We are delighted to share that Ofsted has commended Wisewood Nursery and Primary School following our latest inspection, recognising the strong standards in our early years provision, inclusion practice, and pupils' personal development and wellbeing.

Our school was inspected on 30 June 2026 under Ofsted's renewed inspection framework, which no longer gives schools a single overall effectiveness judgement. Instead, schools are assessed across a range of areas, each rated from 'urgent improvement' through to 'exceptional'.

Inspectors found that we reach a strong standard in early years, inclusion, and personal development and wellbeing, and an expected standard in achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, and leadership and governance. Safeguarding standards were also confirmed as met.

Inspectors praised the culture our leaders have built for the school's most vulnerable pupils, noting that provision "has made a marked difference", with all pupils arriving "ready to learn", and leaving "the school well prepared for their next steps".

Other key highlights from the report include:

  • Early years: Children are "highly engaged, increasingly independent and very well prepared for their next stage of learning", with staff who plan their interactions with purpose from Nursery through to Reception.
  • Inclusion: Leaders have "built a culture in which each child is valued and included" and "identify needs early and accurately, whether children join in the early years or later".
  • Personal development and wellbeing: Leaders were recognised for building "an ambitious programme that reaches well beyond the classroom and makes a real difference to how pupils grow up". Pupils also "speak thoughtfully about living a healthy life, mentioning a good diet, exercise, time away from screens and looking after their mental health".
  • Achievement: Pupils' combined attainment in reading, writing and mathematics has been above the national average over time, and pupils "do especially well in the Year 4 multiplication tables check".
  • Attendance and behaviour: Pupils "are courteous and considerate" and "warm relationships between staff and pupils set the tone". Persistent absence is reducing as leaders "spot patterns early and work with parents and carers, the local authority and other partners to remove the barriers that keep pupils away".
  • Curriculum: Our approach to teaching was noted as "well-considered" and "consistent", with the curriculum described as "ambitious and, in many places, rooted in pupils' own city and locality", giving "their learning real meaning".
  • Leadership and governance: Parents and carers are "overwhelmingly positive about the school", and leaders' "passion, ambition and values are infectious". The report also noted "the welcoming, family atmosphere that leaders have created and the trust that exists between home and school".

When commenting on what it's like to be a pupil at our school, the report echoes our values of being brave, honest, kind, grateful and unique. It states, "there is a warm, family feel to the school" and celebrates how pupils learn and play side by side, that new pupils make friends straight away and how older pupils take pride in setting good examples to younger pupils.

Claire Austin, Head of School, said:

"We are incredibly proud of what the report says about our school and the community we have built together. Inspectors have recognised what we see every day: a school where every child is known, valued and given the support they need to succeed both academically and personally.

"I want to thank our brilliant staff for their hard work and care, our pupils for the pride they take in their learning, and our parents and carers for the trust they place in us every day."

Lee Barber, CEO of INOVA Multi-Academy Trust, added:

"This report is a fantastic endorsement of the hard work, dedication and ambition shown by everyone at Wisewood. Inspectors have recognised the school's caring culture, high expectations and commitment to ensuring every child succeeds. We are particularly pleased that the report highlights the strength of collaboration across INOVA. School and trust staff work closely together, sharing expertise and supporting one another, and it is rewarding to see the positive impact of that partnership recognised. Congratulations to the entire Wisewood community on this well-deserved outcome."

To view the full report, click here.