West Moors Middle School

Overview

West Moors Middle School is a small school with a high proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The report highlights that leaders identify and meet the needs of pupils facing barriers to learning “very effectively,” resulting in a “strong standard” for inclusion. While safeguarding standards are met and personal development is rated at a “strong standard,” other areas such as achievement, attendance, and teaching are at an “expected standard.”

Strengths

• Inclusion is rated at a “strong standard,” with leaders working “very well” with families and professionals to ensure pupils with SEND “thrive.”
• Personal development and wellbeing are at a “strong standard,” with a programme that “successfully builds pupils’ character and confidence.”
• Safeguarding standards are met, establishing an “open culture” where concerns are “actively identified, acted upon and managed.”
• Leaders are “extremely diligent” in monitoring progress and adapting provision for pupils facing barriers to learning.
• Staff workload is “well managed,” and staff “value leaders' support for their wellbeing.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should “reduce pupils' absence further” to ensure high attendance and consistent benefit from the curriculum.
• Teaching should consistently focus on “the most important knowledge” so pupils “deepen their understanding” in all subjects.
• Leaders should ensure “continued improvement” to sustain “exceptional standards of inclusion” for pupils with barriers to learning.

Safeguarding

The report states that “safeguarding standards are met,” meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.