Woodham Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 April 2023

Woodham Academy continues to grow in size and popularity. Construction of a new school building is under way. The number of pupils who attend the school has also increased significantly in recent years. Parents and carers of pupils in Year 7 particularly appreciate how well their children have been supported to settle into this flourishing community. Leaders understand the importance of keeping the needs of pupils at the heart of all decisions; this is crucial as the school continues to grow in size. Strong relationships between adults and pupils are evident. Pupils explain that they trust adults to help them. Pupils who join this school, who have struggled at other schools, find a fresh start here and thrive. They value the support of adults. Pupils are taught about respect and tolerance. The vast majority of pupils agree that bullying is taken seriously by adults and dealt with quickly. Leaders have high expectations for what pupils can achieve academically. Leaders are ambitious about the experiences they want pupils to have beyond the classroom, from trips abroad to work experience placements. There are a range of academies in school that give pupils the chance to develop their interests, including numerous sports, performing arts, leadership, engineering and eco-academies. Pupils value these opportunities.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, assessment does not precisely identify gaps in pupils' knowledge. This means that teachers are not able to use this information as efficiently to adapt the curriculum moving forward. Leaders should continue to develop their assessment systems so that they are closely matched to the curriculum and inform future teaching.

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