We were delighted to welcome representatives from The Arts Society Newbury to The Castle School recently, following their generous donation of £1,000 to Friends of Castle. The Arts Society is part of a global network with over 64,000 members, and we were pleased to host Stephen Howes (Chair), Kate Harwood (Vice Chair) and Lesley Derry (Committee Member) during their visit.

The team were keen to see how their donation would support creativity across our three sites. With growing interest from students and staff in developing 3D design skills, the funding has enabled us to purchase a 3D printer, a resource that will open up exciting new opportunities for learning and enterprise.

Students will now be able to design and create products for school events such as Castle Fest and the Christmas stall at Newbury Market, and there is even potential for them to explore running an online store in the future. This hands‑on experience will help build practical skills, confidence and creativity.

We are extremely grateful to The Arts Society Newbury for their support and for investing in opportunities that will inspire our students for years to come.