The Westwood Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 February 2025

Pupils and sixth-form students at The Westwood Academy readily embrace its motto, 'Better never stops'. They want to succeed, so they study hard in lessons. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils, achieve well. Pupils' attendance has improved in recent times. With fewer absences and gaps in their knowledge, pupils are happy. They can keep up with learning and, as a result, remember more to build on in the future. The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour. Pupils rise to meet these expectations effectively. They agree the school is 'stricter' this year but see this as a good thing. Clear routines help pupils feel safe. They socialise more at breaktimes as mobile phones are not allowed. Many now play competitive games, such as table tennis, during lunchtime. This boosts pupils' well-being. Pupils say that bullying does happen but that staff work hard to tackle it. Families are kept informed, and pupils know they have a trusted adult in school if needed. Pupils take part in many extra-curricular activities, including Space Rocket and Robotics club, choir and trampolining club. Visits to local universities give them exciting opportunities to broaden their horizons.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, teachers do not explain tasks clearly. When this happens, some pupils lose focus, which limits their achievement. The school should support teachers to design learning that keeps pupils focused on the lesson's aims and learning goals.
• Some teachers do not check that pupils' written work is clear enough for future learning. As a result, some pupils struggle to recall prior learning and do not learn as well as they could. The school should ensure that staff follow its expectations for pupils' written work so that pupils' learning is secure across the curriculum.

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