Wren Academy Finchley

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Stable, strong and ambitious leadership has ensured that high standards have been maintained since the previous inspection. Pupils demonstrate mature attitudes to their studies from the earliest stages of their education.

Pupils are diligent and enjoy their learning. Leaders ensure that their expectations for consistently high-quality teaching are met. Pupils make outstanding progress because of the excellent teaching they receive.

Pupils are inspired and challenged by their teachers' skilled and well-planned delivery of the curriculum. Leaders plan a rich and varied curriculum that enables pupils to develop skills, and excel, in ...a broad selection of subjects. The early years provides a superb start to children's education.

Children rapidly gain skills and knowledge that provide a firm foundation for their progression through the school. Pupils feel safe in school because of leaders' steadfast approach to safeguarding and a high level of pastoral care. The school's Christian values form a secure basis to the ambience of the whole school.

Pupils and staff from a wide range of faiths and beliefs demonstrate mutual respect, kindness and understanding towards each other. Sixth-form students build on their experiences gained through the school, so that they are highly articulate and motivated learners. They benefit from specialist teaching, enrichment activities and impressive levels of individual support.

Students are well placed to make successful applications to their chosen courses. Pupils receive excellent guidance on how their studies relate to their career aspirations. All pupils have access to an extensive range of extra-curricular activities which broaden their outlooks.

Leaders ensure that teachers' assessments of pupils' work are accurate and enable pupils to progress very well. A revised system of teacher feedback is being introduced across the secondary phase. Teachers sometimes do not check quickly enough to see whether lower ability pupils are able to engage fully in more challenging tasks.

Information about this school

The school is larger than average. Since the previous inspection, new key stages have opened at the school: the sixth form in September 2013 and the primary phase in September 2015. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is slightly lower than the national average.

Pupils represent a wide range of ethnic groups. More than half the pupils are from White British and any other White British background. The proportion of pupils who receive support because they have SEN and/or disabilities is lower than average, while there is an average proportion who have an education, health and care plan.

The proportion of pupils who are eligible for support from the pupil premium funding is lower than average. The school operates a policy of segregation by sex for classes in the core subjects in the secondary phase. Boys and girls are taught separately in mathematics, English and science.

The school's rationale for the policy is that this strategy leads to very strong outcomes in these subjects for boys and girls. This does amount to positive action under section 158 of the Equality Act 2010. The school makes occasional use of alternative provision at The Pavilion School, Chandos Avenue, London N20 9DX.

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