THE latest Estyn inspection for Castle Park Primary School, Caldicot has deemed its current performance as 'adequate' and prospects for improvement as 'adequate'.

Estyn found that attainment in the Foundation Phase does not compare favourably with that of similar schools; Foundation Phase lessons do not always provide enough opportunities for child-led activities and many pupils do not apply their literacy and numeracy skills well enough across the curriculum.

The inspection revealed attendance rates consistently place the school in the bottom 25 per cent when compared with similar schools. It also found that pupils are not developing their Welsh language skills well enough

However, the school's prospects for improvement are adequate because there is an appropriate emphasis on raising standards throughout the school; senior leaders work well as a team; governors are developing confidence in their role as a critical friend to the school; recent innovations are beginning to improve standards of attainment in Key Stage 2; the school works well with a range of partners, including parents and the school has made strong progress in addressing most of the recommendations from the previous inspection in 2010