Westcroft School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils of all ages, abilities and backgrounds make good progress thanks to teaching that is typically good and occasionally outstanding. Senior leaders know their college well.

Their effective leadership and management has already led to good improvements, and their planning is based on the right things to move the college further forward. The relationships between staff and pupils are excellent, and successes are richly celebrated. The college makes very good use of physical education activities to help pupils make choices and express themselves.

Pupils behave extremely well and feel very safe. They help one another, are polite to adult...s and take part enthusiastically in lessons. Strong partnerships with very supportive parents and carers contribute well to pupils' achievement.

The governors provide good support and challenge. They are well informed and work hard to make sure pupils are given the best opportunities for success. The sixth form is outstanding.

Excellent teaching and a wide range of opportunities ensure that students' achievement is outstanding. They receive strong individual help and guidance for later life. It is not yet an outstanding school because : There is not enough outstanding teaching to allow pupils to make exceptional progress.

Not all teachers plan activities that cater for the full range of abilities in the class, or make sure pupils know how to improve their work through clear and detailed feedback. Leaders, managers and governors do not yet have a full picture of the progress pupils are making over time, and this limits how well they can measure and improve the overall effectiveness of the college.

Information about this school

Westcroft Sports and Applied Learning College is a special school for pupils and students who have complex cognitive needs.

It is larger than most special schools. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs. The majority have moderate learning difficulties.

Some have severe learning difficulties and many have additional needs including medical, speech, language and communication difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders and behavioural difficulties. Most pupils are of white British heritage with a few from other ethnic heritage backgrounds. The vast majority speak English as their first language.

Approximately two thirds of pupils are boys. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium, the additional funding provided by the government to help particular groups such as those known to be eligible for free school meals, is well above average. There have been no pupils in the Early Years Foundation Stage since the last inspection.

The college carries out much of its work in relation to its sports and applied learning specialisms within the community. It provides an outreach service to schools in Wolverhampton to support inclusion. Its applied learning centre, Timken, caters for students in Key Stages 4 and 5.

The local community also uses the college's sports facilities on a regular basis. Building work is currently underway to provide 12 new classrooms, a calming room, a four-court sports hall linking to the swimming pool, extensions to the existing primary classrooms and a speech, language and communication area. The first phase is due to be completed in the autumn term 2013.

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