Castle Court School

Castle Court School is a co-educational, preparatory school located near the village of Corfe Mullen in the county of Dorset, England.

Castle Court School
Address
Knoll Lane

Corfe Mullen
,
Dorset
,
BH21 3RF

England
Coordinates50.7742°N 2.0322°W / 50.7742; -2.0322
Information
TypePreparatory school
Religious affiliation(s)Interdenominational
Established1948 (1948)
FoundersDonald and Mary Scott
Department for Education URN113931 Tables
HeadmasterLuke Gollings
GenderCoeducational
Age2 to 13[1]
Enrolment325 as of  2018[1]
Websitehttp://www.castlecourt.com/
Preserved barn in the grounds of the school - note the mushroom posts at each corner

Location

Castle Court School is located in 35 acres of grounds in rural countryside and centred on a small hill called Knoll Clump. It is about a mile northwest of the centre of Corfe Mullen, 4 miles north-northwest of Poole, 8 miles northwest of Bournemouth and 9 miles southeast of Blandford Forum. Much of the surrounding country is farmland, but the forest plantations of Henbury and Stoney Down are about a mile to the west and southwest of the school.[2]

History

Castle Court School was founded in 1948 by teacher, Donald Scott, and his wife, Mary, initially as a local boys, preparatory, day school. It was originally based at Castle Hill in the Parkstone quarter of Poole.[3]

In 1968, having outgrown its first home, the school moved ten miles away to a large house, Knoll Cottage, with a 35-acre estate, at Corfe Mullen. The house was built in the 1780s for a member of the Coventry family.[3]

In the 1970s the school began admitting girls for the first time. It added a pre-prep department in the 80s and now has a nursery. By 2009, the school had around 300 pupils of whom about 60% were boys.[3]

Ethos

The school was founded by the Scotts "to provide a first-class Christian education".[4] Today, strong Christian principles still underpin all it does, although it welcomes pupils of all faiths. A very high priority is placed on pastoral care and also on principles such as sensitivity, thoughtfulness and consideration for others.[3]

What is taught there?

The school teaches to the National Curriculum, with the pupils taking national tests like SATs. From Year 6 (ages 10+) upwards, Castle Court prepares the pupils for Common Entrance, which they take in Year 8. CE is only compulsory to those pupils who are planning to go to an Independent secondary school.

Head teachers
  • Donald Scott, 1948–1978.
  • Mary Scott, 1978–1989.
  • Richard Nicholl, 1989–2010.
  • Richard Stevenson, 2010– 2018.
  • Luke Gollings 2018–present

References
  1. Castle Court School at the Independent Schools Council website. Retrieved 3 Feb 2014.
  2. Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map series, Sheet 195.
  3. How do they fit it all in? at Dorset Life. Retrieved 3 Feb 2014.
  4. Castle Court School - Ethos at www.castlecourt.com. Retrieved 3 Feb 2014.
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