In September 2024, Castle Gardens was inspected by the ETI (Education and Training Inspectorate) using their new Enpowering Improvement framework for inspection. 

The four day process, conducted from 23rd to 26th September, covered all aspects of life in our school as inspectors sought to identify how we answered their 5 Key Questions which are:

1. What is the school’s vision and what informs it?
2. How is the school setting about achieving the vision, within its own context?
3. How does the school monitor how well it and its learners are doing and how responsive is it to overcoming challenges and barriers?
4. How does the school define, celebrate and embed success for all learners?
5. How is the school creating the right conditions for the growth and development of a community of learning?

Our outcomes were of an incredibly high standard with the most noteworthy being the strong community collaborative networks; and the effective partnership with parents in supporting the children’s emotional health and wellbeing. These areas were identified as areas warranting dissemination as examples of effective practice for other schools to learn from. 

We were identified as enabling the children to thrive in a caring community and to be equipped for the future through the outworking of the school’s vision in “Building Together for the Future”.

Harnessing support from multiple partners, agencies and key people from the wider community, the school enables the children to overcome barriers, seek help, celebrate success, aspire for the future and enjoy learning with, and from, others.

We offer an inclusive, family ethos across the school, which is characterised by the nurturing, safe environment and the positive working relationships at all levels.