Cambian New Elizabethan School

New Elizabethan School Independent school emergency inspection report

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DfE registration number 885/6021 Unique Reference Number (URN) 117030 Inspection number 386013 Inspection dates 2 November 2011 Reporting inspector Jane Melbourne HMI achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you

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give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’. Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann’s Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090136 Independent school emergency inspection report

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Purpose and scope of the inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted at the request of the Registration Authority. It was conducted under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about the school

The New Elizabethan School is a co-educational independent day school which opened in January 2007 and provides education for pupils aged four to 16 years of age. The school is registered for 100 pupils and there are currently 26 pupils on roll. Nine pupils attend part time. The school also runs a fortnight’s holiday club in the summer vacation. The school opened a nursery for children under five years of age in the summer term of 2010, but this was subsequently closed in the autumn term 2010. The school is situated in the village of Hartlebury in Worcestershire. It caters for pupils who have found learning and school attendance difficult. There are five pupils who have a statement of special educational needs.

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Information about the school

At the time of the last Ofsted inspection in June 2010, the school was required to: put in place a framework by which pupil progress could be evaluated; prepare and implement written policies to prevent bullying and on first aid; maintain attendance registers in accordance with regulations; maintain a single central register of all volunteers and staff who work at the school which fully complies with Department for Education requirements and provide sufficient washrooms for staff and pupils.

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Reason for visit

The purpose of the visit was to investigate three complaints received about the school. During the visit, the inspector also assessed the school’s progress towards compliance since the last inspection. No arrangement was made to speak with pupils during the visit or to tour the main school building. The Department for Education requested this to be an unannounced visit.

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Conclusions

This inspection found there to be 18 unmet independent school regulations, including some of the unmet regulatory requirements from the last inspection which had not been addressed. Staffing at the school has been unstable since the last inspection. There has been a high turnover of both teaching and administrative staff.

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Conclusions

There are currently around a third of the pupils who attend on a part-time basis. All pupils are of compulsory school age. The school does not ensure that all of these pupils receive a full-time education as it fails to liaise sufficiently closely with parents who opt to home-school their children on the remaining days, nor does it liaise with any other maintained school named on any pupil’s statement of special educational needs. Independent school emergency inspection report At the last inspection, the school was required to put in place a framework by which pupils’ performance could be evaluated by reference to the school’s own aims or by national norms. The school has created a new assessment policy and framework, but has not fully implemented it. Also at the last inspection, the school was required to ensure there were shower facilities as required by the regulations. No adaptation has been made to the school accommodation since the last inspection and, therefore, the

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Conclusions

school does not fully meet the regulation regarding washrooms. The school has prepared and implemented satisfactory written policies on preventing bullying and on first aid. It maintains attendance registers in accordance with regulations. No single central register of checks on the suitability of staff could be made available to the inspector during this visit.

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Conclusions

The school’s policy to promote good behaviour is not implemented effectively. This is evidenced in the very high volume of incidents and accidents at the school in the last and current academic year and the school’s inconsistency in dealing with them as evident from the records. The school is not adequately following procedures for admissions.

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Conclusions

In investigating the complaint from the former governor, this inspection found that the governing body had been disbanded in summer term 2010. In investigating the complaints from the former parents, this inspection found that the school was failing to adequately protect the welfare, health and safety of pupils, that there were inadequate arrangements for safeguarding and that the security arrangements for the school were insufficiently rigorous.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

As a result of this inspection visit, the school must take action to meet The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 1 (‘the Regulations’), as follows:

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 ensure the curriculum give pupils of compulsory school age a full time education with experience in the following areas of learning: linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical, and aesthetic and creative (paragraph 2(2)(a))  provide a framework by which pupil performance can be evaluated by reference to either the school's own aims, as provided to parents, and/or by national norms (paragraph 3(g))  ensure the arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils at the school are effective and have regard to guidance issued by the secretary of state. Ensure that all references confirming staff’s suitability to work with young people and a declaration of physical and mental fitness to work with young people are received prior to commencement of

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

1 www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031910.htm Independent school emergency inspection report employment. Follow the correct procedure where safeguarding concerns have been raised about a member of staff and notify the Independent Safeguarding Authority accordingly. Ensure staff are aware of their duties in this respect (paragraph 7)  ensure that good behaviour is promoted amongst pupils and that sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupils misbehaving are clear and consistently implemented (paragraph 9)  ensure staff training in respect of safeguarding children and safe recruitment is up to date and there are clear procedures for child protection in place in the case of any disclosures or allegations by or against staff or pupils. Assess any current risks to pupils and put into immediate place effective measures to ensure pupils’ health and safety which have regard to the DfE guidance (paragraph 11)  record the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

(paragraph 16)  maintain an admission register in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (paragraph 17)  check that no member of staff is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (ISA barred list) or that no member of staff carries out work, or intends to carry out work, at the school in contravention of any direction made under section 142 of the 2002 Act, or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction (a List 99 check) (paragraph 19(2)(a))  carry out appropriate checks, including obtaining full references, and obtain certification of medical fitness on all members of staff (paragraph 19(2)(b))  ensure an enhanced criminal bureau (CRB) check has been made by the proprietor in respect of any member of staff appointed to a position at the

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

school and ensure that the enhanced CRB certificate which is the subject of the application is obtained before or as soon as is practicable after the person’s appointment (paragraph 19(2)(c))  ensure that checks as outlined in paragraph 19(2)(b) are made on individuals prior to appointment (paragraph 19(3))  ensure appropriate checks are carried out for any incoming members of a governing body (paragraph 21)  maintain a legible up-to-date single central register in accordance with current regulations (paragraph 22(2)) and ensure it contains all the relevant information (paragraph 22(3))  ensure there are adequate security arrangements in place for the grounds and buildings, including the main school building and the outside toilet block (paragraph 23(d)) Independent school emergency inspection report  make sure there are sufficient washrooms for staff and pupils, including facilities for pupils with special needs and disability, which take account of

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

regulations 3 and 4 of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 (paragraph 23(j))  provide safe outside space for pupils to play (paragraph 23(s))  ensure there is a procedure which is followed for written records to be kept of all complaints, indicating whether they were resolved at the preliminary stage or whether they proceeded to a panel hearing (paragraph 25(j)). Independent school emergency inspection report

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School details

Number on roll (full-time pupils) Boys: 12 Girls: 5 Total: 17

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School details

Number on roll (part-time pupils) Boys: 6 Girls: 3 Total: 9

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School details

Number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs Boys: 3 Girls: 2 Total: 5

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School details

Number of pupils who are looked after Boys: 0 Girls: 1 Total: 1

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School details

Address of school Quarry Bank The Village Kidderminster DY11 7TE

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School details

Email address info@newelizabethanschool.org.uk

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