Castlemaine North Primary School was established in 1878 and is located in a residential area of Castlemaine, drawing students from the town and surrounding district.  The current enrolment is 293.   The nearest major regional centre is Bendigo, which is approximately 30 kilometres to the north.

The buildings are a mix of the original 1878 building, a 1970s construction which has been refurbished and our BER learning spaces along with a Mod. 5 (portable) building. Other facilities include an Art room, Library, LOTE (Indonesian) room and Music room.  The school has extensive playing facilities with areas set aside for passive and active recreation. Considerable effort is made to ensure that buildings and grounds are attractive learning environments for students.

Castlemaine North Primary School places a strong emphasis on providing a diverse and creative curriculum. An integrated inquiry approach to learning is a feature of the school, with staff having worked with educational consultant Kath Murdoch, for a number of years. All classes are supported by specialist programs in LOTE (Indonesian), Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Physical Education/Health. Additional programs include the ‘Play is the Way’ pro-social skills program, swimming, instrumental music, choirs, circus skills, Reading Recovery, camps, excursions, bicycle education and Preparation for Puberty.

Parent and community participation complements and extends the quality programs provided by staff, with parent involvement a strong feature of the school. This partnership enables our parents to participate in many aspects of school life and gives rise to a cooperative school culture where a spirit of mutual respect is evident. A strong and positive School Council and an active Parents and Carers Association guide policy decisions, develop and maintain facilities and raise additional funds for the school.