Everyone talks about the importance of being in the ‘Woodlands family’. This is a happy school. Staff and their pupils get along well and staff want the very best outcomes for pupils. Pupils have often had some disruption in their learning before joining Woodlands, and some have displayed negative behaviours in the past. Staff in this school believe that every pupil deserves a fresh start. They understand how to support pupils’ social and emotional needs well. As a result, once pupils join Woodlands, their behaviour improves quickly. Bullying at the school is rare. Older pupils are well prepared for life after school and can access a range of relevant qualifications. There are many exciting opportunities including attending sporting events and visiting local places of interest. The school is working hard with providers to broaden work experience opportunities. Leaders have recently reviewed the curriculum. Teachers know the important knowledge that pupils need to learn. However, in some subjects the curriculum does not flow as well as it needs to from the primary to the secondary phase. Reading is important in this school, but the school’s strategies to teach reading are not as effective as they need to be to enable all pupils to read fluently.