Woodvale Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 December 2023

The school values of 'strive, support and succeed' are lived out by pupils and staff at the school. As one pupil, typical of many, said, 'Some people start nervous but get to do many different things which builds their confidence.' Pupils and staff appreciate the teamwork and know that they can always ask for help. Parents and carers agree that their children feel safe in school. The school supports pupils to follow the school rules 'be ready, be respectful, be safe'. It has developed the 'Woodvale Way', which teaches pupils routines such as assembly attitudes and wonderful walking. Pupils love to earn reward points and win the 'Woodvale Wonder' in Friday assemblies. Pupils particularly enjoy 'hot chocolate and cookies', where parents are invited in to share in their successes. Pupils enjoy taking on leadership responsibilities in school, such as sports leaders and librarians. Pupils are keen to attend this highly inclusive school. They are respectful of one another and support each other to follow the rules. They say that most pupils behave well and know that, if they don't, staff will quickly sort it out. Pupils say that there are staff to help them if they are worried.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, the curriculum does not make clear the most important things that pupils should know and remember at each stage of their education, including how the foundations build from the early years. In these subjects, pupils do not consistently remember the most important knowledge and vocabulary. The school should ensure that the curriculum is fully planned and sequenced, across all subjects and all phases. The curriculum should make clear the most important knowledge, skills and vocabulary that pupils need to know at each stage of their education, so that they maximise their full potential.
• The school does not yet check that pupils remember the important knowledge, skills and vocabulary in all subjects. This means that, in some subjects, it does not have an overview of the knowledge, skills and vocabulary that pupils are sure of and any gaps that they may have. The school now needs to ensure that checks are made of the important knowledge, skills and vocabulary that pupils have learned in all subjects so that it can address any gaps. This will ensure that pupils have firm foundations to build from.

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