors in People, 2010
- Awarded ‘Active mark’ for sport in 2010
- School substantially over-subscribed and assisting other schools.
- Visit from Nick Gibb MP Shadow Minister for Schools and visit to David Bell Permanent Secretary in Westminster, 2008
- ‘Outstanding teamwork, manners, behaviour and many other features’ cited by Ofsted 2008
- Visitation from School Standards Minister the Rt Hon Nick Gibb who described the school as a “shining light” example. 2008.
- Basingstoke in Bloom competition winners July 2007
- Excellent Ofsted History report 2007 citing ‘outstanding practice’
- Enhanced Healthy Schools Status awarded 2007
- Awarded ‘Activemark’ for sport in 2006
- 2006 Judges Award for Leadership ‘A Place To Be Proud Of, Basingstoke and Deane’
- An award-winning allotment and gardening scheme cited in press.
- Visit in 2006 from David Bell Permanent Secretary of Dept. For Children, Schools and Families
- Triple Charter Mark for Excellence Award winners (1996, 2000 and 2005)
- Cited by Charter Mark for best practice December 2005
- Four Ofsted inspections with ‘outstanding’ elements in each (1996, 1998, 2003 and 2008)
- Categorisation by LEA as highly effective year on year
- Government School Excellence Award
- Citation in Chief Inspectors’ School’s Report to Parliament as one of the most improved schools in the country.
- Investors in People status in 2002 and re-awarded 2005
- Meridian Business Excellence Award winners 1999
- Healthy School’s National Award 2003 and 2006
- Head teacher profiled in ‘World Class Britain’
- Visitors from around the country and abroad
- Leadership, teamwork and ethos cited as outstanding by numerous external bodies
- Outstanding track record for fundraising on a local and national level
What comes next......
A Journey in Quotes
“Congratulations to everyone involved – this is not a standard easily achieved and is a tribute to your organisation. This is something that is crucial for improvements we all want to see in the public services.”
Tony Blair PM
“It was a pleasure to meet you and see, at first hand the excellent work being done. You and everyone else associated with the school should be very proud of all that has been achieved over the years.”
David Bell Permanent Secretary DfES
HRH The Prince of Wales said
“...how pleased he was to hear of the schools achievements.”
“It must be a very special school and the pupils and teachers must be very special too.”
David Blunkett MP
“Castle Hill is a truly remarkable school. The school epitomises the pursuit of excellence.”
Andrew Hunter MP
“It has not gone unnoticed that in the past five years Castle Hill Junior School has been categorised as providing an outstanding quality of education for all its pupils.”
Mrs Gwen Richardson Mayor Councillor
“I have never known anything like Castle Hill Junior School; it is a brilliant school in every way!”
Parent
“For a school that’s not in a village community it has a real village feel”
Parent
“This has been the best school ever in my life”
Abhishek (Former Pupil)