Ofsted highlights strength of leadership and high quality of education at Wakefield school
Ofsted says the quality of education at a Wakefield school is officially Good - and that its leaders are determined to keep making progress.
Inspectors also said that the leadership and management at Outwood Academy Freeston, in Normanton, Wakefield, is Good, and that its ambitious curriculum is a strength of the school, setting high aspirations for students including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Today’s Ofsted report also recognises that Outwood Academy Freeston is “a school where leaders continually seek to improve” and that it “benefits from stable and effective leadership”.
This means that the academy has achieved strong improvement since its previous inspection in 2016 - when it was known as the Freeston Academy and was led by Wakefield City Academies Trust, and was rated Requires Improvement in every category.
Since 2018 the school has been led by Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT), and Ofsted inspectors highlighted the significant progress under OGAT while setting out that work needs to continue to improve in the areas of Behaviour and Attitudes and of Personal Development, which inspectors judged to require improvement. This means that the overall effectiveness of the school is Requires Improvement.
The inspection recognised that aspects of behaviour and attitudes are improving. Rates of attendance have risen rapidly and the new behaviour policy is reducing the number of pupils receiving suspensions, with teachers saying that students’ behaviour has improved over time. The report also says that Freeston students feel safe at school. However, Ofsted said improvements can be made about the use of derogatory language by some students, although it added that leaders do take action and track these incidents carefully when they are reported.
The inspection highlighted that the personal development curriculum is not yet as strong as the academic curriculum. Recent actions taken by the academy to progress this include taking part in projects looking at anti-semitism, working with the Anti Bullying Alliance, and a review of the personal development curriculum.
Among the many positive comments made by Ofsted in its report are that:
“A culture of reading is developing across the school”
“Leaders have ensured that pupils who need help with reading receive the right support”
“Leaders have established a programme of careers information, education, advice and guidance. All pupils receive independent advice and guidance”
“Leaders have an ambitious vision for the school”
“Pupils study the same curriculum and teachers adapt their teaching to meet the needs of pupils”
Lisa Allott, the Principal of Outwood Academy Freeston, said:
“We are very pleased that Ofsted recognises the strength in leadership across the academy. This should give parents and carers confidence that we have capacity to continue to progress. School improvement is ongoing and our journey is not yet complete. We will continue to work hard to improve and will be true to our vision of putting ‘students first’ by raising standards and transforming lives.”
