Woodlands is a happy school. One comment made by a parent expressed the views of many others: ‘I am happy he goes to Woodlands, and I know he is too.’ Staff care for the pupils. This begins at the start of the day when they welcome pupils into school with a warm smile. Staff teach pupils how to manage their behaviour successfully. Pupils learn about safe and unsafe behaviour. As a result, the school is calm and orderly. If pupils are unkind to each other, they know that staff will sort it out quickly. Leaders are ambitious for the pupils and what they can achieve. This starts in Reception when staff talk to children about what they want to be when they grow up. Staff teach pupils how to become responsible, active citizens. They do this by giving pupils responsibilities in the classroom, such as emptying the recycling bins. Pupils study a range of subjects. They make good progress in most subjects. However, teachers lack sufficient subject knowledge in some subjects. This means that sometimes the advice they give to pupils to improve their learning is not precise enough. This limits pupils’ progress. Pupils value the many activities and trips the school offers. This includes looking after the animals or growing vegetables at the farm. Students in the sixth form have benefited from a residential trip to Devon. Other pupils have taken part in a music performance at Birmingham Town Tall.