Celebrations as East Park Academy remains Outstanding

Staff and pupils at East Park Academy are celebrating after Ofsted confirmed that their school remains Outstanding.

Inspectors visited last month and, in their report published recently, found an 'inclusive school' which has 'high ambitions for everyone'. Pupils are supported to do their best and to feel happy, secure and successful.

Pupils 'make strong progress with their learning and achieve very well', with the school giving pupils a 'healthy outlook on education and life' and its eight values being woven into school life and building pupils’ feelings of self-worth.

Staff also help pupils to see the merit of daily acts of kindness, with pupils demonstrating 'positive and respectful behaviour'.

East Park 'benefits from high-quality leadership' which is 'well informed about what it does well and where to target further attention'.

Phonics teaching is 'delivered extremely well', with staff demonstrating 'strong subject knowledge that is refreshed regularly with additional training'. The school is quick to act, with success, if pupils need help to catch up.

Across the curriculum, the school has identified key subject knowledge and set this out in logical sequences, which helps pupils to connect new knowledge with earlier learning.

It also uses 'effective methods' to promote reading and other learning at home, and has a 'constructive partnership with parents and carers'. Consequently, pupils 'are well prepared for secondary school'.

Pupils with special educational needs or disabilities receive 'carefully tailored support', with staff ensuring 'all pupils access an ambitious curriculum that enables them to make strong progress'.

The school is described as ‘a safe place where staff put children’s safety and interests first', with many before and after school clubs offering pupils a wide range of different activities, enhancing classroom learning and introducing pupils to new things.

Meanwhile, the Manor Multi-Academy Trust has 'highly effective and robust systems' for gathering and checking information about the school’s work. Senior leaders have thought carefully about the decisions they make, including the professional development of staff. Staff 'value this and feel supported and guided in their work'.

Inspectors concluded that East Park Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its last inspection in 2019, which saw the school rated Outstanding.

Associate Headteacher Alan Rogers said: "We are proud to serve this community and deeply proud of everything reflected in the report.

“It stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of the staff, families and children of East Park. We are excited to lead the school into its next chapter and to contribute to the continued momentum and progress in education across Wolverhampton.”

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "This is an outstanding report which demonstrates the great lengths that East Park Academy goes to in order to give its pupils an excellent and enjoyable education. I would like to congratulate everyone at the school on their continuing success."

Data shows that 97% of schools in Wolverhampton are currently rated either Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, the highest ever.

Celebrating East Park’s Outstanding report are pupils with Amardip Samra, Head of School, Hayley Guest, CEO of Manor Multi-Academy Trust; Alan Rogers, Associate Headteacher and Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education.