Wellfield Middle School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The quality of teaching, learning and assessment in most subjects is good.

Leaders have been successful in ensuring that teachers and other adults have consistently high expectations, particularly in key stage 2. Governance is improving. Governors increasingly ask more searching questions of leaders.

However, governors do not scrutinise in detail the information that leaders present. Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is improving. Pupils with SEND are well cared for and make strong progress in most subjects.

Written plans to improve the school and the progress of disadvantaged pupils a...re not as precise as they could be. Leaders are working hard to ensure that responsibilities are clear and plans include milestones by which they can evaluate progress throughout the year. A small minority of teaching is less effective.

In some subjects, teachers do not always consider pupils' starting points or additional learning needs when planning lessons. Teachers and pupils successfully use technology in lessons to improve teaching and learning. Pupils' skills in information and communication technology are very well developed.

Pupils' progress in reading is above average. Although improving, pupils' progress in writing is not as strong, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. Pupils' attitudes to their learning are positive.

The vast majority of pupils are eager to do well, and are polite and respectful. Staff enjoy working at the school. Leaders have created a harmonious working environment where adults and pupils work very well together and display high levels of motivation.

Leaders are outward-looking. They actively search for new ways of working and have developed strong working relationships with other schools and the local authority. The capacity to improve further is strong.

Rates of attendance are above average. Additionally, the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent is below average. However, pupils' attendance is declining, and disadvantaged pupils are absent more often than other pupils nationally.

Information about this school

This middle-deemed secondary school is smaller than the average-sized school. A new headteacher took up post in September 2016. A new chair of the governing body took up post in June 2016.

Nearly all members of the governing body are new to post since September 2016. Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged and receive support from the pupil premium is below the national average.

There was a large decrease in the percentage of pupils with SEND between 2017 and 2018. It is now below average. The school does not use any alternative providers.

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