Wednesbury Oak Academy

Overview

Wednesbury Oak Academy is a school where leaders place pupils at the heart of decision-making, fostering a "real family feel" and a culture of positive behaviour. The early years provision is rated at a "strong standard," with a "comprehensively sequenced" curriculum that effectively prepares children for later learning. Overall, the school meets the "expected standard" across most areas, with pupils achieving well and leaving well-prepared for secondary education.

Strengths

• The early years curriculum is "extremely well considered" and "comprehensively sequenced," enabling children to engage deeply in learning.
• Pupils develop into "tolerant and respectful individuals" with a "deep, secure and broad knowledge" of personal, health, social and economic education.
• Disadvantaged pupils achieve well, particularly in writing, and perform better than their peers nationally.
• Staff apply behaviour systems "consistently and fairly," resulting in rare bullying and pupils who are "respectful and courteous."
• Governors are "skilled and committed," effectively challenging leaders to drive improvement.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should embed strategies to ensure recent improvements in attendance have a "long-term impact."
• Staff must support pupils at the early stages of writing to secure skills in "spelling, punctuation and handwriting."
• Leaders should support staff to better adapt learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities so they "learn well in all subjects."

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.