Lodge Farm Primary School

Lodge Farm Primary School continues to perform well as a good school, now demonstrating a commitment to fostering a supportive and aspirational learning environment for its pupils. The school effectively implements a sequential curriculum that caters to the needs of all students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Learning at Lodge Farm is engaging, with pupils showing great enthusiasm and pride in their work. The interim headteacher and supportive trust leadership create a positive atmosphere for both staff and students, noted for their collaborative spirit and sense of community. However, while the school's approach to education and safety is commendable, there are areas for improvement. Specifically, some teachers do not consistently extend pupils' reasoning and questioning skills during lessons, which can hinder deeper understanding of complex concepts. Addressing this will be essential in maintaining the high standards expected in a good school as they prepare for future inspections.

Strengths

• Offers a well-structured and sequential curriculum.
• Promotes a positive and inclusive school culture.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND.
• Strong focus on developing a love of reading.
• Engaging and motivated pupils who take pride in their work.
• Good behaviour and positive relationships among pupils.
• Proactive involvement of parents in the learning process.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent questioning techniques by some teachers may limit students' reasoning skills.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Lodge Farm Primary School attended 93.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 22.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 2.8% of pupils at Lodge Farm Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Lodge Farm Primary School had 19.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 26.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 14.9% of pupils at Lodge Farm Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Lodge Farm Primary School received £7,220 and spent £7,083 for each of its 366 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £931,000 (£2,547 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Shine Academies, income was £6,563 and spending £6,599 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Willenhall · Walsall local authority: places and applications

Lodge Farm Primary School is part of Shine Academies, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Busill Jones Primary School Walsall
• Villiers Primary School Bilston
• Northwood Park Primary School Wolverhampton
• Crowmoor Primary School Shrewsbury
• The Martin Wilson School Shrewsbury

What is Lodge Farm Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Lodge Farm Primary School is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was Lodge Farm Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Lodge Farm Primary School was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does Lodge Farm Primary School have?

Lodge Farm Primary School has 376 pupils on roll.

What age range does Lodge Farm Primary School cover?

Lodge Farm Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Lodge Farm Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 39% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Lodge Farm Primary School?

Lodge Farm Primary School is at Willenhall School Sports College Campus, Furzebank Way, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV12 4BU.