Wren School in Reading West Rated ‘Requires Improvement’ by Ofsted

The Wren School in Reading has been recently rated as ‘requiring improvement’ after an inspection by Ofsted, highlighting areas within the institution that need enhancement. Previously, it held a grade of Good during the inspection.

Led by Principal John Salberg, the school, situated in Reading west, operates under the governance of the Excalibur Academies Trust, overseen by CEO Nicky Edmondson and a board of trustees chaired by Toby Watson.

According to the Ofsted report, there are several areas identified for improvement.

• Firstly, in certain subjects, crucial knowledge and skills essential for student learning have not been adequately identified and organized. This has resulted in challenges for teachers in determining the appropriate content to teach and when to teach it. To address this issue, the school must focus on further developing its curriculum to ensure students acquire key knowledge and skills across all subjects and key stages, including the sixth form.
• Secondly, some teachers have been found to employ ineffective strategies in aiding student learning, leading to suboptimal learning outcomes. It is imperative for school leaders to ensure that staff are equipped with effective teaching methods to introduce new learning materials and assist students in understanding and retaining the information taught.
• Furthermore, the school has been criticized for not consistently providing appropriate support for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), hindering their ability to thrive academically. To rectify this, the school must offer additional training and support for staff to ensure that all students, including those with SEND, receive the necessary assistance for success.
• Lastly, a minority of students were noted to exhibit a lack of focus on their learning, attributed to inconsistent application of the school’s behavior policy by some teachers. It is recommended that the school continues to integrate and enforce the new behavior system, ensuring consistent implementation by all staff members.

In response to these findings, the Wren School is expected to take proactive measures to address the identified areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing the overall learning experience for its students.

For further details, you can access the complete inspection report for Wren School by Ofsted at the following link: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/142121