Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane is an outstanding school located in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The school has demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in leadership and management, teaching quality, personal development, behavior, welfare, and pupil outcomes. The leadership team has established a strong culture of achievement and high aspirations, which significantly impacts pupils' outcomes. The school has successfully transitioned from a previous rating of good to outstanding, with leaders proactively identifying and addressing any weaknesses.
The professional development opportunities provided to staff through the multi-academy trust have contributed to the continuous improvement of teaching quality. As a result, pupils are achieving very well across all key stages and subjects. The curriculum changes implemented for reading have proven successful, with children developing a keen interest in books and demonstrating strong reading accuracy and fluency through effective phonics teaching.
In the early years, children receive a strong start, with high-quality interactions from adults that foster rapid language and communication development. Positive relationships between staff and pupils create an environment where pupils understand the high expectations set for their work and behavior. Exemplary behavior and positive attitudes towards learning significantly contribute to the strong progress made by pupils. Attendance has improved, with leaders working effectively with families to reduce persistent absenteeism.
While the school excels in many areas, there are opportunities to enhance pupils' reading development across various subjects. Leaders are also focused on refining curriculum plans for foundation subjects to ensure that pupils build on their prior learning more effectively. The leadership team is committed to ensuring that new plans for the foundation curriculum deepen pupils' knowledge and understanding.
The governance of the school is robust, with trust leaders actively involved in monitoring and supporting school performance. The academy council effectively utilizes national data to challenge school leaders and maintain a focus on improvement. Safeguarding arrangements are thorough and well understood by staff, ensuring that pupils feel safe and secure in their learning environment.
The quality of teaching, learning, and assessment is outstanding, with consistent approaches to teaching core subjects. Teachers exhibit strong subject knowledge, providing clear explanations and challenging pupils' thinking. High expectations for pupils' learning and behavior are evident, leading to high-quality work and collaborative learning opportunities. Feedback provided to pupils is timely and constructive, enabling them to understand how to improve their work.
Pupils' personal development and welfare are prioritized, with a positive school culture that promotes safety, respect, and responsibility. Pupils take pride in their school and actively engage in responsibilities, contributing to the school community. The curriculum effectively teaches fundamental British values, and a range of extracurricular activities enriches pupils' learning experiences.
Pupil outcomes have continued to improve, with high attainment in reading, writing, and mathematics across key stages. Disadvantaged pupils achieve at least as well as their peers, and the school has successfully transformed its reading curriculum, leading to increased enthusiasm for reading among pupils. The early years provision is also outstanding, with a focus on language development and effective phonics instruction, ensuring children make strong progress.
Overall, Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane exemplifies excellence in education, with a commitment to continuous improvement and a focus on the holistic development of its pupils. The school is well-positioned to maintain its outstanding status and further enhance the educational experiences of its students.
