Oak Wood School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 May 2022

Pupils at Oak Wood School are polite, friendly and confident. They are part of a diverse community and get along well with each other. The school's ethos is for pupils to dream, learn and grow. Staff here inspire pupils and develop their knowledge, understanding and character. Leaders have high expectations of pupils. Pupils respond well to this. They work hard in lessons and are keen to learn. Teachers help them to improve their work and pupils show a determination to succeed. Pupils know their teachers want the best for them. Pupils behave well. They show respect and kindness to others. Bullying is rare and when it does happen, leaders deal with it effectively. In lessons, pupils listen to their teachers and focus on their work. This is a calm and orderly school. Pupils are both safe and happy. Leaders want to broaden pupils' experiences. They have introduced a 'promises' programme for pupils. Every pupil has the opportunity to go to the theatre, museums and art galleries and attend live sporting events. Pupils have access to a wide range of clubs and activities in school. Oak Wood is a school where pupils can develop their talents and interests.

What the school should improve

• Some teachers do not check effectively that pupils have recalled knowledge they have learned before. This means that some pupils fail to link new learning to what they already know or fail to embed content that was taught in previous terms. Leaders should ensure that teachers think carefully about how best they can consolidate pupils' prior learning.
• Levels of persistent absence remain high. This means that the continuity of some pupils' learning is adversely affected. Leaders should refine their approach to addressing persistent absence to ensure that they intervene as soon as possible.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)