Setting

Mr James Boylan The Headteacher Heritage House School Cameron Road Chesham HP5 3BP

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No formal designation monitoring inspection of Heritage House School

Following my visit on 8 October 2014, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings.

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No formal designation monitoring inspection of Heritage House School

The inspection was a monitoring inspection carried out in accordance with no formal designation procedures and conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. The inspection was carried out in order to check how well leaders monitor the achievement, behaviour and safety of students on its roll taught by PACE, a private sector provider.

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Evidence

During this inspection, I scrutinised monitoring documents, attendance records and students’ assessment information. I also looked at governing body minutes, the single central register and correspondence between you, the local authority and PACE senior leaders. I met with you, the deputy headteacher and the headteacher of PACE secondary. I also met with the local authority school improvement manager. I visited the PACE secondary centre and spent some time in the students’ lessons.

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Evidence

Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time leaders’ monitoring of achievement, behaviour and safety of students’ taught by PACE teachers meets requirements. The achievement, behaviour and safety of these students are good.

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Context

Heritage House is an average-sized special school. All students have statements of special educational needs related to severe learning difficulties with associated Tribal Kings Orchard One Queen Street Bristol BS2 0HQ T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 311 5359 Email : christina.bannerman@tribalgroup.com complex needs, including those with a diagnosis of autism. The number on roll is currently 71. About a quarter of all students on roll are entitled to free school meals. A third of all students are from minority ethnic groups, with very few for whom English is an additional language.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Systems to keep PACE students safe meet requirements. Leaders routinely monitor the secondary provision run by PACE. Scheduled joint observations of teaching involving the PACE headteacher and Heritage House senior leaders take place at regular intervals. Additionally, the headteacher of Heritage House routinely conducts unannounced visits to lessons. Records of monitoring activity are maintained and any concerns arising are shared with the local authority, Heritage House governors and the headteacher of PACE.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Senior leaders check the attendance and behaviour of PACE students on a daily basis. Their attendance and behaviour are good. Weekly scheduled meetings between the deputy headteacher of Heritage House and the headteacher of PACE ensure a comprehensive exchange of information and checks on actions taken in relation to any previously expressed concerns.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Heritage House senior leaders collect and analyse PACE students’ assessment data, in relation to their aspirational targets, at regular intervals each term. Their achievement is good. Heritage House senior leaders are fully involved in reviews of PACE students’ individual education plans. The frequency of their monitoring and depth of their knowledge of each of the PACE students equip them extremely well to discharge their responsibilities and ensure that these students achieve well.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Education, the Chair of the Governing Body, and the Director of Children’s Service for Buckinghamshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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