Woodlands Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Woodlands Primary Academy is a rapidly improving school. The interim headteacher provides strong leadership, ably supported by his leadership team and the academy trust. Leaders have an accurate view of the school's strengths and weaknesses and have been focused on high impact actions to improve the quality of teaching and outcomes for pupils.

The academy trust provides very effective support in overseeing key aspects and high-quality support for school improvement. Leaders have tackled previous under-performance. They hold teachers to account through performance management and effective monitoring of teaching and learning so that teachers continu...e to develop effective practice.

Middle leaders are new to their roles and their impact is yet to be fully felt. High expectations have been set for what pupils should achieve in lessons. Pupils understand what they are learning, but tasks are not always adapted as their learning needs change to ensure that they achieve the best possible outcomes.

The school provides a broad and balanced curriculum which gives pupils opportunities to write for a range of 'audiences and purposes' through their topic themes. There is a step-by-step approach to teaching a range of mathematical concepts, but pupils do not always have sufficient opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge to problem solving and develop greater depths in their reasoning skills. The behaviour of pupils has improved.

There are clear expectations and consequences for poor behaviour. Pupils have responded to this and generally show positive attitudes to learning, particularly when lessons are matched to their needs. Pupils enjoy school and say that they feel safe.

They are taught to respect and treat each other equally within an inclusive environment. In the early years, children are taught well and make a good start to their school life. Outcomes for current pupils are improving rapidly as historic underachievement is being addressed and leaders have higher expectations.

Pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress. The differences in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and other pupils nationally as they move up through the school are diminishing. Leaders are working hard to raise the profile of the school and work closely with families.

Many parents recognise the improvements that have already been made.

Information about this school

Woodlands Primary Academy is a larger-than-average-sized primary school. The predecessor school, called Woodlands Primary School, became a sponsor-led academy in July 2013.

This first arrangement was dissolved and the academy became part of the Creative Education Trust in March 2015. There have been a significant number of staff changes over the past year, including senior leaders. There is currently an interim headteacher in place and an acting assistant headteacher.

.The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website..

The school complies with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish including the scheme of delegation. The school offers a breakfast club. There is a privately-run nursery on the school site.

This is inspected and reported on separately. The large majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils from other ethnic backgrounds and who speak English as an additional language is much lower than the national average.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is slightly lower that that found in most schools. A smaller-than-average proportion of pupils are disadvantaged and supported by the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6.