Wallbrook Primary Academy, in Coseley, has been praised after earning a judgement of good in all areas from Ofsted, including outstanding for leadership and management and early years provision.
The Academy, part of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, was praised for its ‘warm welcome’ and ‘strong sense of community’, where pupils come into school ‘smart, feeling safe and ready to learn’. Pupils behave ‘very well’ and are ‘proud’ to attend Wallbrook.
In early years, which was graded outstanding, ‘children get off to a flying start’. Its curriculum is praised for being ‘broad and highly ambitious’ and ‘carefully designed’ to suit children and match their needs. ‘Engaging’ activities are selected to match what children need and display ‘positive behaviours’ as a result of teachers’ guidance and support. Despite being very early in their school journey, inspectors praise how ‘happy, independent and confident’ children are.
Leaders in school and across the Trust apply an ‘ambitious and meaningful thematic curriculum which pupils thoroughly enjoy following’. Staff are praised for having ‘high expectations of what pupils can achieve’ and widely demonstrate their passion for the success of all pupils.
Teachers are ‘skilled at noticing when pupils fall behind’ or require additional support and are able to effectively ‘adapt the delivery of the curriculum’ so children are able to ‘catch up quickly’, ‘remember more’ and ‘deepen their understanding over time’. Pupils’ love of reading is highlighted as a prevalent area of strength, which pupils practice regularly and have a large selection of high-quality books to choose from.
Lorna McGregor, Principal at Wallbrook Primary Academy, expressed her pride in the school’s achievements since it joined Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust in 2021, commenting: “Getting an Ofsted rating of good with outstanding features means so much to everyone at Wallbrook. It reflects all the hard work that everyone across our school community has put in over the years since converting to the Trust, including the invaluable support from our families, who we could not have done this without. To hear that they appreciate the support we give their children and the positive relationships we have built together fills us with great pride.
“This accomplishment serves as a significant milestone for how far the school has come and our continued efforts to ensure that pupils have every opportunity to thrive and succeed. We are committed to maintaining this standard of excellence and look for ways to make our school even better for our bright minds of tomorrow.”
Leaders and governance are commended for their ‘shared vision’ of the Academy and the ‘forensic approach’ taken to establish what works well across the board, demonstrating a ‘tireless, successful drive for improvement’. This ensures that staff across the Academy focus on what is most important for successful delivery and impact.
Sir Mark Grundy, CEO at Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, commented: “I am delighted with Wallbrook Primary Academy’s recent success, which is a testament to all their hard work and dedication. This is the first good rating for the school in many years, after its previous inadequate rating as Wallbrook Primary school.
“This is a school which truly embodies excellence in education, offering an innovative, nurturing environment that cultivates curiosity and an ownership of learning in pupils, empowering them to reach their true potential. As part of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, we are committed to providing each child with an outstanding education and are proud to support Wallbrook Primary Academy in their pursuit of excellence.”
Ofsted commends the ‘rich variety of experiences’ offered to pupils which open their eyes to the possibilities while supporting their ‘wider development’. This includes opportunities to take on active roles within the Academy including school councillors and junior librarians. External visits and experiences involve visiting artists, authors and musicians, such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
The school, on Bradleys Lane, has 274 pupils on roll.
Our latest Ofsted report can be found and read here: Ofsted reports – Wallbrook Primary Academy
