Woodgate Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 October 2024

The 'Woodgate family' welcomes everyone. Parents and carers know that their children, no matter what their needs, will be well cared for. Woodgate has created a strong sense of belonging for its community. The school makes sure that families are well supported in the local area. The Woodgate 'wardrobe' and 'pantry', for example, provide clothing and food for families, who welcome this. Pupils know that they will be warmly greeted each morning when they arrive at school. They are eager to come to school and build strong relationships with staff. Pupils trust that staff will keep them safe and know that staff will look out for them through the day. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included in all aspects of the school's work. For example, all pupils take part in 'cultural days' and enjoy learning about each other's backgrounds and faiths. Pupils appreciate the wide range of experiences available, including sports and theatre. These help pupils think about what they would like to do in the future. Staff are committed to helping pupils do their best and support them to 'become anything they want to be'. Pupils value this and achieve well here. Pupils know how they should conduct themselves. They behave well. Pupils are courteous, holding doors open for others and talking politely to other pupils and visitors.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, staff do not routinely check that pupils have understood the things they have been taught before moving on to new learning. As a result, some children have gaps in their learning. Where this happens, pupils are held back. Leaders should ensure that staff make careful checks on pupils' learning and adapt their teaching to make sure all pupils have understood the things they have been taught.
• The school is not always rigorous enough in checking the effectiveness of subjects being taught. This means that leaders are not always clear on the aspects of their work that require the most urgent attention, and the specific refinements needed to improve subjects are not always addressed. Leaders should monitor the impact of their work carefully to build a clear view of how well pupils learn the intended curriculum across all subjects.

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