Sandwell Valley School

School material change inspection report Sandwell Valley School 13 October 2016 150 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich B70 6QT

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  No safeguarding concerns arose during the inspection.  The single central record currently meets requirements.  When pupils are absent from Sandwell Valley School, the school is proactive in pursuing non-attendance and informing the home school of the absence and actions taken.  School staff know their pupils well. Interventions to support persistent absentees are tailored to the individual pupil and his/her particular circumstances.  Persistent absence is high for a small minority of pupils and overall attendance is below the national average.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22–29  The new premises are of high quality and well maintained.  External lighting is provided to ensure that people can enter and leave the building safely.  Teaching spaces have plenty of natural light, with adequate acoustic conditions and sound insulation. The teaching spaces are a range of sizes. This offers increased flexibility for different groups of pupils and different activities.  Evacuation instructions and maps are displayed throughout the building in prominent positions.  Fire extinguishers are located according to the evacuation maps.  There are adequate toilet facilities for able-bodied and disabled, male and female pupils and adults.  There is a medical room with washing facilities and an adjacent toilet.  Washing facilities have hot and cold running water. The hot water is kept at a safe temperature, frequently monitored and information logged.

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Main inspection findings

 A dispenser in the foyer area provides drinking water and the kitchen supply is also clearly marked.  There is a secure outside play area.  As plans to deliver more physical activities on-site are realised, there will be a need to provide changing and showering facilities on-site for pupils of 11 years and over.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The safeguarding policy is current and takes into account the updated ‘Keeping children safe in education’ 2016 document. It is published on the school’s website.  The standard in this part is likely to continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school has a three-year accessibility plan (2016–2019).

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School details

Unique reference number 143038 DfE registration number 333/6011 Inspection number 10022928 This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make. Type of school Day school School status Independent school Proprietor Sandwell Community Caring Trust Chair Mr Geoff Walker Headteacher Mrs Mim Hall Annual fees (day pupils) £50 per day, £9,500 annually. Telephone number 0121 679 7522 Website www.scct-training.org Email address mhall@sandwellcct.org.uk Date of previous standard inspection 12 July 2016

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 13–19 Not applicable Not applicable Number of pupils on the school roll 50 Not applicable Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Boys 14, Girls 6 Not applicable Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 18 (year 10 = 6, Year 11 = 12) Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 5.2 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 9 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 1 mentor Not applicable

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Information about this school

 Sandwell Valley School provides education and training programmes for vulnerable learners from its new premises in the centre of West Bromwich. It continues to be a part of the Sandwell Community Care Trust organisation.  In addition to the 20 pupils of compulsory school age currently on roll, the school has 30 post-16 learners. These are pre-apprenticeship learners studying either social care or business studies with additional opportunities available for GCSE Functional Skills (mathematics and English), music, horticulture and art, additional support for basic English and mathematics, and work experience and personal, social and health education is also included in the offer.  The school has 26 members of staff, who cover teaching, learning support and mentoring, administration and assessing. The nature of the intake is fluid and therefore part-time staffing provides flexibility. Additional support from external

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Information about this school

agencies such as education welfare is bought in as required.  The school caters for a wide range of educational needs, especially in the areas of social, emotional and mental health difficulties. In addition, the school has a strong skills base for working with pupils learning English as an additional language and is working with schools to develop outreach support.  The ethos of the school is professional and welcoming.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out by Ofsted at the request of the Department for Education under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The school applied for a material change following a move to new premises.  This inspection was conducted with three days’ notice by an Ofsted inspector in one day.  The inspector met with the headteacher and reviewed a range of relevant policy documents, including: risk assessments, audit files and logs, the single central register, the pupil attendance register, continuing professional development records and staff files. In addition, the inspector audited the premises and accommodation against the independent school standards requirements.

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Inspection team

Dr Elizabeth Ellis-Martin, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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