Leicester Montessori School

Emergency inspection school report Leicester Montessori School

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Reason for the inspection

 The unannounced inspection was carried out at no notice by one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors following concerns raised about the quality of education provided and about the safeguarding of pupils and their welfare, health and safety.  The registration authority for independent schools commissioned the inspector to inspect the quality of the school’s education, its provision for the welfare, health and safety of pupils, and the quality of leadership and management.  The inspector met with the proprietor and senior leaders, including the deputy designated safeguarding lead. He also spoke with the proposed new proprietor. The inspector undertook a tour of the school site with a senior leader. He observed lessons in the early years, in Year 10 and in the sixth form. He was unable to observe any lessons in key stages 1, 2, 3 or 4, as no lessons were taking place. The inspector looked at the books of pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. The inspector met formally with the teaching staff

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Reason for the inspection

and with four pupils. He observed pupils’ behaviour at breaktime, during which time he spoke with pupils. The inspector scrutinised the school’s documents in relation to recruitment of staff and safeguarding. He looked at the school’s single central record.  The school was previously inspected on 24–26 September 2013.

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Quality of education provided

 Senior leaders have not ensured that the school has up-to-date schemes of work in place. Nor do they have a sufficient oversight of the quality of teaching or pupils’ achievement in the school. Consequently, they are unable to ensure that pupils receive appropriate teaching that enables them to develop their understanding and secure good progress across the whole curriculum.  Senior leaders have not ensured that pupils in all years receive teaching in all areas of the curriculum. Pupils in Years 3 and 4 have not received any teaching in science since April 2016.  Pupils who are in key stages 3, 4 and 5 do not receive sufficient impartial careers guidance that enables them to make decisions about their next steps to fulfil their potential.  The school’s provision for students in the sixth form is not appropriate to their needs.  Senior leaders have not ensured that there is a common system by which the school identifies pupils’

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Quality of education provided

aptitudes and that enables teachers to assess pupils’ work. Furthermore, leaders do not check that teachers’ assessments are accurate. Consequently, teachers are not able to ensure that the work they set pupils takes into account their different starting points, meets their individual needs, and enables them to make good progress.  Those staff and pupils the inspector met said that there were insufficient resources available to ensure that pupils could work on their studies effectively.  Those books the inspector looked at indicated that, when pupils do study the full range of subjects, their teachers demonstrate good subject knowledge. Pupils are also able to consider fundamental British values. For example, pupils in key stage 3 have recently considered the referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union, while children in the Reception classes and pupils in Year 2 have considered what it means to be British.

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Quality of education provided

 The leader of the early years closely monitors the progress that children in the Reception classes make. She ensures that the curriculum they receive develops their communication and numeracy skills and provides them with opportunities to undertake independent play. She carefully plans for occasions where children consider life in British society. Emergency inspection: Leicester Montessori School, 30 June 2016 2 of 6

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 Senior leaders have not ensured that pupils at the school are safe at all times. Senior leaders do not have in place a suitable system for checking on pupils’ welfare, including their attendance at school. They do not maintain appropriate records of those occasions where they have concerns about a pupil’s safety. Senior leaders were unable to provide the inspector with evidence of the actions they have taken where they have had concerns relating to a child’s welfare.  The senior leader responsible for safeguarding pupils has not received appropriate training.  Senior leaders do not ensure that pupils receive appropriate adult supervision at all times. This puts pupils’ welfare, health and safety at risk.  Senior leaders have not put into place effective systems by which they monitor pupils’ behaviour. Consequently, they are unable to provide the support a pupil may require to change their behaviour.

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

Furthermore, they are not able to assess whether their system for managing pupils’ behaviour is effective.  Senior leaders undertake risk assessments where pupils engage in activities, both on and away from the school site. Staff know how to take appropriate action to reduce any risk they identify.

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Quality of leadership and management of schools

 Neither the proprietor nor the senior leaders have sufficient understanding of the independent school standards to ensure that the school’s provision meets these standards.  In the prolonged absence of the headteacher, the proprietor has failed to ensure that there is a member of staff with appropriate experience to lead the school.  Senior leaders do not monitor the quality of teaching; nor do they have sufficient oversight of pupils’ achievement. Consequently, their understanding of the quality of education that pupils receive at the school is not effective.  Senior leaders have not taken sufficient action to ensure the well-being of their pupils. Their systems for securing pupils’ safety and welfare are ineffective.  Senior leaders have not ensured that their records of admissions and pupils’ attendance meet the necessary statutory requirements.

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements:

 ensure that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, is implemented effectively (paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a))  ensure that the plans and schemes of work take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those with an education, health and care plan and do not undermine fundamental British values (paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(1)(b)(ii))  ensure that pupils of a compulsory school age gain experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education (paragraphs 2(2), 2(2)(a))  ensure that the personal, social, health and economic education reflects the school’s aim and ethos; and encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Equality Act (paragraphs 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(d)(ii))  ensure that pupils receiving secondary education have access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements:

that is presented in an impartial manner; enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options; and helps to encourage them to fulfil their potential (paragraphs 2(2), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii), 2(2)(e)(iii))  ensure that the school has an appropriate programme of activities which is appropriate to the needs of those pupils who are above compulsory school age (paragraphs 2(2), 2(2)(g))  ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress (paragraphs 2(2), 2(2)(h))  ensure that pupils are prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society (paragraph 2(2), 2(2)(i))  ensure that the teaching at the school enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught (paragraphs 3, 3(a))  ensure that the teaching at the school fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual,

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements:

physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves Emergency inspection: Leicester Montessori School, 30 June 2016 3 of 6

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements:

(paragraphs 3, 3(b))  ensure that the teaching at the school involves well-planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time (paragraphs 3, 3(c))  ensure that the teaching at the school shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons (paragraphs 3, 3(d))  ensure that teaching at the school utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range (paragraphs 3, 3(f))  ensure that the teaching at the school demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and uses information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress (paragraphs 3, 3(g))  ensure that the teaching at the school utilises effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging pupils to act responsibly (paragraphs 3, 3(h))

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements:

 ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school (paragraphs 7, 7(a))  ensure that the arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraphs 7, 7(b))  ensure that the behaviour policy is implemented effectively (paragraphs 9, 9(b))  ensure that a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour (paragraphs 9, 9(c))  ensure that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff (paragraph 14)  ensure that the school has an admission and attendance register in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (paragraph 15)  ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements:

consistently (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a))  ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(b))  ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(c)). Emergency inspection: Leicester Montessori School, 30 June 2016 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Simon Hollingsworth, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Leicester Montessori School is a small, independent all-through school.  The school shares its premises with Leicester Montessori Sixth Form College and Leicester Montessori International School.  The headteacher of the school is currently on long-term absence.  Children in Reception are taught in two Reception classes. Year 2 pupils are taught with the pupils in one Reception class.  There are no Year 1 pupils on the school’s roll.  Pupils in Years 3 and 4 are taught together, as are pupils in Years 5 and 6.  Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 are taught together, as are pupils in Years 10 and 11. Emergency inspection: Leicester Montessori School, 30 June 2016 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 120343 Inspection number 10021191 DfE registration number 856/6008

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School details

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 All-through school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 3–18 Gender of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 34

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Number of part-time pupils 1 Proprietor Sheila Dayah Headteacher Aleks Grubisic Date of previous school inspection 24–26 September 2013 Annual fees (day pupils) £6,433.59–£12,582.00 Telephone number 0116 2706667 Email address lmgs@montessorigroup.com 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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