Excellence Christian School

Excellence Christian School 59  61 Vyner Street, Off Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DQ

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Insufficient evidence

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare Insufficient evidence

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Outcomes for pupils Insufficient evidence

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Early years provision Insufficient evidence

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Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a school that requires improvement

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Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

 Leaders and trustees have not ensured that they have kept up to date with the requirements of all the independent school standards.  Procedures for monitoring the school’s work, including the checking of the implementation of agreed policies or set actions, are not sufficiently well developed.

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Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

 The school has a caring and supportive ethos. The proprietor, who is also the headteacher, has completed an appropriate level of training to safeguard pupils’ well-being while at school. Systems for induction and training provide staff with the appropriate knowledge to keep pupils safe.  The curriculum is appropriately planned and provides a broad range of learning experiences for pupils. It is likely to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development well.

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Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

 The school must take action to meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and associated requirements. The details are listed in the full report.

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What does the school need to do to improve further?

 Improve the quality of leadership and management, ensuring that practice reflects agreed policies, by: – swiftly referring all past pupils who have left the school to the local authority in line with their missing in education policy. The school must meet the following independent school standards.  The proprietor must ensure that they comply with the standard about the welfare, health and safety of pupils by taking such steps as are reasonably practical to ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (paragraphs 6, 12 and 15).  The proprietor must ensure that they comply with the standard regarding the premises of and accommodation at schools so that suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils who receive physical education and are aged 11 years or over at the

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What does the school need to do to improve further?

start of the school year. The proprietor must ensure that there is suitable outdoor space provided for physical education and for pupils to play outside (paragraphs 22, 23(1), 23(1)(c), 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)).  The proprietor must ensure that they comply with the standard regarding the premises of and accommodation at schools so that they ensure that the school premises, accommodation and facilities are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured (paragraphs 22, 25).  The proprietor must ensure that they comply with the standard about the provision of information so that information regarding the school’s address and telephone number and the name of the headteacher and, where the proprietor is an individual, their full name and address for correspondence both during term-time and holidays and a telephone number is available, and where there is a governing body, the name and address for

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What does the school need to do to improve further?

correspondence of its Chair is provided to parents and prospective parents (paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(a), 32(2), 32(2)(a), 32(2)(b), 32(2)(b)(i), 32(2)(c)).  The proprietor must ensure that they comply with the standard about the provision of information so that particulars of the school’s policy on and arrangements for exclusions and a copy of the school’s most recent inspection report are readily available to parents (paragraph 32(1)(b), 32(3), 32(3)(a), 32(3)(g)).  The proprietor must ensure that they comply with the standard about the manner in which complaints are handled so that a complaints procedure is drawn up and effectively implemented which deals with the handling of complaints from parents of pupils which makes provision for a hearing before a panel consisting of at least three people who were not directly involved in the complaint and ensures compliance with the detail specified within part 7 of the independent school standards (paragraph 33, 33(f), 33(h), 33(i),

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What does the school need to do to improve further?

33(i)(i), 33(i)(ii)).  Ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibility at the school 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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Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement

 The school does not meet all of the independent school standards. Standards relating to leadership and management, compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) order and with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, premises of and accommodation at schools, and the provision of information, including the manner in which complaints are handled, are not met.  In practice, safeguarding at the school is effective. However, on paper there are some areas, regarding the leadership and management of record-keeping, which do not meet requirements. For example, the school’s admission register does not contain the necessary detail required when pupils leave the school. This lack of information means that the school does not know if pupils who have left the school are missing in education. None of the pupils who have left the school to go abroad have been reported to the local authority in line with their agreed policy. However, this lack of rigour has not undermined

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Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement

leaders’ overall efforts to ensure that safeguarding arrangements are fit for purpose.  School leaders do not ensure that premises meet all the requirements of the independent school standards. There is no suitable accommodation or showering facilities available on site for pupils aged 11 or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education. Although there are currently no pupils of this age range on roll, no alternative off-site provision has been suitably considered or risk assessed to meet this standard. The school is not in a position to ensure that this provision is available when pupils enrol.  The proprietor and school leaders do not ensure that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable physical education to be provided in accordance with the school curriculum, and for pupils to play outside for all the age range the school is registered for. However, a small outdoor area, currently shared with the nursery school on site, is

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Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement

available for children who may attend the school’s early years provision.  Leaders are quick to address areas that need improvement when they are brought to their attention. During the inspection, the proprietor swiftly addressed some concerns the inspection team had identified on site.  School leaders ensure that there is an appropriately planned curriculum which provides a broad range of learning experiences for each of the age ranges that the school serves. Clear guidance is given to staff encouraging respect for others and a recognition of the protected characteristics which must not be discriminated against.

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Governance

 Governors meet annually. However, they do not monitor the implementation of the school’s action plan or policies regularly enough to be able to hold leaders to account. For example, although the school has undertaken an external fire safety assessment, school records show no record of any subsequent checks in accordance with the school’s own policies.  The provision of some key information is not available to parents and prospective parents. No policy exists outlining the school’s arrangements for dealing with pupils’ exclusion and the school’s complaints policy lacks the required detail. As a result, parents do not have clear guidance about the complaints process or school exclusions.  Governors have not ensured that an appropriate accessibility plan is in place and meets the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

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Safeguarding

 The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.  The proprietor has ensured that all appropriate checks are in place for the recruitment of staff. A single central record of checks is in place and meets requirements.  Staff training and internal processes for the identification and referral of safeguarding concerns are clear and appropriate. Staff are appropriately trained and are able to identify potential signs of abuse. The school has a safeguarding policy available to parents and leaders have made sure that staff are aware of the latest statutory guidance.

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amnesty granted

 There is insufficient evidence to judge the quality of teaching, learning and assessment over time because there have not been pupils of statutory school age on roll since April 2016.

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Personal development and welfare

 There is insufficient evidence to make a judgement on personal development and welfare. There have not been pupils of statutory school age on roll since April 2016.

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Behaviour

 There is insufficient evidence to judge behaviour. The school’s behaviour policy meets all the requirements of the independent school standards. However, its implementation was unable to be seen due to sporadic attendance because pupils join and then leave within the year. There have not been pupils of statutory school age on roll since April 2016.

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amnesty granted

 There is insufficient evidence to judge outcomes for pupils because there have not been pupils of statutory school age on roll since April 2016.  In addition to the above, the school has experienced high pupil mobility. Few pupils who start an academic year complete the year, because they move abroad or into the state school system. Consequently, no information is available.

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amnesty granted

 There is insufficient evidence to judge the effectiveness of early years provision. The few children who have joined the early years in the past leave to enter Reception classes at local state schools, resulting in sporadic attendance throughout the year. Consequently, there has been no requirement for the school to report on a child’s good level of development.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) None – but a charge is made for the cost of pupils’ individual workbooks that cover the religious-based programme of study. Telephone number 07958 685176

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School details

Email address excellencechristianschool@gmail.com

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School details

Date of previous inspection 6  7 March 2012

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Information about this school

 Since the school’s last inspection in March 2012, the school has experienced high pupil mobility resulting in sporadic attendance over time. There has been a significant decline in pupil numbers as parents choose to send their youngest children to the on-site, full-time early years provision for children aged 0  5 which opened in 2009. These pupils then tend to move from this separate nursery provision, joining the early years classes of local state schools. Some move abroad.  The school is an independent school, with a Christian character.  The school’s vision is ‘to raise academically sound citizens who are trained to achieve the highest moral and social discipline, through respect for the things of God’. The school follows the requirements of the early years foundation stage and older pupils follow both the national curriculum and a privately purchased religious-based programme of study.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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Information about this school

 There are no pupils on roll who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.  Since 2009, the proprietor runs on-site, full-time early years provision for children aged 0  5. This provision was not included under this inspection framework. It was inspected in May 2016 under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the early years register.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was carried out with one day’s notice. The school was last inspected in March 2012 when it was judged to be satisfactory.  Inspectors held meetings with senior leaders, governors and staff.  Inspectors scrutinised documents provided by the school, including the school development plan, minutes of governors’ meetings, information relating to attendance, school policies, risk assessments, fire safety records and the school’s records relating to staff recruitment.  Inspectors toured the site.  Because there have been too few pupils in regular attendance over the last three years across all the age ranges served by the school, inspectors were unable to gather sufficient evidence to make judgements in some areas (according to the common inspection framework). There have been no pupils of statutory school age on roll at the school since April 2016.  There were no responses to Ofsted’s online parent questionnaire, Parent View.

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Inspection team

Jean Thwaites, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Andrew Wright Her Majesty’s 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 visit www.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

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

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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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.gov.uk/ofsted

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