Westfield School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 October 2023

Pupils thrive at Westfield School. They value the positive relationships they have with staff. Staff are nurturing and caring, and, in turn, pupils are kind to each other. Pupils feel safe and so they are willing to try new things. As a result, pupils achieve well. Staff know their pupils exceptionally well. Staff understand pupils' wants and needs, and so pupils flourish. Parents are extremely positive about their children's education. One parent summed up the staff when they said, 'They believe in the children and nurture their uniqueness.' It is because of this that pupils make such good progress from their starting points. The school makes sure that pupils are known in their community. Pupils are taught to use the local leisure centre, library, cafes and shops. Older pupils attend local work experience placements, and younger pupils are supported to explore their surroundings. Pupils are prepared well for adulthood. Pupils remain part of the school even after they have left. Ex-students visit the school to share their news. Staff support them if they are finding their new placement hard. These continued relationships help current pupils feel confident that they can be successful in the future.

What the school should improve

• Some aspects of the school's work are not monitored as systematically as they could be. This makes it more difficult for leaders to spot patterns and trends as quickly as they could. The school should review its approaches to monitoring and evaluating its work so that it can focus on the things that will make the biggest difference.
• Leadership capacity is stretched. This means that some aspects of the school's work do not get the attention that leaders would like. The school should review leadership roles and responsibilities to ensure that all aspects of its provision match its ambitions for the school.

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