Woodlands Secondary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Exceptional leadership ensures that the school's aim to educate, motivate and celebrate the achievements of pupils in preparation for life beyond school is fully met. Outstanding teaching and high-quality care enable pupils with the most profound learning and health difficulties to make exceptional progress. The highly effective curriculum is enriched by a daily diet of activities and experiences that helps pupils to acquire skills for everyday living, and become increasingly independent.

Teachers and support staff work as a team to plan learning suited to each pupil's needs. They know pupils very well. They are adept at engaging and motiv...ating them to learn.

Literacy and numeracy skills are developed well through real-life tasks requiring pupils to interact with each other, with staff and other adults in the local community. High-quality specialist facilities and well-trained staff ensure that pupils with the most complex needs receive the therapies and support listed in their education, health and care plans. Behaviour in and out of lessons is managed exceptionally well.

The school is a safe, caring and nurturing environment. Pupils told inspectors that they really enjoy coming to school and feel that staff and pupils 'work together as a family'. Wider assessments of how pupils achieve, and become less reliant on the support of adults, are providing a clearer picture of their overall progress.

These procedures are not fully established. Staff foster excellent relations with parents and carers. Those who shared their views with inspectors praised the school and its staff.

Almost all pupils move from Year 11 into the school's further education department. By the time they leave Year 13, all of them achieve basic qualifications in life and living skills. Strong partnerships ensure that pupils and their parents receive excellent guidance and support about the next stage of their child's training, care and support.

Governors oversee the school's strategic development and manage its finances effectively. Some aspects of the school's improvement plan lack measurable targets to help them monitor how effectively improvements are being made.

Information about this school

The school meets the Department for Education's requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The school caters for pupils with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many pupils have autistic spectrum disorders. A growing proportion of pupils have complex mental health issues.

All pupils have a statement of special educational needs, or an education, health and care plan. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds, mostly Asian or Black African, is above average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils eligible for the pupil premium is above average.