Wenlock CofE Academy

About Wenlock CofE Academy

Wenlock CofE Academy was rated Inadequate in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, a downgrade from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The inspection found quality of education and leadership and management both Inadequate, while personal development and behaviour and attitudes were judged Requires Improvement. This places the school in a challenging position within Luton, where seven of the 46 primary schools currently hold an Outstanding rating. On the most informative exam metric available, just 33% of Wenlock’s pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year. That is nearly half the local authority average of 62%, and it ranks the school 37th out of 37 primary schools in Luton on this measure. No pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, and only 6% reached the higher standard in maths alone. The school’s national percentile of 96% on this metric places it firmly in the bottom 50 of all primary schools in England.

Looking more closely at the individual subject scores, reading was the strongest area: 58% of pupils reached the expected standard and 11% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 101. Writing and maths were weaker, with 44% and 41% meeting the expected standard respectively, and just 2% reaching the higher standard in writing. The maths average score was 98, below the national benchmark of 100. Progress scores are not available for any subject, so it is difficult to assess how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The school has 324 pupils on roll against a capacity of 360, suggesting some spare places, and a third of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre, 1.6 km away, which may be a consideration for parents weighing their options.

Despite the academic challenges, Wenlock CofE Academy offers a range of facilities including art studios, a gymnasium, music rooms, a forest school, a library and a chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, swimming, tennis, dance and rounders, and there are clubs such as art, eco, coding, gardening, book club and science club. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, visual impairment, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. As a Church of England primary for ages 7 to 11, it may suit families who value a faith-based setting and are comfortable with a school that is actively working through an Inadequate Ofsted rating. The headteacher is Olivia Burke.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Wenlock CofE Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents