The Independent School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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23–31 Beavor Lane, Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith, London W6 9AR

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii) and 2(2)(e)(iii)  At the time of the previous inspection in February 2017, the standard relating to careers education was not met because inspectors found that pupils were not receiving effective guidance on the next stage of their education. Pupils were not clear which staff at the school they could speak to about this.  The school’s action plan detailed plans to appoint a ‘careers lead’ to oversee a careers programme and be the direct point of contact for pupils and parents. The action plan also stated that leaders would schedule careers education into the programme of study and create pupil careers portfolios.   This inspection confirmed that the school is now providing an appropriate careers programme as part of personal, social, health and economic education. An allocated member of staff has completed an appropriate level of training and led a unit of work

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Main inspection findings

exploring pupils’ careers options. Pupils were eager to tell the inspector about their careers portfolios and their preparation for recent mock interviews for jobs.  Paragraphs 3, 3(c), 3(g) and 4  At the time of the previous inspection, some teachers were not planning lessons that met pupils’ needs. Leaders had not yet implemented their planned assessment framework to track the progress pupils were making. Leaders and teachers did not use assessment information systematically to assess pupils’ progress and plan pupils’ next steps in learning.  The school’s action plan proposed several appropriate actions. These included reviewing and consistently applying the school’s policies around planning and assessment, updating the centralised progress-tracking system, training staff on assessment and completing termly analysis of pupils’ progress.   This inspection confirmed that leaders have worked effectively to implement an

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Main inspection findings

appropriate assessment system that tracks pupils’ progress in all subjects. Teachers now consistently use this information to plan their lessons and this is closely monitored by leaders. A new assessment policy, training for all staff and the use of new subject matrices have all contributed to a much clearer and consistent approach to understanding how well pupils are learning.  Leaders have ensured that the independent school standards checked in this part are now met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  As identified at the previous inspection, leaders ensure that safeguarding is taken seriously. The school’s safeguarding policy, which pays due regard to the latest statutory guidance, is available on the school’s website. Designated safeguarding leaders and all staff have completed an appropriate level of training and records of the very few concerns are meticulously documented. Leaders know their responsibilities well and

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Main inspection findings

ensure that staff are clear about how to keep pupils as safe as possible. Pupils were clear with the inspector that they feel safe and well cared for in their school.  Leaders have ensured that the independent school standards checked in this part continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  At the time of the previous inspection, leaders had not ensured that all the independent school standards were met. Additionally, leaders did not monitor the punctuality of pupils closely enough, and nor did they have effective strategies in place to tackle pupils’ lateness.  The school’s action plan included several ways to address these issues, as identified in Part 1. Actions to improve punctuality were less specific, merely identifying plans ‘to ensure robust systems and support are in place for student attendance and punctuality’.  This inspection confirmed that the school’s actions to meet the standards in relation to

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Main inspection findings

teaching, learning and assessment have been successfully implemented. The inspection also found a much more stringent approach to tackling pupils’ punctuality. A clear system of rewards and consequences is now in place and has proved effective in almost eliminating lateness.  Although the school will close at the end of the current term and merge with a neighbouring school within the Cavendish Education group, leaders have taken the findings of the previous inspection seriously. As a result, they have ensured that all the independent school standards checked during this inspection are now met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 Ensure that pupils receive accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that is presented in an impartial manner, enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of careers options and helps to encourage them to fulfil their potential (paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii) and 2(2)(e)(iii)).  Ensure that teaching at the school involves well-planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time (paragraph 3, 3(c)).  Ensure that teaching at the school demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress (paragraph 3, 3(g)).  Ensure that a framework for pupil performance to be evaluated, by reference to the school’s own aims as provided to parents or national norms, or to both, is in place (paragraph 4).  Ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role and fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)).

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, 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.

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 7–9 February 2017

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Information about this school

 The Independent School will close in December 2017. The vast majority of pupils and staff will transfer to a neighbouring school within the Cavendish Education group.  This is the school’s first progress monitoring inspection following its first full standard inspection in February 2017, which judged it to require improvement.  The school caters predominantly for pupils who have special educational needs, particularly specific learning difficulties.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged not to comply with at its previous inspection.  This inspection was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection and was conducted without notice.  In February 2017, a full standard inspection of the school judged it to require improvement. The school submitted an action plan. Ofsted’s review of this plan in June 2017 judged it to be acceptable. As a result, the Department for Education wrote to the school to confirm that the action plan had been accepted in July 2017.  The inspection focused on the school’s progress against specific requirements within Parts 1 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector met with the principal, head of school, head of special educational needs

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Information about this inspection

and Cavendish Education’s director of operations. He toured the school’s premises, met with a group of pupils and scrutinised a range of documentation related to teaching, learning and assessment. He also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements with the designated safeguarding leader.  There were no recent responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View.

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Inspection team

James Waite, 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

Parent View 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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Inspection team

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

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Inspection team

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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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

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