Wellfield School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher is an experienced and skilful leader. She communicates high aspirations successfully to staff, pupils and parents. Governors are knowledgeable and committed to ensuring that all pupils achieve highly.

They have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. In 2016/17, Year 11 pupils who left the school made above-average progress overall and in most subjects. Current pupils in all year groups are also making good progress.

Disadvantaged pupils make similar progress to their peers in the school and better progress than others nationally. Exceptional leadership and high-quality teaching in mathematics l...ead to very strong pupil outcomes. Pupils are confident to apply their mathematical skills consistently well across the curriculum.

The majority of pupils are very well behaved and polite. They demonstrate very positive attitudes to learning, try hard and show respect for adults and their peers alike. Pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities are well supported in lessons and through specialist teaching.

Pupils who are supported through the school's designated specialist provision for autism spectrum disorder make strong progress. They are well cared for and attend school regularly. Senior and subject leaders use robust systems for checking the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.

Consequently, teaching overall is good across the curriculum, although some variability remains within some subjects. Over time, pupils' progress has been weak in English and geography, particularly for boys. Sometimes the work set is not sufficiently challenging.

Leaders have taken prompt action to address weaknesses, and the quality of teaching is improving rapidly in both subjects. The local authority provides effective support for the school when needed. For example, it assisted leaders in recruiting and training the recently appointed leader in English.

A small proportion of pupils exhibit very challenging behaviour, and the number of fixed-term exclusions is currently high. However, leaders are increasingly effective in engaging these pupils in an appropriate curriculum. In 2016/17, pupils' attendance had improved and was in line with the national average.

However, there has since been an increase in pupils' absence, including that of disadvantaged pupils, which leaders are addressing rigorously.

Information about this school

Wellfield School is smaller than average, but the numbers of pupils joining in Year 7 is increasing year on year. The school's motto, 'Go the extra mile', permeates throughout the work of the school.

The school provides support to other schools in leadership, modern foreign languages and mathematics. Most the school's pupils are of White British heritage. The school has a higher proportion of disadvantaged pupils than the national average.

The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is below average. The number supported by an education, health and care plan is well above average. The school has a designated specialist provision for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder.

There are nine pupils on roll in this provision. Most of these pupils are educated in mainstream lessons, but also receive additional support, teaching and therapy in the school's 'Hub'. A small number of pupils attend alternative, off-site provision with one or more of the following providers: Pinnacle, Education Plus and the local authority's 'virtual school' for children looked after.