Setting

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Jules Taylor Headteacher Woodlands School Tilley Green Wem Shrewsbury Shropshire SY4 5PJ

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Ofsted visit to Woodlands School

Following my visit with Chris Pollitt, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 1 October 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

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Ofsted visit to Woodlands School

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended.

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Ofsted visit to Woodlands School

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

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Ofsted visit to Woodlands School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the primary leaders, the pastoral lead and your leader responsible for safeguarding. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils, following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

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Context

 approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

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Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

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Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school began admitting pupils for the autumn term on 2 September 2020. By 14 September, two of your sites were open to all pupils. You have decided, based on their particular needs, to give pupils an extended phased return to your Year 7 site. You plan for all pupils to attend school full time by October half term.  Pupils’ attendance is currently at a similar level to this time last year. When the school was only open to some pupils due to COVID-19 restrictions, staff made daily calls to all parents and pupils. Prior to the start of the autumn term, staff talked to parents about the importance of their children returning to school. Staff continue to provide some families with additional support to encourage their children to return to school.  Pupils are being taught their normal curriculum. To help pupils access and re- engage with learning, you are providing them with additional pastoral support.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 Across the primary and secondary settings, you continue to prioritise the teaching of reading. You provide pupils with additional support to help them improve their basic reading skills. In the primary setting, you have identified that pupils’ basic mathematical skills are weak, so have made this area a key focus in the curriculum. To support pupils’ learning in the wider curriculum, you are continuing to provide them with practical experiences and off-site visits.  Key stage 3 pupils have access to the same curriculum offer they previously experienced. You now provide a range of additional learning opportunities in school instead of using off-site alternative provision. These activities are also part of the additional pastoral offer you are providing.  Key stage 4 pupils also have a similar curriculum offer to that provided before lockdown. However, due to the COVID-19 protective measures in place and

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

the size of the classrooms, key stage 4 pupils now opt for either a design and technology course or catering. Previously, they were able to follow both courses.  Prior to lockdown, the school did not have a remote learning platform. You have now developed a range of online learning opportunities. These include providing live lessons which can be streamed to pupils. You have ensured that all pupils have access to the technology needed to access remote learning. You and your staff plan to create videos and provide live lessons to deliver the curriculum to pupils who are unable to attend school due to COVID-19.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Shropshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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