Hall School Wimbledon

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Hall School Wimbledon Stroud Crescent, Putney Vale, London SW15 3EQ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b)(i) and 2(1)(b)(ii), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i) and 2(2)(e)(ii), 3, 3(a), 3(c) and 3(d)  At the time of the previous inspection leaders had not drawn up a curriculum policy for the whole school. The curriculum was not being implemented effectively and there was insufficient provision for pupils’ technological education. The teaching at the school did not enable pupils to progress well by taking sufficient account of their prior attainment or abilities. Pupils of secondary age were not being provided with access to impartial careers advice.  Leaders have reviewed the curriculum policy and amended it so that it makes reference to the whole school. Staff who spoke with inspectors say that they have noticed a positive change in the clarity of information they receive to help them implement the curriculum. As one teacher reported, ‘We now have a greater sense of shared

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Main inspection findings

responsibility’.  Leaders in the junior school have taken decisive steps to improve opportunities for pupils to make progress in technological education. They have wisely sought information from parents about the starting points of the youngest children. This is contributing well to the arrangements for assessment in technology. It is helping teachers set work at the right level for pupils’ initial abilities. Older primary-aged pupils are able to talk confidently with inspectors about how to stay safe when using technology and accessing the internet.  Older pupils have taken part in questionnaires aimed at helping teachers provide bespoke advice on careers. Pupils have attended talks given by representatives from different professions, to help inform their future career choices. Leaders can provide clear examples of how pupils who may benefit from work-related training routes after leaving the school are being provided with helpful and impartial guidance.

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Main inspection findings

 During tours of both school sites, inspectors saw evidence of the impact of teachers’ use of assessment to challenge and support pupils of different abilities in lessons across a range of subjects. Leaders responsible for subjects can explain how written curriculum plans are used by teachers to plan classroom activities which meet the needs of pupils with different starting points. For example, the leader for games in the junior school can demonstrate how core skills are built up as pupils experience different sports.  The school meets all the requirements for this part. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b).  Inspectors did not consider safeguarding was effective at the time of the previous inspection and reported that there were gaps in the school’s safeguarding arrangements.  Following the inspection leaders acted swiftly to review and enhance the range of safeguarding training provided for staff. They have also strengthened arrangements to

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Main inspection findings

check how well staff have understood the messages from this training. The designated safeguarding leads can provide coherent examples of how they support staff in applying safeguarding training to their work. Teachers can explain how training is helping them notice concerns more effectively. They describe a more open and supportive culture which encourages them to report concerns. The latest version of the safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website.  Staff now have clarity about how their safeguarding duties and loyalty to the school can co-exist. They are challenged to demonstrate their understanding of the most recent statutory safeguarding guidance. Pupils who spoke with inspectors expressed confidence in the work of staff to keep them safe.  The requirements for this paragraph are met. Paragraph 9 and 9(b).  At the time of the previous inspection it was found that staff’s management of behaviour

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Main inspection findings

and recording of incidents did not reflect the school’s policy.  Leaders now record sanctions imposed in response to poor behaviour from pupils according to the agreed policy. Staff and pupils who spoke to inspectors shared a common understanding of the school’s behaviour policy. Pupils told inspectors that they thought staff dealt with poor behaviour fairly and effectively.  The requirements for this paragraph are met. Paragraph 11, 16, 16(a) and 16(b).  Inspectors considered that there was inconsistent and some poor assessment of risks at the time of the last inspection.  Leaders commissioned an external trainer to speak with staff in the summer of 2017 and to review the way risk assessments are recorded and monitored. They have followed this up by checking on the effectiveness of risk assessments conducted since then. As a result, leaders now know the level of skill of each staff member in assessing risk. They

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Main inspection findings

then use this knowledge to tailor support and challenge so that risk assessment is robust. Leaders and staff could provide inspectors with examples of how revised procedures are helping staff notice and plan more thoroughly when assessing risk.  Inspectors’ scrutiny of records of staff meetings demonstrates that safety and risk are a high priority and are now routine topics for discussion. For example, recent concerns about some younger children running at inappropriate times have been picked up and acted upon. Leaders showed inspectors some improvements to the safety of the premises, which have been the result of more skilful and robust risk assessment. For example, a fence has now been erected around a pond in the outdoor area of the junior site.  The requirements for this paragraph are met.  The school meets all the requirements for this part. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1) and 23(1)(c).

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Main inspection findings

 The previous inspection report indicates that pupils did not have access to dedicated changing facilities and showers.  Inspectors visited the school’s Oberon Fields site and found that working showers with changing facilities are available and suitable for use by secondary-aged pupils.  The requirements for this paragraph are met.  The school meets all the requirements for this part. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(b), 32(3) and 32(3)(c).  At the last inspection there were gaps in the information provided to parents about the curriculum.  The proprietor has ensured that leaders have made all of the information required by the standards available on the school’s website. This includes a revised curriculum policy which makes reference to provision across the whole school.  The requirements for this paragraph are met.  The school meets all the requirements for this part. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)).  The proprietor has ensured that leaders have taken effective action since the last inspection to ensure that all of the independent school standards are now met. These include standards about the active promotion of the welfare of pupils.  The requirements for this paragraph are met.  The school meets all the requirements for this part. Statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage  The school now meets the independent school standards related to safeguarding which were unmet at the last inspection. Therefore, the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage unmet at the last inspection are also now met. Not all of the statutory requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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

 The proprietor must ensure that there is a written curriculum policy that takes into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, and does not undermine the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b)(i) and 2(1)(b)(ii)).  The proprietor must ensure that pupils of compulsory school age gain experience in technological education and in the secondary phase receive accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that is impartial and enables pupils to make informed choices about a broad range of career options (paragraph 2(2), 2(2)(a), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i) and 2(2)(e)(ii)).  The proprietor must ensure that teaching at the school: enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability; involves well-planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; shows

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainment of pupils; and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons (paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(c) and 3(d)).  The proprietor must ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)).  The proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that the policy is implemented effectively (paragraph 9 and 9(b)).  The proprietor ensures that the health and safety policy results in robust action to ensure that all health and safety laws are complied with (paragraph 11).  The proprietor ensures that the welfare of pupils is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy and appropriate action is taken to reduce the risks identified (paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)).

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 The proprietor must ensure that suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education (paragraph 23(1) and 23(1)(c)).  The proprietor must ensure that the curriculum policy is available to parents of pupils and parents of prospective pupils and, on request, to the Chief Inspector, the Secretary of State or an independent inspectorate (paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(b), 32(3) and 32(3)(c)).  The proprietor must ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school: demonstrate good knowledge and skills appropriate to their roles so that the independent school standards are met consistently; fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)).

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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 6–8 June 2017

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Information about this school

 The principal is currently leading and managing the school. He represented the headteacher during the inspection.  The school is located on two sites. Children in the early years and primary-aged pupils attend the Beavers Holt site (Stroud Crescent, Putney Vale SW15 3EQ). The secondary- aged pupils attend The Downs site (17 The Downs, Wimbledon SW20 8HF). All pupils attend full time.  The school also owns Oberon Fields and Pavilion (Lindisfarne Road, Wimbledon SW20 0NW), which is used for physical education and games. The school also owns Llanbrynean Farm (Brecon, Wales LD3 7BQ). However, leaders informed inspectors that this is not currently in use.  The school was last inspected in June 2017 and was judged to be inadequate. A number of independent school standards were found to be unmet.  The school makes use of a number of other venues in the local area for sports but has no additional specialist provision.

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Information about this school

 The school’s website complies with the reporting requirements of the independent school standards.

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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 to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  Inspectors conducted tours of the junior and senior school sites, meeting with leaders, visiting classrooms and conducting discussions with pupils.  A range of documents related to the curriculum, safeguarding and the management of risk were scrutinised.  Inspectors met with a group of staff, leaders for some aspects of the curriculum and senior leaders.  Inspectors looked at records kept by the school of sanctions imposed on pupils as a result of poor behaviour.  Inspectors also took account of 164 responses to the online Parent View survey.

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Inspection team

Andrew Wright, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Jo Franklin 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 looked after children, 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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