A SECONDARY school has been praised for ‘positive’ improvements made by education watchdogs.
Smith’s Wood Academy was visited by Ofsted during its third monitoring visit since the school was judged to require special measures in 2023.
In a letter to principal Steve Huntington, His Majesty’s Inspector Stuart Clarkson said: “Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the school to no longer be judged as requiring special measures.”
The school had previously been criticised for some poor behaviour, but Mr Clarkson noted: “You have continued to work particularly effectively to further improve behaviour around school and in lessons.
“Significantly, pupils, staff and an increasing number of parents say there is a noticeable improvement in behaviour overall.
“Pupils say they attend school more because they want to learn and they have better opportunities to learn in lessons.”
The school had the most improved attendance in the whole of Birmingham local authority last year and was the seventh most improved in England.
The letter added: “Developing from the last monitoring inspection, you have expanded the leadership team for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
“You continue a rapid focus to address the key area of how teachers are adapting the learning to meet the needs of all pupils.
“Building from the last monitoring inspection, the English department and other staff, have worked effectively to develop a culture of wider reading in pupils, along with supporting pupils in key stage 3 who are at the earliest stages of reading.
“However, you also know there is further work to support pupils in key stage 4 who are at the earliest stages of reading.”
Other areas Ofsted were pleased with included safeguarding, staff recruitment, careers education and the support provided by Fairfax multi-academy trust, of which Smith’s Wood Academy is a part.
Steve said: “I am obviously pleased that the continuous school improvement journey that the whole community of Smith’s Wood Academy has embarked upon is being positively recognised.
“The whole staff body is committed to working tirelessly to ensure that the pupils that attend this school get the education they deserve and can be proud of their local school.
“We are thankful to the increasing number of parents who are working with us in a positive way.”
