Woodrow First School

Overview

Woodrow First School is described as a ‘family community’ where pupils are safe, happy, and enjoy learning within a ‘purposeful atmosphere’. The school maintains high standards of behaviour and personal development, with staff fostering ‘highly respectful relationships’ and a strong culture of well-being.

Strengths

• The school has developed a ‘highly ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum’, including in the early years, where children receive ‘high-quality interactions’ and thrive.
• Pupils display ‘excellent self-control’ and ‘highly positive attitudes to learning’, supported by robust systems for attendance and catching up on missed work.
• Reading is a clear priority, with effective interventions ensuring pupils become familiar with sounds and blending, encouraged by access to a ‘wide range of books’.
• Leaders prioritise pupils’ well-being and mental health, delivering a ‘well planned and sequenced’ personal, social, health and economic curriculum.
• Staff workload is carefully considered, and a ‘well-thought-out professional development programme’ is welcomed by staff.

Areas to improve

• The school must fully develop and embed its approach to writing across all classes, as too many pupils do not develop a full range of writing skills.
• Teachers in some subjects do not use assessments well enough to identify gaps in learning, causing pupils to struggle when moving to new work.
• The school needs to more precisely analyse the effectiveness of its improvement strategies, particularly regarding the progress of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’, noting a strong culture that puts pupils’ interests first.