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Casterton School, Carnforth

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Casterton School details

Address:

Casterton School
Kirkby Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancashire LA6 2SG

Telephone:

01524 279200

Fax:

01524 279 208

Email:

hmoffice@ castertonschool.co.uk

Website:

www.castertonschool.co.uk

Authority:

Cumbria

Gender of entry:

Girls

Age range:

2-18

Number of students:

339

Affiliation:

GSA

Gender of sixth form:

Girls

Last inspection:

September 2003. Read the full inspection report.

General information

Headteacher: Peter McLaughlin, appointed in 2005.

Staff: 44 (men 10, women 47).

Background: Modern buildings sit alongside those dating back to the 16th century at Casterton School. Located in the Lune Valley near the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, the school fosters a strong sense of community, building on the belief that single-sex education provides the right environment for increased self-confidence and high achievement among girls. The school has been under new leadership since Dr Peter McLaughlin, former head of the British International School in Cairo, replaced retiring headmaster Tony Thomas in September 2005. Girls at Casterton consistently achieve good exam results. Typically, they take nine GCSEs, followed by four AS-levels, then three A-levels. The school is also known for its musical and dramatic achievements. More than half its pupils take individual music lessons, and a new music school and performing arts centre is currently under construction. Art also has a strong following, and there are facilities for screenprinting, graphic design, ceramics, photography and 3D design studies. Casterton's setting, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, gives girls the chance to pursue a wide range of outdoor activities, from horse-riding (the school has its own stables) to sailing, rock-climbing, canoeing, cycling and golf. The school runs exchanges to Austria, Canada and Norway and organises frequent visits to the cinema, theatre, opera and ballet, museums and other places of interest. Each day girl is affiliated to a boarding house and may stay overnight when necessary.

Alumni: Charlotte and Emily Bronte, authors.

Higher education: 98%.

Special needs: One teacher with responsibility for educational support looks after a small number of pupils with mild dyslexia.

Inspection: September 2003: Pupils achieve high standards in relation to their ability and reach standards that are well above the national average for similar-type schools. They reach very high standards in their personal development. The quality of education provided by the school is very good. The generous dedication of the staff and the positive community and family ethos created with pupil participation nurtures the development of the whole person and confers considerable benefit on all pupils.

Feeder schools: Elleray Park School; Catteral Hall School; Terra Nova School; Westholme School; Mowden Hall School.

Boys' age range: 3 to 11.

Girls' age range: 3 to 18.

Percentage admitted according to academic ability: 100.

Average class size (seniors; 11-16): 16.

Average class size (sixth form): 18.

Casterton School Statistics

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