Welcome to Ark Castledown Primary Academy

Thursday 7th September 2017
Ark Castledown Primary Academy

This September we have welcomed a new school to the Ark network, Ark Castledown Primary Academy in Hastings. The school was previously known as Castledown Primary School.

Ark Castledown will remain a standalone school and will benefit from building strong links with Ark’s other nearby primary schools­ – Ark Blacklands Primary Academy and Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy. Ark Castledown will be a mixed (boys and girls), non-selective and non-denominational school serving the local community.

The school will be overseen by Lorraine Clarke, who is also the Executive Principal at Ark Blacklands and Ark Little Ridge. Lorraine said, "I am delighted to welcome Castledown to the Ark family and I am working with the pupils, staff, parents and carers to help them create an environment where all children can succeed." 

Ark Blacklands made national news when it went from Ofsted special measures directly to an outstanding rating, in its first inspection after joining Ark. It is one of only 11 schools in the country to accomplish this in recent years.

Ark Little Ridge has also recently announced a ‘good’ Ofsted report with ‘outstanding features’ with inspectors praising leadership and management as 'inspirational'. Ofsted also highlighted that pupils felt safe and inclusive in the welcoming atmosphere.