Wynstream School, located in Exeter, Devon, underwent an inspection on January 15 and 16, 2020. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, a decline from its previous outstanding grade. The quality of education is not meeting expectations, with pupils not achieving as well as they should due to gaps in their knowledge. After leaving early years, some foundation subjects lack logical progression, hindering the development of pupils' knowledge and skills. Although plans are in place to enhance the curriculum, their implementation is not occurring swiftly enough, and leaders' ambitions are not yet realized.
Despite these challenges, pupils exhibit good behavior and positive attitudes towards learning, enjoying their time at school. Attendance is high, and pupils report that bullying is not a significant issue, although some older students may not treat each other kindly online. The school serves as a community hub, fostering strong relationships between staff, pupils, and families. Parents appreciate the support they receive, and pupils trust their teachers.
The inspection revealed that the quality of education has declined since the last inspection, with leaders and governors not acting quickly enough to address this decline. In subjects like modern languages, geography, and music, the organization of learning is inadequate, which affects pupils' learning, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. While the curriculum for writing and mathematics is better organized, the reading curriculum requires significant improvement. Some pupils in key stage two struggle with reading due to challenging books that do not align with their skills, leading to a lack of fluency and confidence.
The physical education curriculum is a notable strength, with pupils achieving success in various sports, including a national championship in girls' futsal. The early years provision is effective, with children engaging in stimulating activities that build on their existing knowledge. Staff are dedicated to fostering a love of reading among young learners, and recent changes in the approach to early reading show promising signs of improvement.
Staff morale is high, with strong support for newly qualified teachers and a focus on staff well-being. The safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders providing robust support for vulnerable pupils and ensuring that staff are well-trained to recognize and respond to potential risks. Pupils feel safe at school, and leaders have worked diligently to educate them and their families about online safety.
To improve, leaders must enhance the quality of education by organizing the content of foundation subjects more effectively and ensuring that pupils acquire and retain knowledge throughout their time at school. The reading curriculum needs restructuring to facilitate better knowledge building and skill development. Additionally, leaders should ensure that vocabulary instruction is effective, enabling pupils to understand and use new words confidently. Training for curriculum leaders is essential to equip them with the skills needed to support subject development. Governors must also deepen their understanding of the national curriculum to help create an ambitious educational environment for pupils. Overall, while Wynstream School has strengths, significant work is needed to address the areas requiring improvement and to fulfill its potential as a high-quality educational institution.
