Setting

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

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Mrs Claire Fairburn Interim Headteacher New Leaf School Stroud Avenue Willenhall Walsall West Midlands WV12 4EG

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Special measures monitoring inspection of New Leaf School

This letter sets out the findings from the monitoring inspection that took place on 25 February 2025, on behalf of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. The monitoring inspection was carried out under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and was the second monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require special measures following the graded (section 5) inspection that took place in September 2023.

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Special measures monitoring inspection of New Leaf School

The purpose of a monitoring inspection is not to grade the school’s key and (where applicable) provision judgements, but to identify and report on the school’s progress. It is to highlight to the school and parents any improvements that school leaders have made since the school’s previous graded inspection.

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Special measures monitoring inspection of New Leaf School

During the inspection, Christopher Stevens, His Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), and I discussed with you and other senior leaders, governors, and the local authority, the actions that have been taken to improve the school since the most recent graded inspection. We discussed the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also carried out lesson visits, held meetings with senior leaders and looked at documents for behaviour and attendance and at records for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). I have considered all this in coming to my judgement.

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Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is

necessary for the school to no longer be judged as requiring special measures.

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The position regarding the appointment of early career teachers will be

considered again during any monitoring inspection we carry out.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

Since the last monitoring visit, there have been further leadership changes. The previous headteacher has left. You were appointed as an interim headteacher in January 2025. Another member of staff, who has oversight for teaching and learning, has now joined your senior leadership team. You also recently appointed an additional family support worker. There have also been changes to those responsible for governance. Two members from your governing board have left. One new governor has since joined in September 2024 and another in October 2024. This visit focused on behaviour, attendance, provision for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and aspects of leadership and management.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

The evidence shows that you are taking well-considered actions to address the weaknesses highlighted at the time of the previous inspection. Leaders are now working with urgency to make positive changes. This is a significant improvement, since the first monitoring visit. You have set out a clear vision and ambition for all pupils. Staff have commented positively on this clarity and are highly supportive of this. Staff feel there has been a positive impact on their morale and well-being also.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

As part of this vision, you are committed to providing training for staff to help them understand the needs of all pupils, including the needs of pupils with SEND. The school has introduced a range of assessments to help identify gaps in pupils’ learning. Other assessments are also helping the early identification of pupils with SEND. All pupils across the school, including new pupils who have recently joined, have taken part in these assessments. The school is now beginning to better understand the needs of pupils who attend here and what strategies need to be put in place to help them. A dedicated teacher now also supports pupils through the recent introduction of additional intervention programmes to help pupils with reading comprehension and mathematics. This is beginning to have a positive impact on some pupils’ learning in this area.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

Leaders have begun to improve the systems for analysing data in relation to behaviour. There are now systems in place to look at behaviour incidents across school. This analysis is helping leaders to better understand patterns and trends in behaviour incidents that may exist. Consequently, this is enabling staff to support individual pupils more effectively. This includes tailored support, which is helping to secure improvements in individual pupils’ attitudes. During this visit, the school was calm and orderly most of the time. Adults and pupils had positive and respectful relationships. For example, at breaktime, pupils socialised sensibly while enjoying various games and activities with adults.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

Teachers are beginning to manage behaviour more skilfully and consistently. There has been great emphasis on building positive relationships across school and getting to know the individual interests of all pupils. The school’s expectations for behaviour are better understood by pupils and they are motivated by the school’s reward systems. Pupils are positive about these changes. Pupils now wear their uniform with pride. They are learning how to understand their own behaviours better. Leaders have created breakout areas for pupils to use when they need some time to manage their behaviour and emotions. Pupils used these spaces appropriately during this visit. Consequently, the number of suspensions has significantly decreased. Incidents of poor behaviour have also reduced across the school. Furthermore, staff support the view that behaviour and attitudes to learning have improved since the previous inspection.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

Leaders continue to improve the systems for monitoring attendance. You have looked closely at patterns and issues with attendance in the school. While many pupils attend regularly, a significant number do not. Leaders are determined to help all pupils improve their attendance. Some recently introduced strategies are already making a difference, such as adding capacity to the family support worker team, who work directly with families. Members of this team visit families and help them to improve the attendance of their children. These skilled staff members are also helping you and your wider team to further develop your understanding of the barriers that are preventing pupils from attending well. Moreover, an updated attendance policy sets clear expectations for pupils and their parents about the impact of missing school days. Pupils have responded positively to the recent introduction of rewards for better attendance. Consequently, some

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

pupils who had very low attendance before are now improving their attendance.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

Those responsible for governance are now well placed to bring about positive change to the school. Their work is focused on the areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection. This includes a focus on ensuring school leaders have the necessary skills and knowledge to drive improvements. Governors are increasingly seeking a wider range of evidence to understand what is working well and what needs further improvement. Consequently, governors challenge you and your leaders more effectively.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

You have greatly valued the wide range of support from various external partners. This includes from a local multi-academy trust (MAT) that is currently offering you and your leaders support. In particular, your leaders have benefited from support to develop their leadership skills, and staff from the MAT are providing day-to-day support to the school. In addition, the local authority and trust are working well together to support and challenge school leaders.

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The progress made towards the removal of special measures

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of governors, the Department for Education’s regional director and the director of children’s services for Walsall. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website.

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