Waverley Studio College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 September 2022

Pupils enjoy coming to school. They take part in lessons enthusiastically. Older pupils said how much everything has improved since the principal started. Their courses prepare them well for their future careers. Pupils new to English and those who find learning difficult have curriculum pathways suited to their individual needs. Many sixth formers on placement experience a regular weekly taste of the world of work. The equality and diversity days help pupils to keep safe and prepare for life in modern Britain. A recent theatre company performance taught pupils about online risks. Leaders deal well with any rare incidents of bullying. Leaders want the best for every pupil, which is why they are extending the range of courses and qualifications to achieve this. Pupils behave well in lessons and around school. They get on well together. Staff and pupils have embraced the changing pupil profile of the school. One pupil said, 'We can meet people from different backgrounds and learn from them.' A sixth former stated, 'I came as a new arrival with no English when no other school would take me. Now I'm going to university.' Pupils appreciated the recent trips to the Birmingham's Symphony Hall and Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London.

What the school should improve

• There is a limited range of subject options in Year 10 for new arrivals who come to the school from overseas with a strong academic background. As a result, they have more limited choices, which could limit their future career pathways. Leaders should make further adaptions to their curriculum to broaden the choice of subjects on offer, especially for those intending to follow a more academic route.
• Some less experienced teachers are not as skilled at adapting learning when pupils are finding the work too hard or not accessible. Consequently, there are times when the learning moves on before some pupils have fully understood the concepts. Leaders should ensure that the new department structure enables teachers from different subjects to share effective teaching strategies and learn from each other.

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