West Midlands Education and Skills

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 February 2025

This is a time of change at West Midlands Education and Skills (WMES). An ambitious new curriculum and innovative staff are driving improvements. 'Moving forward together' is more than a mission statement; it is the realised reality for this developing community. Pupils start at the school with often negative prior education experiences. Some have been excluded from previous schools. Some have unmet special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Many have lost their confidence and self-belief in what they can achieve. However, at WMES they are surrounded by care and ambition. Consequently, over time, they begin to learn and remember more. Relationships are respectful and nurturing. Whether on the school site or in one of the many designated learning venues, staff quickly act when pupils need help or support. Pupils told inspectors how their tutors want the best for them and help them feel safe. Consequently, behaviour is often calm, respectful and thoughtful across all parts of the school. Weekly trips to badminton, shops or local libraries put learning in the heart of the community. Boxing, fishing, cooking and lessons in Japanese or Italian enrich the curriculum. Visits to places such as local Gurdwaras support pupils to develop a sense of cultural identity and belief.

What the school should improve

• The school does not always provide opportunities to quality assure how well subjects are taught across the school and designated learning venues. This limits their ability to make curriculum changes and offer colleagues the right support and training. The school should provide opportunities to evaluate how well subjects are taught, so they can make the necessary changes to the curriculum and further develop staff training opportunities.
• In some cases, pupils are not always placed on the most ambitious courses or have access to work-related opportunities to prepare them for their next steps. This means they are not always prepared to meet their vocational or academic ambitions. The school needs to ensure that all pupils have opportunities to access the most ambitious courses and opportunities to prepare them for their next steps.

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