Sent to Parents & Carers on 29/04/26

 

Ofsted Monitoring Inspection Report

I am writing to share with you the outcomes of our recent Ofsted monitoring inspection, which took place on 3rd and 4th March 2026. This is the first monitoring visit since the school was placed in special measures in June 2025.  Its purpose was to evaluate the progress we are making in addressing the areas identified for improvement.

I am pleased to say that the report recognises that leaders and trustees are taking effective action to improve the school, and that there are clear signs that our work is beginning to have a positive impact.

 

What is Going Well

The inspection highlights a number of important improvements:

  • behaviour and routines have improved significantly. Inspectors noted calmer movement around the school, more purposeful learning in lessons, and a substantial reduction in suspensions and internal truancy
  • attendance is beginning to improve, with more pupils attending regularly and increased punctuality due to clearer expectations and routines
  • leadership is strong and focused, with clear plans in place and effective support from the trust and the academy improvement board
  • safeguarding remains effective
  • personal development is improving, with a strengthened PSHE curriculum, a greater focus on respect and inclusion, and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities now available
  • early steps to improve SEND provision and reading support have been put in place, including enhanced identification processes and targeted interventions such as the reading “village”

These improvements reflect the hard work of our staff, the resilience of our students, and the support of our wider community.

 

Where We Must Improve Further

The report is clear that, while progress is being made, there is still more to do:

  • consistent behaviour standards must be embedded further, ensuring all staff feel supported and all pupils learn in a calm, respectful environment
  • support for pupils with SEND needs to be consistently strong across all lessons so that every student can access learning and achieve well
  • reading support, particularly in the early stages, must be more coherent, closely monitored, and consistently delivered
  • attendance remains too low overall, and we must continue to work with families to remove barriers to regular attendance
  • a culture of respect and inclusion must be strengthened further, ensuring all discriminatory language is challenged and all pupils feel confident to report concerns

 

Our Next Steps

We fully accept these findings and are already acting on them. Our priorities moving forward include:

  • embedding a clear and consistent behaviour policy, with ongoing staff training and support
  • strengthening teaching practice, particularly in adapting lessons for pupils with SEND
  • ensuring every child becomes a confident reader, with targeted and timely interventions
  • working closely with families to improve attendance and support pupils who need it most
  • continuing to build a culture of respect, belonging, and high expectations across the school

 

Working Together

Improving a school is a collective effort. We are determined to ensure that Westbourne Academy becomes a school our community can be truly proud of, and your continued support is vital in achieving this. You may view a copy of the Ofsted report here:

10433449 Westbourne Academy 139288 Final Pdf 1

I would like to thank you for your ongoing encouragement and partnership. Together, we will continue to drive the improvements needed to secure the very best outcomes for all our students.

Kind Regards

Mr M Higgon

Principal

 

Academy vision: Westbourne is an inclusive academy. We support all students, regardless of starting point, to achieve their potential and develop the skills necessary for employment and life.

Academy values: Be Safe, Be Thoughtful, Be Accountable and Be Respectful.

General queries to: wes-office@attrust.org.uk or 01473 742315