Knowl Hill School

Emergency inspection school report Knowl Hill School School Lane, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0JN

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Reason for inspection

This unannounced inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education because responses in Ofsted’s latest Point in Time survey raised concerns about pupils’ behaviour and the school’s approach to dealing with poor behaviour.

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Conclusions

The management of pupils’ welfare, health and safety is inadequate. The school’s provision for the overall development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is also inadequate. Much of the inadequacy stems from the ineffectiveness of the school’s policies and procedures to promote good behaviour and pupils’ personal development and attitudes.

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Conclusions

Senior leaders are aware of the need to improve behaviour. Discussions with senior teachers showed that the school has started the process of changing its policies and procedures for managing behaviour. Some school documentation is in the process of being updated. The school has an adequate procedure, through a dedicated computer program, to record and analyse incidents of poor behaviour. Previously, however, there has been no systematic and detailed analysis of patterns of behaviour to inform whole-school strategies to improve it. Serious incidents have been recorded appropriately. New procedures are due to be introduced at the beginning of the week following the inspection. Staff have received a presentation about the new arrangements. Pupils told the inspector that they were also looking forward to the planned changes, which had been explained to them.

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Conclusions

Discussions with pupils show that behaviour is currently inadequate. Pupils spoke about teachers’ inconsistency in the application of sanctions and school policies. Although pupils said that they generally felt safe, they had negative views about behaviour, commenting on rough behaviour around the school and frequent disruption to lessons and learning. They spoke about different types of bullying that occurred including name calling, the use of racist and homophobic comments, and sometimes more violent behaviours. During the inspection some rough behaviour was observed in corridors and some disrespectful attitudes were noted. Staff have very occasionally used pupil restraint to manage certain situations, but there has been no specific training for staff in how to use such procedures. Pupils mentioned that there are some areas of the building, before and during the school day, where they feel less safe.

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Conclusions

Appointment procedures and the required checks on staff before appointment are adequate and the information is appropriately recorded on the single central register. Although staff have received training in child protection and are aware that they must be alert to signs of child abuse, their understanding of how to deal with these matters is inconsistent. There is no clear written school procedure for staff to follow, especially if there are allegations against senior staff. Emergency inspection: Knowl Hill School, 30 January 2014 2 of 6

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Conclusions

The school has improved its approaches to risk assessments, which are adequate to maintain overall health and safety, fire risk and pupils’ outside visits. However, there are weaknesses. Risk assessments have identified that some areas of the school are too untidy, but this has not been rectified. Parts of the school remain very untidy and present health and safety risks, as well as being ‘uninviting’ as teaching and learning areas.

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Conclusions

There are adequate numbers of staff who have up-to-date first aid training. There are enough first aid kits around the school, but not all of these are in good order. Written procedures are not clear enough about first aid responsibilities, how to ensure hygienic procedures, for example when dealing with body fluids and blood, and when to place an emergency call.

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Conclusions

The inspector’s discussions with pupils indicated that lessons in citizenship adequately covered many aspects of the broader requirements of the regulations about pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. While there are adequate opportunities for pupils to take on additional responsibilities, their concern about behaviour and attitudes shows that the school is not effective in promoting respect, self-esteem and tolerance of others’ beliefs and views.

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Ensure that pupils are enabled to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence paragraph 5(a)(i) Enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law paragraph 5(a)(ii) Encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality in which the school is situated and to society more widely paragraph 5(a)(iii))

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Assist pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures, in a way that promotes tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions paragraph 5(a)(v)

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Encourage pupils to respect the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs paragraph 5(a)(vi)

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Ensure arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school and that these arrangements have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State paragraph 7

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Ensure that there is a written policy to promote good behaviour amongst pupils which sets out the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupils misbehaving, and that this policy is implemented effectively paragraph 9

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Ensure that there is an effective anti-bullying strategy in place and that it is paragraph 10 Emergency inspection: Knowl Hill School, 30 January 2014 3 of 6

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

being implemented Ensure that there a written policy which complies with relevant health and safety laws and it is being implemented paragraph 11

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Ensure that there a written policy on first aid and that it is implemented paragraph 14 Ensure school staff are deployed in such a way as to ensure the proper supervision of pupils paragraph 15 Emergency inspection: Knowl Hill School, 30 January 2014 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Daniel Towl HMI, Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Knowl Hill School, in Pirbright, Surrey, is an independent day special school.  It was founded in 1984 to accept up to 67 boys and girls with specific learning difficulties, principally dyslexia. Pupils may also have dyspraxia, attention deficits or autism, for example Asperger’s syndrome.  The school is registered to admit pupils aged from seven to 16 years old. There are currently 65 pupils on roll aged from 10 to 16 years.  There are 54 pupils who have a statement of special educational needs. Emergency inspection: Knowl Hill School. 30 Janaury 2014 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 125436 Inspection number 434029 DfE registration number 936/6554 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005. Type of school Special School School status Independent day school Age range of pupils 7–16 Years Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 65 Proprietor Knowl Hill Foundation Chair Mrs Norma Todd Headteacher Mr J Dow-Grant Date of previous school inspection 22 May 2012 Termly fees (day pupils) £5,263 Telephone number 01483 797032 Email address info@knowlhill.org.uk Emergency inspection: Knowl Hill School. 30 Janaury 2014 6 of 6

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

inspects to 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. Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille,

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School details

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School details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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