Wellington school celebrates moving out of Ofsted 'Requires Improvement' rating

Ercall Wood Academy, in Golf Links Lane, Wellington has swept the board after being judged as Good across all four judged areas of quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

The secondary comprehensive was given a previous overall inspection grade of Requires Improvement before its two day inspection in January, 2025.

Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools. Instead it gives a rating in four areas.

Principal Nicholas Murphy said on Facebook: “As Principal, I am incredibly proud of all involved in the recent Ofsted inspection.

“Ercall Wood Academy is a thriving academy where students are happy, and safe to be truly aspirational and achieve their dreams.

“Our values driven culture and commitment to the development of the whole child shone through throughout our inspection with high praise also given to curriculums and teachers ability to support all learners.

“All involved at Ercall Wood will continue to drive the academy onwards relentlessly guided by our values of Empower, Respect and Aspire.”

Ercall Wood Academy is part of the Learning Community Trust which runs more than a dozen school sites across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin.

Other secondary schools under its control include Hadley Learning Community, Charlton School, New Road Academy, and Burton Borough in Newport.

As well as praise, the Ofsted inspectors said there were things the school could do to further improve the way the curriculum is taught.

The inspectors said: “The implementation of the intended curriculum is not consistently embedded across subjects and classes.

“As a result, pupils do not build their knowledge as well as they could. The trust should ensure that teaching strategies are implemented effectively across subjects to ensure pupils learn over time and progress as well as possible through the curriculum.”