Opal College London

Opal College London Bow House, 153−159 Bow Road, London, E3 2SE

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good 2

Achievement of pupils No judgement made Quality of teaching No judgement made Behaviour and safety of pupils No judgement made Leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This is a good college because

 Leadership and management are good. Although there are currently no students on roll aged 14 to18, there is clear vision for a successful college for students of this age.  The college has appropriate policies and documentation that indicate it is preparing effectively to educate a small number of students aged 16 to 18 in the coming academic year.  Appropriate safeguarding checks and policies which are in place indicate that the college is well prepared to safeguard the students who may start courses in the coming academic year.

p.1

It is not yet an outstanding school because

 There was insufficient evidence to make judgements about the quality of teaching and how well students achieve.  Some procedures do not have the degree of detail needed to support excellence in college life.

p.1

Compliance with regulatory requirements

 Regulatory requirements were met where the evidence available made it possible to make these judgements. The college meets schedule 1 of The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010, as amended by The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements. 1

p.1

Compliance with regulatory requirements

1 Compliance with the regulations in Part 1 was not judged as there are no 14 to 18 students on roll at the college

p.1

Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at a day’s notice by one additional inspector, over a period of one and a half days in college.  Although there are no 14 to 18 students on roll at present, the inspection was carried out because there had been two earlier inspection deferrals.  The purpose of the inspection was to check the college’s compliance with the independent school standards required for continued registration as a school, and to report on the extent to which the college is ready to educate and safeguard students aged 16 to 18 who are likely to start in September 2014.  College policies and documentation were scrutinised and discussions held with the proprietor, Principal and administrative staff.  Questionnaires about the college were returned by eight staff, and these responses were considered by the inspector.  As the college has no teaching staff for students aged 14 to 18, apart from the Principal, and has

p.2

Information about this inspection

never had students of this age range, no lessons could be observed or records of teaching, learning and achievement scrutinised. No discussions could take place with students, parents or teaching staff.

p.2

Inspection team

Peter McGregor, Lead inspector Additional Inspector

p.2

Information about this college

 Opal College is an independent day college for students aged 14 and above.  The college opened in 2009 for students aged 18 or over taking further and higher education courses. There were 210 post-18 students enrolled at the college in the academic year 2013−14.  This report, on the first inspection of the college, considers aspects of the education provided for students aged 14 to 18.  The college has not enrolled students aged 14 to 18 in the past but is recruiting students aged 16 to 18 for the first time for the academic year 2014−2015. Currently, there are no students on roll, although a small number has indicated a wish to start A-level courses in the coming academic year.  The college intends to recruit pupils aged 14 to 16 from September 2015 in suitable accommodation on a different site.  The college is currently housed in the wings of a large building used for a variety of commercial

p.3

Information about this college

purposes.  The college’s aim is to meet the diverse needs of the students, enabling them to achieve the highest standards.

p.3

What does the school need to do to improve further?

 Improve documentation on personal, social and health education, and the tutoring programme, so that plans can be implemented to ensure the best possible start for students joining the college.

p.3

Achievement of pupils No judgement made

 No evidence was available of the achievement of students aged under 18 years because the college, to date, has not enrolled any of these students.  Post-18 students taught at the college on commercial, language and academic courses, such as HND business and health and social care, and a diploma in management, have been successful and gained places at higher education institutions or employment. Successes with these young adults indicate that the college systems are appropriate and the staff know how to set and assess work at the right level.

p.4

Quality of teaching No judgement made

 As the college has not yet enrolled any students aged under 18, there are no teaching staff for this age group, nor records of teaching and learning for such students.  College monitoring records of teaching and learning of post-18 courses show that the quality is good. This substantiates the positive information on these students’ achievements. This evidence supports the view that college staff know how to teach well.  The curriculum policy, necessarily general until it is known which students are going to join the college, meets the independent school regulations. It specifies a generous teaching time allocation, and a small class size. A flexible approach is to be applied, enabling students to follow up to four AS-level courses. Practical courses, such as those for the sciences, design and technology and art and design, are not offered as the college has no facilities for these subjects. Two-weekly assessments will be made and the results used to inform teachers and leaders

p.4

Quality of teaching No judgement made

about the progress of each student. A formal assessment is intended to take place each term which will inform reports to parents.  The college intends to offer a good range of visits and visitors, as it does for post-18 students. The college’s location in London will enable students to appreciate the wide-ranging cultural and other facilities and activities available. Several visitors are curriculum linked, for example representatives from finance and banking joining the students for discussions.  Local sports facilities have been identified for physical education. Once the needs of the under- 18 students are known, time at a centre will be booked for them.  The planned curriculum of activities for students aged 16 to 18 is appropriate.  A clear statement explains how the college will meet the needs of disabled students and those with special educational needs, if any join the college in September.

p.4

Quality of teaching No judgement made

 Helpful schemes of work are in place for the eight AS-level courses available from September 2014. Each shows a planned sequence of lessons over a thirty-three week year that will enable the examination specifications to be covered well. The school has audited these schemes to ensure that they are free from political bias and partisan views.  The college has a strong background in providing English language courses for post-18 students who need to improve the standard of their spoken and written English. The college has plans to provide similar courses and teaching for international students and those who speak English as an additional language who are under 18, if these are needed.  Outline curriculum planning has been carried out for students aged 14 to 16. It is intended to recruit students in this age range for entry in September 2015. The intended range of courses will cover the required areas of learning.

p.4

Behaviour and safety of pupils No judgement made

 As there are no students aged 14 to 18 currently on roll, no judgement could be made on their behaviour and safety. No checks could be carried out on the implementation of policies, on staff, student and parent views about behaviour and safety, or on students’ attitudes and attendance.  The safeguarding policy and procedures meet the independent school regulations. A single central register of the staff who will be working with under-18 students has been drawn up to ensure that staff are suitable to work with them. The Principal has had safer recruitment training, and it is planned into staff induction to the college that all new staff appointed will receive training in child protection procedures. The college has an appropriately-trained child protection officer to whom anyone can refer if they have any concerns.  Policies for anti-bullying, good behaviour and health and safety, including fire safety and first

p.4

Behaviour and safety of pupils No judgement made

aid, meet the independent school regulations and will help to ensure procedures for students’ welfare, health and safety are effective. Fortnightly fire drills take place, and are logged, that involve all people in the premises, including the many commercial enterprises present.  The computer suite intended for use by the students has appropriate e-safety software installed to protect students from sites the college considers inappropriate.  Planning for the tutorial arrangements is not as advanced as subject plans. There is a suitable policy for personal, social and health education; but plans for how students are to learn about public institutions and services, such as the heath service and judiciary, and about being a citizen in the United Kingdom, are not as comprehensive as they could be.  An admissions register has been prepared to record the details for students aged under 18 years, once they have formally accepted places at the college. Draft attendance procedures are

p.5

Behaviour and safety of pupils No judgement made

in place for those who start college in September.

p.5

Leadership and management are good

 The proprietor and Principal have set out a clear vision for the college as one where the diverse needs of students are met through a commitment to truth and honesty, the provision of learning opportunities that enhance student employability and the pursuit of the highest standards. Successes of the current post-18 students indicate that what the college provides for them is good.  Independent school regulations are met, in so far as they can be assessed, showing that the college is in a position to educate students aged 16 to 18 in September 2014 and to ensure their welfare, health and safety. Outline plans for students aged 14 to 16, to be admitted from September 2015, are also appropriate.  The college website informs parents of prospective students about all required policies, including complaints. The policies are available to see, or to have copies, at the college office. The safeguarding policy is on the website.

p.5

Leadership and management are good

 The college has evidence of effective monitoring of teaching and learning related to the post-18 teaching staff. Processes used, such as unannounced lesson observations, will be suitable to deploy for teachers of under-18 students. Evaluation outcomes are linked to the annual teacher appraisal cycle. Continuing professional development is provided for post-18 staff to enhance skills.  A small number of post-18 support and teaching staff who completed questionnaires about the college are entirely positive about the quality of what is provided.  Staff are in process of being recruited to meet the subject needs of the curriculum to be offered from September 2014. The college has established good contacts with agencies that provide AS- and A-level teachers, so that the proprietor and Principal can make appointments quickly, as needed, for a September start. The necessary administrative staff have been appointed and are

p.5

Leadership and management are good

in place.  The college has developed strong links with the local and academic communities, such as banks, health and social care providers, and the universities post-18 students move on to. Under-18 students will also benefit from the use of these links.  The college has achieved ‘highly trusted status’ in its latest United Kingdom Visas and Immigration inspection, showing that robust admissions and academic processes are in place that meet the standards of this government agency.  The premises are clean and well maintained. A supply of drinking water, appropriately labelled, is available. The rooms provide suitable accommodation for the range of courses being offered to students aged 16 to 18. Medical and toilet facilities are appropriate. The college has plans to use accommodation on a different site for 14 to 16 education as the accommodation available at the current site does not provide the specialist facilities needed to teach the full range of

p.5

Leadership and management are good

required areas of learning for students aged 14 to 16. The new site would require checking for suitability prior to admitting these younger students from September 2015.  Some of the elements of leadership and management cannot be assessed because there are no under-18 students and hence no achievement records or quality of teaching information.

p.6

Grade Judgement

Grade 1 Outstanding Grade 2 Good Grade 3 Requires improvement Grade 4 Inadequate

p.7

Grade Judgement

Detailed grade characteristics can be viewed in the Non-association independent school inspection handbook which is published on the Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/140053 .

p.7

School details

Unique reference number 137501 Inspection number 393282 DfE registration number 211/6001 This inspection was carried out under section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

p.8

School details

Type of school Day college, part of a larger post-18 college School status Independent college Age range of pupils 14 – 18 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 0 Number of part time pupils 0 Proprietor Mr Abedur Rahman Shimu Chair Mr Abedur Rahman Shimu Headteacher Mr Paul Townsley Date of previous school inspection No previous inspection Annual fees (day pupils) Flexible, depending upon selected courses up to £15,000 Telephone number 02032226077 Email address a.shimu@opalcollege.ac guidance 'Complaining about inspections', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

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.

p.9

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.ofsted.gov.uk

p.9

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,

p.9

School details

please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you 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’.

p.9

School details

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

p.9