Ofsted has confirmed Wheatfield Primary’s standing as a ‘good’ school following a visit by inspectors in November 2022.
The latest visit came almost five years after the Bradley Stoke school was graded ‘good’ across all categories of assessment in January 2017.
In his report, lead inspector Richard Vaughan concludes that Wheatfield “continues to be a good school” where children are “curious and keen to learn” and “participate fully in school life”.
Leaders and staff were judged to be “effective role models” and have “high expectations for pupils”.
Pupils at the school “feel valued and safe”, and the report goes on to say of them:
“They understand routines well and respect staff. As a result, pupils behave well around the school and in lessons. Pupils say that bullying is rare and confirm that it is not tolerated at school. They are confident adults will resolve any concerns they have.”
Inspectors note that pupils are provided with a range of experiences to support their wider development, saying:
“Some pupils are sports leaders or members of the school council. They enjoy activities to enhance the curriculum, such as sports, eco club and the wild wood.”
In a series of glowing comments about “what the school does well”, the school’s leaders are praised for:
- Prioritising reading and developing a phonics programme that is “effective and fosters a love of reading”
- Designing a rich and broad curriculum, having carefully considered what pupils must learn in the early years and in each subject
- Being ambitious for what pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities can achieve
- Providing pupils with a range of opportunities to enhance their personal development
Staff told the inspectors that they are “proud to work at the school” and this was put down to leaders creating “a culture among staff of mutual respect and trust”.
The arrangements for safeguarding were found to be effective, with regular staff training in place.
The sole area for improvement identified by the inspectors is that leaders should improve the use of assessment in all of the foundation subjects. They found that some pupils are missing important knowledge, and this is not being addressed through the curriculum.
The report says parents are supportive of the school. Typical comments include: “There is a lovely community feel within the school,” and “The school is an inspiring place to learn”.
The Parent View survey results recorded on the Ofsted website show that 96 percent of parents would currently recommend Wheatfield to another parent.
Headteacher Phil Winterburn, who joined the school in September 2017, said:
“This is an excellent outcome for the school. We have a wonderful team of dedicated staff, amazing children and outstanding support from our families. Wheatfield is a special place to learn and grow up, and we are pleased that this has been recognised by Ofsted.”
Chair of governors Jillian Cumming said:
“I am delighted that Ofsted have recognised the growth and development of our school since the last inspection. This is down to the hard work and commitment of our whole school community.”
More information and related links
- Ofsted reports for Wheatfield Primary School
- Schools in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)
- Primary School Admissions (The Journal)
