“Superb” and “Excellent” Walsall School Rated “Exceptional” in New Ofsted Report

E-ACT Reedswood Primary Academy has ‘exceptional’ standards for pupil achievement, leadership and governance, and pupil wellbeing and development.

Under Ofsted’s new inspection system - which no longer gives out one word overall judgements like ‘Good’ - a school has to show that their positive qualities are “embedded and sustained over time” and that it makes a “tangible difference” to children’s learning to be classed as ‘exceptional’.

The school, which is part of the E-ACT multi academy trust, was also judged to have ‘strong standards’ across the other qualities inspected, including attendance and behaviour, curriculum and wellbeing, early years teaching, and inclusion.

Ofsted inspectors praised the school, saying: “Whatever their starting points, pupils at this school make remarkable progress. Year after year, pupils’ progress and attainment in national tests and assessments are significantly higher than average."

Inspectors commended leaders at the school, saying “the quality of leadership at this school is superb. Year after year, leaders have driven continual improvement across all areas of the school’s work."

For pupils, Ofsted said that the school’s focus on their development and wellbeing has a “significant, positive and lasting impact on their learning, confidence, sense of belonging and academic success."

Inspectors also praised the “excellent conduct” of pupils, saying “leaders are ambitious for pupils… Pupils at this school feel a keen sense of belonging and achieve exceptionally well. The inclusive ethos ensures that everyone is valued and supported."

Overall, inspectors highlighted that pupils leave E-ACT Reedswood Academy “exceptionally well prepared for the future. They do so with strong academic outcomes, high aspirations and the confidence to succeed in life beyond the school gates."

Headteacher Maxine Lathbury-Cox said: “We’re incredibly pleased with the results of our latest Ofsted inspection, which rightly recognises all the hard work of our staff,pupils and families to make Reedswood a truly exceptional school.

“Every day we aim to make Reedswood a place where children love to learn, leaving us with ambition and confidence for the next stage of their education. We’re all very pleased that this has been recognised by Ofsted.”

This is Reedswood Academy’s first inspection under the new Ofsted rating system, which no longer gives schools a one word summary result such as ‘good’. Instead the new system judges schools on a wider range of markers, including safeguarding, attendance and behaviour.