Wakefield Flanshaw Junior and Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 June 2024

Pupils at Flanshaw are happy and safe. They are proud to attend the school. The headteacher and deputy headteacher are new to the role this year. They have quickly identified areas for improvement. Since the poor outcomes achieved by pupils at the end of key stage 2 in 2023, leaders have begun to make changes to improve the quality of education. These changes are beginning to make a difference, for example in reading. However, in some subjects, pupils do not achieve well enough. Leaders have high expectations for pupils' behaviour and attitudes. Pupils are polite and friendly. Respectful relationships between pupils and adults are consistent throughout school. Classrooms are calm and orderly, and pupils play together happily at breaktimes. Bullying is rare and any problems are swiftly addressed. The personal development of pupils is a priority at Flanshaw. Pupil leaders, such as the junior leadership team, carry out their roles with pride. The school ensures that pupils benefit from a wide range of activities to develop their interests and build character. Activities include kickboxing and sewing clubs, and pupils also have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. Pupils enjoy local trips and look forward to the residential visit where they get to try new and challenging activities.

What the school should improve

• School has not identified and prioritised the most important actions needed to bring about systemic and sustainable improvement. Many decisions and actions taken are short-term measures to address specific issues. This means that the most important priorities go unaddressed. The school should ensure that it focuses on the most important actions that will bring about systemic and sustained improvements.
• The precise knowledge pupils need to know and remember is not clearly identified and sequenced in all subjects. Pupils do not remember their learning well and have gaps in their knowledge. School should ensure that there is a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum in place.
• The school does not routinely check the knowledge and understanding of pupils. Sometimes, learning activities do not match the knowledge pupils need to learn and teaching does not consistently identify and address gaps in pupils' learning. The school should ensure that adults regularly check what pupils have learned to ensure that activities are effective, and that any gaps in pupils' knowledge are quickly identified and addressed.

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