Wickersley School and Sports College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 November 2023

Leaders at Wickersley School and Sports College recognised that the quality of education that pupils have received in recent years needed to improve. Some pupils have not achieved well in end of key stage assessments. In response to this, the school has implemented plans to address weaknesses in the curriculum. As a result, pupils are now benefiting from a curriculum that is helping them to know and remember more of what they have been taught. The school has a broad curriculum. All pupils benefit from this, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This offer also extends to pupils who access the school's specialist resource provision, who are supported by well-trained staff. A small number of pupils cannot read fluently when they join the school. Leaders have not ensured that they receive the support to develop their phonics knowledge, to help them catch up quickly enough. Pupils are safe. Most pupils told inspectors that they had a trusted adult they would speak to if they were worried about something. Pupils say that bullying occasionally happens but are confident that it will be dealt with quickly by staff. The school recognised that they needed to address the behaviour of some pupils after the pandemic. Leaders have successfully raised expectations for all members of the school community and pupils now behave well.

What the school should improve

• Teachers do not always check that pupils have understood what they have been taught before moving on. This leads to misconceptions or gaps in knowledge not being addressed. Leaders should provide training for staff and support them to ensure that pupils' understanding of what they have been taught is checked regularly and purposefully. Leaders should ensure that this assessment information is used in lessons to inform future teaching.
• Some pupils do not receive the support they need to support them to become fluent readers, specifically addressing the gaps they have in their phonics knowledge. As a result, these pupils do not improve their reading quickly enough. Leaders need to ensure that pupils who have gaps in their phonics knowledge receive support that addresses these gaps and allows them to become fluent and confident readers quickly.

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