Wensleydale School

Strengths

• Inclusion is a key strength, with leaders identifying barriers quickly and accurately and adjusting support expertly over time
• Pupils feel safe, behave calmly and have positive, respectful relationships with staff and peers
• Overall attendance is good, with persistent absence reducing, and leaders provide thoughtful support to remove barriers
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open and positive culture in which concerns are actively identified and managed
• Strong leadership and governance: leaders are reflective, staff feel valued and involved, and governors provide effective support and challenge
• Disadvantaged pupils' attainment and progress are broadly in line with national averages, and extra funding is used effectively
• Pupils with SEND, including those in the resourced provision, make appropriate progress from their starting points
• A broad, well-designed curriculum with regular oracy lessons in key stage 3 that develop communication skills
• A wide, well-thought-out enrichment and careers programme that is an entitlement for all pupils, including trips, clubs and a careers fair
• Staff wellbeing is a priority, with workload reduced and evidence-informed professional learning matched to school priorities

Areas for Improvement

• The quality of pupils' written work is variable and inconsistent across subjects, impacting how well some pupils build knowledge
• High-quality teaching is not yet consistent across the school and needs to be embedded across all subjects and year groups
• Disadvantaged pupils' outcomes at GCSE grade 5 or above in English and maths are well below national averages, with a very wide disadvantage gap
• A small number of pupils do not consistently demonstrate respectful language, and the personal development curriculum needs strengthening in this area
• A small number of pupils do not consistently show respect for protected characteristics, though leaders work with them to reflect and improve

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools