Overstone Park School

Progress monitoring school report Overstone Park School

p.1

Overstone Park, Overstone, Northampton NN6 0DT

p.1

Context of the inspection

 The inspection was undertaken at the request of the registration authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan.  This inspection was the first progress monitoring visit since the school’s June 2015 inspection, when a number of the standards for independent schools were found not to be met.  The school’s action plan was evaluated by Ofsted in April 2016 and was judged to require improvement. Ofsted stated that there needed to be clarity about how staff would be trained in safeguarding pupils, and how leaders would monitor safeguarding and health and safety in the future.  This inspection took place without notice.  The inspector toured all the school site and visited each classroom. The inspector met with the headteacher and scrutinised documents related to safeguarding and health and safety.  The focus of the inspection was to establish if leaders had implemented their action plan

p.1

Context of the inspection

effectively and therefore met the previously failed independent school standards.

p.1

Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 The inspection of June 2015 found that the school did not have a safeguarding policy which reflected the latest advice from the Secretary of State. In its action plan, the school indicated that it would revise both its safeguarding policy and its health and safety policy to meet the requirements. As a result of implementing its action plan, the school now has a suitable safeguarding policy and necessary health and safety systems in place.

p.1

Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

 The inspection of June 2015 found that the school did not correctly record all the necessary checks regarding the suitability of staff and record all the checks correctly. As a result of implementing its action plan, the school now completes all the required checks and records them correctly on the single central register.

p.1

Provision of information

 The inspection of June 2015 found that the school did not publish an up-to-date safeguarding policy on its website. As a result of implementing its action plan, the school now has a published and up-to-date safeguarding policy on its website which means the website is now compliant.

p.1

Quality of leadership and management

 The inspection of June 2015 found that leaders and managers did not ensure that the school met all the requirements of the independent school standards consistently and there were weaknesses in the school’s promotion of pupils’ well-being. As a result of producing an up-to- date safeguarding policy and undertaking the required checks on staff, the standards are now all met and pupils’ well-being is promoted satisfactorily. Monitoring report: Overstone Park School, 15 June 2016 2 of 5

p.1

Statutory requirements for the early years

 The inspection of June 2015 found that the school’s policy for safeguarding children did not reflect guidance from the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). The revised safeguarding policy now takes into account guidance from the LSCB.  The inspection of June 2015 found that leaders did not have an effective system for recording the checks made to ensure the suitability of staff working with children in the early years. As a result of implementing its action plan, these checks are now recorded correctly.

p.2

and associated requirements

Monitoring report: Overstone Park School, 15 June 2016 3 of 5

p.3

Inspection team

Phil Harrison, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.3

Information about this school

 Overstone Park School was founded in 1983 by the current proprietors. It is a day school for pupils between the ages of two to 18, although almost all pupils leave at the age of 16. There are two students in the sixth form.  It is owned by joint proprietors, one of whom is the headteacher and undertakes the day-to-day leadership and organisation.  The school aims to ‘realise the gifts and talents of all pupils’. They are ‘encouraged to be caring and helpful members of the community showing good manners and respect towards others’.  The school is set in a five-acre site in a rural location to the east of Northampton. Its facilities include a multi-purpose hall, specialist teaching areas for computing, art, food technology and science, and an area for animal husbandry.  Pupils come from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds that reflect those of the local area. Some pupils travel a considerable distance to attend the school.

p.3

Information about this school

Monitoring report: Overstone Park School, 15 June 2016 4 of 5

p.4

School details

Unique reference number 122150 Inspection number 10020441 DfE registration number 928/6063

p.4

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.

p.4

School details

Type of school Day School status Independent school Age range of pupils 2–18 Gender of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 82

p.4

form

Number of part time pupils 20 Proprietor Marion Brown and Corville Brown Headteacher Marion Brown Date of previous school inspection 17–19 June 2015 Annual fees (day pupils) £7,665–£9,309 Telephone number 01604 643787 Fax number 01604 670445 Email address opschool@aol.com Monitoring report: Overstone Park School, 15 June 2016 5 of 5

p.4

form

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 .

p.5

form

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.

p.5

form

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

p.5

form

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

p.5

form

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.5

form

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

p.5