The Westgate School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 January 2025

The strong relationships between staff and pupils help to make this a happy school. There is clear ambition for all to achieve their best and, as the school puts it, to be 'equipped for life'. Academic achievement has strengthened, something pupils recognise and appreciate. Results in published outcomes continue to rise, particularly for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils now achieve in line with national averages at GCSE and A Level. Alongside this focus on a broad range of qualifications that help to prepare pupils for their next steps, is a determination for pupils to become young adults who have confidence and resilience for success in their futures. Pupils have an increasing set of opportunities that link thoughtfully into their interests and help them to develop new ones. Pupils appreciate the recent changes to the school. Although some of them think that the rules for behaviour can be too strict at times, they do recognise that the high expectations have made things better for everyone, especially in lessons. They appreciate the way that staff act to support them if anyone is unkind or falls short of these expectations.

What the school should improve

• Recent changes to establish high expectations for behaviour across the school are not fully embedded, particularly during unstructured social times. There are some pupils who are unkind to each other. The school needs to ensure that actions are taken as intended so there is mutual respect throughout the school.
• Some classroom tasks do not link well enough to pupils' prior learning. This means some pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school should strengthen the approaches they have set out to ensure that tasks build on pupils' learning consistently well.

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