Pupils enjoy days full of learning adventures at Woodside Academy. Teachers make sure there is a calm, caring atmosphere where pupils feel safe and confident to be themselves and develop their unique personalities. Leaders are unrelentingly ambitious for pupils’ learning and personal development. They ensure there is a superb range of activities, clubs and experiences which are adapted to meet the wide range of pupils’ needs here. The ‘Woodside Challenge’ programme is successful in helping pupils learn important skills such as how to get help if they become lost. Pupils’ behaviour in lessons is impeccable. They become completely absorbed because they understand exactly what they are supposed to be learning. Staff are exceptionally skilled in judging how to give pupils time to refocus when their needs require this without letting them off the hook. Bullying is rare, and pupils feel confident about how leaders deal with it. Some pupils are ‘positivity ambassadors’. They play a valuable role in creating a positive culture where any form of unkind or hurtful behaviour is not tolerated. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly appreciative of how well staff understand their children and enable them to thrive. Some commented how their child’s life has been transformed for the better since attending Woodside.