Following the short inspection of Willows Academy on 26 February 2019, it has been confirmed that the school continues to be good. The leadership team has effectively maintained the quality of education since the last inspection in March 2015. The school’s motto, believe to achieve, reflects a culture of aspiration shared among leaders, governors, staff, pupils, parents, and carers. Since the previous inspection, the school has built on its strengths, with strong leadership and effective support from Delta Academies Trust ensuring ongoing improvement.
The leadership team is dedicated to pupil success, fostering an environment where learning is meaningful and promotes independence and collaboration. Pupils are becoming confident learners who find learning exciting and motivating. They take pride in their work and consistently demonstrate hard work in lessons. The pupils are polite and enjoy their responsibilities within the school, participating in official roles that positively impact the school community.
The associate advisory board possesses a strong understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement, effectively holding leaders accountable. They utilize well-planned milestones from the school development plan to monitor progress towards improvement. The curriculum has been developed since the last inspection, with a focus on a mission curriculum that engages pupils through meaningful questions. Staff have identified essential skills for pupils to develop, such as understanding the wider world and caring for their community, leading to the introduction of learning characteristics like global guardian and community ambassador.
Pupils benefit from unique learning experiences, such as immersive activities that enhance their understanding of various subjects. The school has also made strides in involving parents in their children's learning, organizing workshops and events to encourage participation. However, some parents still express a desire for more opportunities to engage with the school community.
Safeguarding measures are effective, with regular training for staff and governors ensuring they are well-informed about best practices. Pupils feel safe and know there is always an adult available to talk to if they have concerns. They understand different types of bullying and feel confident that it is rare in their school. New pupils quickly feel welcomed and make friends, and they are educated on how to stay safe in various situations, including online.
The inspection focused on several key areas, including the teaching of phonics at key stage one, where improvements have been made. Current phonics teaching is strong, with effective training for all staff contributing to pupils' progress. The teaching of reading at key stage two has also improved, with pupils exposed to challenging texts that enhance their vocabulary and comprehension. Leaders recognize the need to continue developing access to engaging reading materials.
In the early years, outcomes have significantly improved, with a good level of development achieved by a proportion of children in line with national averages. Early years provision is becoming a strength, with staff adapting learning to meet children's interests and needs. Children demonstrate independence and resilience, engaging in well-planned activities that challenge them.
Next steps for the school include continuing to improve reading outcomes by providing motivating and challenging books and developing more opportunities for parental involvement in their children's learning. The inspection highlighted the school’s commitment to ongoing improvement and the positive impact of its leadership and community engagement.
