Westbury-On-Trym Church of England Academy

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: Westbury-On-Trym Church of England Academy Channells Hill, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3HZ

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Outcome

Evidence gathered during this ungraded (section 8) inspection suggests that the school’s work may have improved significantly across all areas since the previous inspection. The school’s next inspection will be a graded inspection.

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Outcome

The headteacher of this school is Amanda Pritchard. This school is a single-academy trust. The trust is overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Stephanie Pritchett.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love attending this school. They feel safe and happy. Pupils arrive each morning full of excitement for the day ahead. The school inspires them to recognise their own uniqueness and value. Pupils contribute to the school, enriching one another’s lives, and the wider community. For instance, they enhance the local environment with their art and environmental projects.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils understand the relevance of the school’s values to their everyday lives. They know that everyone is unique. They eagerly express what they admire about their peers and about themselves. Pupils, parents and carers are warmly welcomed into the school family.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish at the school. They build firm social and academic foundations which prepare them well for the future. Children in the early years get off to an impressively strong start. Pupils strive to meet the high aspirations the school has for them.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school enables pupils to ‘live life in all its fullness’, removing barriers which might prevent pupils from taking part. Consequently, every pupil benefits from a rich set of experiences during their time at the school. These broaden pupils’ experience of the wider world and enable them to develop their own talents and interests. 1 and 2 April 2025

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The curriculum is very ambitious, reflecting the high aspirations that the school has for all pupils. Pupils achieve highly. Thoughtful teaching makes useful links between topics. Through carefully chosen teaching activities, pupils apply what they know across the different subjects they learn. For instance, they use mathematical skills to present data in other subjects. The books pupils read in English, and the art styles they learn about, deepen their knowledge in history. This helps them to remember what they have learned. The early years curriculum excites children and prepares them very well for key stage 1. Children practise and repeat new knowledge and skills in a way that they find enjoyable.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Staff explain new learning clearly and check pupils’ understanding thoroughly. Pupils welcome making mistakes as they know this is an important step in deepening their learning. They are highly motivated to learn as much as they can, using feedback from staff and peers to further improve their work. Pupils show pride in what they achieve. In early years, children develop their language and social skills as they eagerly take part in the wide range of activities available to them. Pupils of all ages love the many opportunities to share their ideas and discuss learning. They value the opinions of others.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified at an early stage. Leaders ensure that the right support is in place from the early years onwards. Staff adapt the curriculum appropriately for pupils with SEND which means they achieve well.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Children in the early years rapidly learn to read with fluency and confidence. Pupils of all ages enjoy reading and being read to. Rapid support is effective in making sure that pupils, whatever their age, do not fall behind with reading. The books that underpin the curriculum help pupils to learn new vocabulary and understand the experiences of people from different cultures and backgrounds.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school’s approach to developing pupils’ character contributes strongly to the harmonious atmosphere. Pupils know what unites people from different faiths and cultures. For instance, speaking to pupils from schools around the world has challenged stereotypes about life in developing countries. Pupils learn how to stay safe, including online, and how to maintain good physical and mental health. Children in the early years learn how to share, turn take and co-operate with one another. The environment and activities help them to learn how to resolve conflicts and to manage their own feelings.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils, including the very youngest, concentrate well and persist when they find learning challenging. Pupils develop their sense of responsibility and contribute to the wider life of the school. Children in the early years help one another and participate in’ tidy up time’ with great purpose and enthusiasm. Older pupils relish roles as House Captains, Sports Leaders, librarians and members of the Eco Committee. They are role models for other pupils. 1 and 2 April 2025

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Staff have the expertise they need to perform their roles to a high standard. Leaders protect staff from excessive workload, while also bringing about positive changes. Robust support and challenge from trustees facilitates continuous improvement at the school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted’s website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good/outstanding for its overall effectiveness.

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Background

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school’s work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in January 2016.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and 1 and 2 April 2025

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protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 1 and 2 April 2025

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 11 and 12 February 2020, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 This is a Church of England school, within the Diocese of Bristol. The most recent section 48 inspection took place in 2024; the next should take place within five years of that date.  The school uses one unregistered and one registered alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first. 1 and 2 April 2025

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 The inspector met with trustees and with the school improvement officer.  The inspector visited a sample of lessons, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.

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Inspection team

Sarah Favager-Dalton, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector 1 and 2 April 2025

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achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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