School given good report

WESTWOOD High School has been deemed good by Ofsted inspectors after rising from a satisfactory rating four years ago.

The independent Muslim faith school, based in Kelsall Street, provides secondary education to 122 girls aged 11 to 16 and a mixed gender kindergarten to 35 children aged between three and six.

Inspectors visited the school and rated the leadership and management of the school as outstanding.

Balanced

The report said teachers were inspired to do their best for pupils and the school ethos promoted the "highest standards of behaviour, care and educational achievement".

The curriculum was described as 'broad and balanced' and the quality of teaching was rated as good.

Teachers prepared interesting lessons and encouraged students to discuss their ideas, and teaching in Years 10 and 11 was deemed to be of a very high standard.

However, inspectors felt the rate of progress for Year 7 to Year 9 pupils was more variable as teachers did not check their students' understanding of work as much as older pupils.

The personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils was classed as outstanding with older students having a clear sense of right and wrong.

Values

And, although students had a strong commitment to their faith and culture, older pupils fully understood that people in British society may hold different views and values that were just as valid as their own.

The inspection team felt that the school's early years provision was good, as was the outcome for pupils who left the school as they were fully prepared for their next steps.

Westwood High is not yet an outstanding school because of the slower progress made by pupils in years seven to nine.

And more detailed plans were needed to help drive improvements forward, including identifying teachers who are responsible for improvement within the school.