Setting

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

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Jim Henderson Headteacher Woodlands Community College Minstead Avenue Harefield Southampton SO18 5FW

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Ofsted remote visit to Woodlands Community College

Following my remote visit with Lucy English, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 26 November 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 remote visit to Woodlands Community College

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 remote visit to Woodlands Community College

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 remote visit to Woodlands Community College

During the visit, we spoke to you, members of your senior leadership team and subject leaders. 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. 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:

 Since the start of the term, approximately one quarter of pupils have had to study from home for a limited time.  All pupils are studying their usual range of subjects. Teachers in practical subjects have altered their lessons as a result of ‘bubble’ arrangements limiting some younger pupils’ access to specialist rooms this term. Extra-curricular activities and clubs have been paused. Leaders hope to return to the school’s full curriculum by the summer term 2021.  Leaders set routine assessments for all year groups, and teachers carry out checks on pupils’ knowledge and understanding in lessons. Teachers have identified pupils who need support to boost their confidence in recalling what they have learned and applying what they remember to new ideas. In all year groups, teachers have modified activities within lessons to help pupils make up any gaps, alongside teaching new topics.  Subject leaders have noted that many pupils in Years 7 to 11 need practice in

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

using subject-specific vocabulary to support them in describing their ideas and explaining their answers to questions. More time is being given in lessons to support this.  You have put plans in place to deliver the curriculum remotely if needed. Currently, if a pupil has to study at home because they are self-isolating, they can access resources online that enable them to complete work in line with their classmates. Leaders have checked that pupils have access to the technology they need to do this. Where parents request it, teachers set some pupils paper-based work.

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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 Southampton. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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