Westwood with Iford Primary School is delighted to share the outcome of its recent Ofsted inspection. Inspectors judged the school to be ‘Good’ in all areas, recognising the significant and sustained improvements made since the school’s predecessor was placed in special measures in 2021.
The Wiltshire school, which is part of Palladian Academy Trust, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Since joining the Trust, Westwood with Iford has benefitted from targeted support and close collaboration with Fitzmaurice Primary School, helping to strengthen leadership, curriculum design and the overall quality of education.
Inspectors highlighted the school as a calm, happy and safe place to learn, where pupils thrive, enjoy coming to school and benefit from a broad, rich curriculum including music, outdoor education and performance opportunities. The report praises the high expectations of staff, the strong behaviour and attitudes of pupils, and the inclusive culture that helps every child to succeed.
“We are incredibly proud of our school community and this Ofsted outcome,” said Heather Saunders, Head of School. “It reflects the dedication and passion of our staff, pupils and families. We have been on a challenging but hugely rewarding journey of improvement, and I am thrilled that inspectors recognised the strength and warmth of our school.”
Inspectors noted that pupils are ‘proud of their school,’ show kindness and respect, and enjoy a wealth of enrichment experiences such as charity work, environmental projects and community events. The early years provision was also rated ‘Good’, with children described as getting off to a strong start, benefitting from a language-rich curriculum and strong support.
The school’s teaching of reading was identified as a key strength, with pupils becoming fluent and confident readers and parents actively involved in supporting their children’s literacy from the earliest stages.
“This result is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved at Westwood with Iford,” said Simon Futcher, Executive Headteacher. “It confirms that our focus on high-quality teaching, inclusive values and a strong partnership with Fitzmaurice and the Trust has made a real difference. We are excited about the future.”
Leaders were also pleased that the areas identified as next steps by inspectors had already been identified by the school.
The school also received praise for its safeguarding practices and its commitment to staff wellbeing and development throughout a period of significant change.
The staff and leadership team extend their sincere thanks to their pupils, families and Trust colleagues for their unwavering support throughout the school’s improvement journey. They look forward to celebrating this success with the school community.
Donna Tandy, CEO of the Palladian Academy Trust, said, “I am delighted for the whole school community that the report recognises their strengths, the strong leadership and the excellent and equitable opportunities on offer for the pupils. We are proud to celebrate this report with them and delighted that inspectors noted the positive impact being part of Palladian Academy Trust has on pupils and colleagues.”
