Benjamin College

Benjamin College Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

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DfE registration number 826/6042 Unique reference number (URN) 135805 Inspection number 404643 Inspection dates 12 July 2012 Reporting inspector John Gush 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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090137 Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

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Purpose and scope of the inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005. 1,2,

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Purpose and scope of the inspection

The inspection was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection.

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Information about the school

Benjamin College opened in 2008. It provides secondary education for students living in residential accommodation provided by Benjamin UK Limited. The college was registered in February 2009. It is registered for 20 students aged between 12 and 18 years. Currently, there are four students on roll. At the moment, none are receiving their education at the college but are taught by the college’s teachers in the residential accommodation.

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Information about the school

Students are funded by their placing local authorities, which include London boroughs and counties in the Midlands and south of England. Almost all students have a history of academic underachievement as well as social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Students’ placement is often for less than half a term because they move into mainstream or other education provision or they no longer live in the company’s accommodation.

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Information about the school

The college aims to ‘provide a consistent and caring environment in which students can develop their full academic, personal and social potential’.

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Context of the inspection

The last full education inspection of the college was in December 2010 and the last progress monitoring inspection was in September 2011. At that progress monitoring inspection, the college was judged to be in breach of the regulations covering security arrangements for the premises and grounds and ventilation in the classroom.

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Context of the inspection

A satisfactory action plan was submitted in February 2012. This inspection was undertaken to evaluate the progress made by the college in fulfilling the action plan. No lessons were seen during this visit as none of the students on roll are currently receiving their education in the college.

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Context of the inspection

1 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/32/contents . 2 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/18/contents . Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

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action plan

The college has made inadequate progress in implementing its action plan. This is because it continues to fail to meet one of the regulatory requirements for independent schools identified in the last report and it now fails to meet two more regulations.

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action plan

In an attempt to rectify the weaknesses identified at the last inspection, the college has recently moved its classroom into the main building. Access to this room is through the main building and good security measures to protect students are provided. Regulation 23(d) is met.

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action plan

However, the new classroom, originally built as a conservatory, has inadequate ventilation especially in view of its propensity to become very hot on a sunny day. In addition, the room is used as the utility room for the residential property where laundering is carried out. It is also the only route for people to access the secure garden. Both of these activities will interrupt students’ education. The size of the room is only adequate to accommodate two students and so cannot accommodate either the current number of students on roll or the number of students for whom the school is registered. The room is not being used at present.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

As a result of this inspection, the school must take action to meet The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 3 (‘the Regulations’), as follows:  ensure that where the school premises are used for a purpose other than conducting the school, they are organised in such a way that the health, safety and welfare of students are safeguarded and their education is not interrupted by other users (paragraph 23 (e))  ensure that, having regard to the number, age and needs (including any special needs and disability) of students, all classrooms are appropriate in size to allow effective teaching, and no areas of the school compromise health or safety (paragraph 23 (i))  ensure that the lighting, heating and ventilation in the classrooms and other parts of the school are satisfactory and have regard to the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 (paragraph 23 (o)).

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

3 www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/1997/contents/made . Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

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School details

Type of school Special school for students with behavioural, social and emotional difficulties

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School details

Number on roll (full-time pupils) Boys: 1 Girls: 0 Total: 1

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School details

Number on roll (part-time pupils) Boys: 0 Girls: 3 Total: 3

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School details

Number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs Boys: 0 Girls: 0 Total: 1

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School details

Number of pupils who are looked after Boys: 1 Girls: 3 Total: 4

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