Willowfield Academy

Overview

Westbury Academy is a special school where the vast majority of pupils, many of whom have had a "rocky start" in education, now report that they "enjoy school" and "feel safe." Leaders maintain high expectations, ensuring that bullying is rare and resolved swiftly, while fostering a vision that "No child is left behind." The school provides a supportive environment where pupils develop confidence and are prepared for their next stages in life.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate a "positive attitude to school," take pride in their work, and attend more frequently than at previous schools.
• The curriculum for personal development is a strength, with opportunities to explore sports, music, and different faiths to fill pupils’ "cultural rucksacks."
• A recently introduced phonics scheme is implemented well, helping pupils become "confident and fluent readers."
• Staff possess strong subject knowledge and identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge quickly through frequent assessments.
• The governing body holds leaders "fully to account" and asks challenging questions to drive improvement.

Areas to improve

• Subject leaders must plan and sequence key content and vocabulary clearly in all subjects, as this is not yet consistent across the curriculum.
• Leaders must ensure teachers effectively use all information from pupils’ education, health and care (EHC) plans to maximise progress.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," with staff receiving appropriate training and concerns being recorded well.