Woodlands Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 2 June 2026

This is a happy, inclusive school. Everyone is welcomed and supported to succeed, regardless of their starting point. Pupils attend increasingly well, because they feel safe and find learning fun. They develop warm, respectful relationships with each other and with staff. By the time they leave, pupils embody the school’s 6 values: be kind, be curious, be confident, be ambitious, be passionate, be positive. These are the bedrock of school life. They set pupils up extremely well for their next steps. Regular routines and clear expectations are embedded throughout the school. Praise, encouragement and other incentives such as certificates, raffles and termly treats motivate pupils to attend regularly, behave well and work hard. If pupils face barriers academically or otherwise, staff ensure these are reduced. They adapt the curriculum, teaching, timetable and behaviour expectations as needed, so that all pupils can experience success. Staff know pupils very well. This helps them make the right adaptations at the right time. In recent years, pupils’ achievements in national tests at the end of Year 6 have improved. They are now close to or above national averages. Throughout the school, pupils progress well through the curriculum. This includes disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Where pupils' achievement is less positive, for example in phonics, leaders take swift action to improve things. Pupils' wider development and readiness for life beyond the school gates are extremely well catered for. All pupils have access to a range of carefully considered opportunities that enhance learning, develop their talents and increase their aspirations. These include clubs, educational trips and school productions. Special events such as ‘Be ambitious day’ and the annual talent show inspire pupils to consider future careers in areas such as performing arts, marine biology, creative writing and architecture.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure they support staff to consistently adapt their teaching in the moment and based on their ongoing assessments, so that pupils’ opportunities to progress and deepen their learning are maximised.
• Leaders should continue to focus on improving attendance, particularly on reducing the number of pupils who are frequently absent, so that all pupils benefit fully from the school’s offer and achieve as well as they can.

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