The Pace Centre

Progress monitoring school report The Pace Centre

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Philip Green House, Coventon Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 9JL

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Overall outcome Independent school standards met

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Context of the inspection  This inspection was undertaken at the request of the registration authority for independent schools to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan relating to its intention to introduce Key Stage 3 provision from September 2015. The inspection was unannounced.  Following an initial material change inspection visit in September 2014, the school failed to meet 14 of the independent school standards in relation to its application to deliver Key Stage 3 education. The school submitted an action plan to the Department for Education (DfE) in January 2015 which required improvement.  The inspector was asked to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan and to check if the independent school standards are now met in relation to the provision of Key Stage 3 education.  The proprietor currently seeks a material change to the school's provision from

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September 2015 in terms of changing the age range from birth to 12 years to five to 14 years of age, and to continue to accommodate up to 74 pupils. The proposed change was considered during this inspection visit.

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Main findings Curriculum  The material change inspection in September 2014 found that the school did not submit a curriculum policy that reflected the curriculum to be provided to meet the specific needs of Key Stage 3 pupils. It also found that schemes of work and teaching resources were not available to support teaching and learning for these pupils. The proposed Key Stage 3 curriculum did not enable pupils to develop sufficient competence in the skills of speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy or to make good progress overall. Plans for pupils’ personal, social and health education (PSHE) were not in place. Preparations for the next stage of the pupils’ education and adult life, including careers education, were not in place. There was insufficient planning to ensure pupils were prepared for life in modern British society.  The school’s action plan indicated that it would produce a comprehensive curriculum

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policy, purchase commercial schemes of work, strengthen assessment procedures and develop mid-term curriculum plans, all specifically designed for Key Stage 3 pupils and building on the existing Key Stage 2 curriculum.  A new curriculum policy is now in place and new schemes of work and resources have been purchased. In addition, for the Key Stage 3 pupils with the most complex needs, staff have revised the literacy, numeracy and science programmes of study in order to meet pupils' learning and social needs accurately.  Staff have produced mid-term plans using the school’s ‘trans-disciplinary programme plan’ in order to structure individual learning experiences. This inspection found that all Monitoring report: The Pace Centre, 16 April 2015 2 of 7

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the required areas of learning are covered and are now supported by suitable schemes of work and programmes of study. Resources for teaching and learning are now adequate.  In January 2015, the school implemented a planning and assessment policy. This policy outlines the procedures to track the planning process from the requirements of pupils' education, health and care plans through to the learning of the pupil in the classroom. Systems for monitoring the teachers' tracking and assessment of pupils’ progress are in place, through ‘individual goal tracking’, ‘termly progress checks’ and ‘pupil progress files’.  In addition, new schemes of work for PSHE and more opportunities to experience life in British society have helped pupils to learn how to keep safe and make informed choices, in particular about the risks of extremism and radicalisation. Provision for careers education is now in place, including mini-enterprise schemes and work-related

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experiences.  The standards are now met.

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Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development  The previous material change inspection in September 2014 found that the school was not complying with the standard in relation to the proposed Key Stage 3 provision for developing pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness, particularly in relation to their learning about other faiths, different cultural practices, contributing to community life and living in modern Britain. Pupils were not made aware of the workings of public institutions. In its action plan, the school stated that it would revise its spiritual, moral, social and cultural policy and review the curriculum to ensure that it promoted and monitored the delivery of British values and other faiths and beliefs. It also indicated that trips and visits to places of interest and the local community would be used to widen pupils’ understanding of how people live in Britain and wider afield.

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Activities and visits from outside speakers were planned to develop and extend pupils’ grasp of other cultures and faiths.  As a result of implementing the plan, the proposed Key Stage 3 provision for improving pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is much improved. Work displayed in classrooms and corridors, activities detailed in schemes of work and lesson plans relating to cultural identity and living in Britain, and pupils' studies of art from other countries confirm that the school is now enriching pupils’ knowledge about other cultural heritages and British values. The school regularly hosts visitors’ days when representatives from local businesses, religious groups and local schools are invited into school to help pupils gain an insight into, and to contribute to, the local community. Activities such as visits from the fire brigade, police, college students and the local vicar

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enable pupils to gain a better knowledge and understanding of public institutions and services in England.  Lessons in religious education now promote an understanding of different people’s views and beliefs, promoting tolerance and racial harmony.  The standards are now met.

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Premises and accommodation  Two out of the seven specialist classrooms will be allocated for Key Stage 3 pupils, who will access these classrooms via a separate entrance. The accommodation, which already has appropriate changing and showering facilities, together with a suitable number of washrooms available with safely regulated hot water, is likely to be sufficient Monitoring report: The Pace Centre, 16 April 2015 3 of 7

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for the proposed change of age range from birth to 12 years to five to 14 years of age.  The proprietor and headteacher have ensured that all the independent school standards with respect to the premises are consistently met and that pupils' welfare is safeguarded.

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Information for parents  The previous material change inspection found that the school did not make available to parents and carers of pupils, and parents and carers of prospective pupils, particulars of the proposed Key Stage 3 curriculum policy of the school as required. The school has taken appropriate steps to address this omission, so that requirements are now met.

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Proposed material change  This inspection has found that the school is likely to continue to meet all the requirements for independent schools if the proposed change to the age range is implemented.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements The school meets The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and associated requirements. The standards are likely to be met if the proposed material change is implemented. Monitoring report: The Pace Centre, 16 April 2015 4 of 7

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Inspection team

David Scott, Lead inspector Additional Inspector

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Information about this school

 The PACE Centre is an independent day special school for boys and girls, aged from birth to 12 years who have physical disabilities and additional needs such as sensory, learning and communication difficulties. The school opened in 1997 and was registered for up to 60 pupils from birth to 12 years.  The main school is located in purpose-built premises at Coventon Road in a residential area of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.  PACE is an acronym for Positive Achievement through Conductive Education. The school bases its work on the philosophy, principles and practices of Conductive Education that integrate education, care and therapy into a unified approach. The school is staffed by a range of professionals, including Conductive Education conductors, teachers, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and learning support staff. They work in collaborative, 'trans-disciplinary' class teams.

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Information about this school

 The PACE Centre aims to provide an ‘education for life, through an integrated curriculum that addresses the needs of the whole child, thus developing their social, emotional, communication, cognitive, self-care and physical abilities’.  The school was last fully inspected by Ofsted in October 2012 when it was found to provide an outstanding quality of education and all the regulations for registration were met.  The school received a material change inspection in January 2014. The material change inspection focused on the suitability of the new premises and accommodation at The Bradbury Campus, 156 Wendover Road, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP22 5TE, together with the school’s arrangements for ensuring the welfare, health and safety of children on this new site. An increase in the maximum number on roll was also considered.  The first material change inspection report noted that the teaching premises on The

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Information about this school

Bradbury Campus provided for up to 34 children at any one time. This provided more than sufficient additional capacity for the school’s registered number to be increased from 60 to 74 pupils. The material change was recommended for up to 74 pupils from birth to 12 years, when the school provided the registration authority for independent schools with the appropriate written certificates confirming compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 of the premises at The Bradbury Campus.  The school drew up an action plan for improvement in response to the findings of the visit. It also submitted the relevant documentation showing its compliance with building control regulations and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 of the premises at the Bradbury Campus. This was evaluated by Ofsted in March 2014 and was judged to be satisfactory.  Leaders then made a request to the DfE to change the age range from birth to 12 years

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Information about this school

to birth to 14 years of age, and continue to accommodate up to 74 pupils as was noted in the previous material change inspection report.  A second material change visit took place in September 2014 at the request of the Department for Education to check the suitability of the school’s existing premises at Phillip Green House, Coventon Road, Aylesbury HP19 9JL to evaluate the maximum capacity of the school and to verify the suitability of the curriculum for the proposed Monitoring report: The Pace Centre, 16 April 2015 5 of 7

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Information about this school

intake of pupils in Years 8 and 9.  The inspector found that the school had not undertaken any internal building work to separate the new Key Stage 3 provision from the current Key Stage 2 premises as had been planned.  The second material change inspection found that the construction work had not taken place as the school was still raising funds in order for it to carry out such building works in the near future. Also, at this visit the school failed to meet 14 of the idependent school standards. As a result, the material change relating to the school's provision was not recommended. Monitoring report: The Pace Centre, 16 April 2015 6 of 7

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School details

Unique reference number 131462 Inspection number 463425 DfE registration number 825/6031 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008.

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School details

Type of school Special school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 5−14 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 38 Number of part time pupils 8 Proprietor The Pace Centre Ltd Chair Julian Lovelock Headteacher David O’Connor Date of previous school inspection 17−18 October 2012 Annual fees (day pupils) £30,000−£50,000 Telephone number 01296 392739 Email address david.o’connor@thepacecentre.org Monitoring report: The Pace Centre, 16 April 2015 7 of 7

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School details

guidance 'Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 , or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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School details

You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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School details

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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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 and 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 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit

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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.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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