Whitelands Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 January 2023

In a short space of time, leaders and trustees have successfully created a distinctive and vibrant school. Pupils are being well prepared to succeed academically and to become responsible citizens. High expectations of all pupils and a clear set of values, known as 'our traits', are the foundations of the school. Pupils understand and live up to these values. They enjoy their learning and are appreciative of the help they receive from staff, who know them well. The school is calm and orderly. Pupils feel safe in school, and there is a culture of respect. Staff have very high expectations of behaviour. The 'roll call' system provides an opportunity for staff to reinforce expectations throughout the day. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm. They interact well at break and lunchtimes. Pupils appreciate the work that teachers do to recognise their individual successes and to support them when needed. Achievements are celebrated through the house system and the use of the 'behaviour mastery cards'. Bullying is rare, and derogatory language is not accepted. Any incidents are responded to swiftly and effectively.

What the school should improve

• At times, the use of assessment for learning does not help pupils to embed knowledge and use it fluently. Teachers do not routinely promote appropriate discussion about learning to check that pupils' understanding is secure before moving on to new learning. Leaders should ensure that assessment is used consistently to support pupils to deepen their understanding over time.
• A minority of parents, particularly those with children with SEND, do not feel that the school responds to concerns or queries in a timely and effective manner. Leaders should ensure they develop strong channels of communication with parents to allow them to work together effectively.

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