Harpurhey Alternative Provision School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Harpurhey Alternative Provision School 979–981, Rochdale Road, Manchester M9 8AE

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education Paragraph 3, 3(h)  At the previous inspection in December 2016, inspectors found that this standard was not met. Inspectors found that the school did not utilise effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging pupils to act responsibly.  The action plan evaluation, of April 2017, judged that the standard was unlikely to be met if the school’s proposed actions were implemented.  At the progress monitoring inspection of September 2017, the inspector found that this standard was still not met. Leaders had reviewed the behaviour policy to include appropriate sanctions and rewards to manage behaviour and encourage pupils to take more responsibility for their own behaviour. However, it was found that the policy was applied inconsistently by staff.  Additionally, the inspector found that the leaders did not analyse behaviour logs and so did not have a clear overview of pupils’ behaviour in lessons or the effect of the

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Main inspection findings

reviewed policy. Leaders provided little evidence to show how the new rewards system had improved behaviour in lessons.  Leaders raised the requirements for staff to have a consistent approach to behaviour management. This has been successful. Staff have received training from the acting headteacher and discussed the behaviour policy further. Staff know and understand their responsibilities in managing behaviour and demonstrate consistent use of the policy in lessons and around the school. Staff now use positive techniques for managing low-level disruption which could spiral into a more serious situation. Pupils say that staff talk to them more and help them to work out how to control their behaviour rather than sending them out of the classroom. This means that pupils are learning how to manage their own behaviour.  Leaders, after canvassing pupils’ views, made some significant changes in school to

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Main inspection findings

support the consistent approach to managing behaviour. Leaders changed the pattern of the school day so that pupils start and finish at different times. This means that the younger pupils start earlier in the morning and finish earlier in the afternoon while the older pupils start the school later in the morning and finish later in the afternoon. This suits all pupils. It has led to more space for pupils to move around the building and more staff available to support pupils in class or small groups. Pupils told the inspector that this has had a significant effect on behaviour and on their ability to concentrate in lessons. Pupils consider that they are making more progress in their learning than in the past. Additionally, leaders changed the times of lessons so that there is less movement around the school. This means that the school has a calmer atmosphere.  Systems of rewards and sanctions are now well understood by pupils and support their

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Main inspection findings

acceptance of actions resulting in consequences. Many pupils showed the inspector their merit cards. Pupils are given targets each morning and during each lesson can gain up to eight points based on progress, effort, behaviour and attendance. Those pupils with most points receive rewards during the Friday celebration assembly. Pupils are happy with this system and are motivated to try hard to gain points.  Leaders now keep a comprehensive record of misbehaviour and sanctions. Leaders analyse this information weekly to identify patterns of behaviour and implement actions the following week based on their findings. A review of the success of these actions prior to further analysis means that leaders can show the effect of their work and know the improvement in behaviour in lessons.  This standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  At the inspection in December 2016, inspectors found that the school met these standards.  The school’s safeguarding policy, which is available on the school website, is up to date and refers to current guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Staff receive regular training on issues related to safeguarding such as radicalisation and domestic violence. Staff understand the policy and know what process to follow if they have any concerns about a pupil’s well-being.  This standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(c)  At the inspection in December 2016, this standard was not met. This was because leaders had not ensured that all the independent school standards had been met.  In the action plan submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) in April 2017, leaders outlined their plans for remedying these weaknesses. Leaders were not clear about how each action would be evaluated or its effectiveness measured.  The progress monitoring inspection in September 2017 found that leaders had taken some action towards meeting the unmet standards. However, leaders were unable to show how the various planned actions were improving the school. Nor did they have a strategic overview of how their actions were improving behaviour in the school.  Due to the headteacher’s long-term illness, the proprietor has appointed an acting

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Main inspection findings

headteacher. He is leading the school with enthusiasm and determination, having secured the support and commitment of staff. Staff morale is high. They talk about a clear vision and a change in culture. Leaders and staff know the strengths of the school and the aspects which need attention. The school improvement plan reflects the actions needed to remedy the weaknesses, includes appropriate timescales and clearly shows how each action will be monitored and evaluated. Leaders check this plan regularly and use a red, amber, green system to plot the progress of improvement in school.  The proprietor, the acting headteacher and the staff have significantly increased their knowledge and understanding of the independent school standards. Staff meet after school for a daily debrief on the day’s events which includes discussion about pupils’ behaviour and professional dialogue about the standards. Staff meetings have been used

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Main inspection findings

to discuss the standards, especially the unmet standards.  This standard is met. Leaders have taken effective action to remedy any weaknesses from the previous inspection and all standards are 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 teaching at the school utilises effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging pupils to act responsibly (paragraph 3, 3(h)).  The proprietor must ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently, and fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1c)).

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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

Proprietor Manchester Collegiate Educational Trust

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £12,000 per annum

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School details

Email address admin@haps.manchester.sch.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 6–8 December 2016

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Information about this school

 Harpurhey Alternative Provision School opened in 2015.  The proprietor was previously the headteacher and is still employed by the school in a part-time leadership role. He was also principal of the predecessor school (Manchester Alternative Provision Academy) which closed in August 2014. He then became proprietor and principal of the current school.  A new headteacher and deputy headteacher were appointed in September 2016.  At the time of the inspection, the headteacher was on long-term absence and the school was being led by an acting headteacher (the deputy headteacher).  The provision draws its pupils from seven neighbouring schools.  Harpurhey Alternative Provision School is an active participant in the North Manchester Behaviour and Attendance Partnership.

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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.  This was the second progress monitoring inspection following the school’s previous standard inspection in December 2016.  The DfE rejected the school’s action plan following the previous standard inspection in April 2017.  A progress monitoring inspection is conducted without notice to the school. Due to a technical error the school received notification of the inspection prior to the inspector arriving at the school.  During this inspection, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) held meetings with the acting headteacher and the proprietor. HMI conducted a telephone conversation with the chair of the governing body and toured the school. She met with a group of three pupils and

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Information about this inspection

spoke to many pupils during lessons, breakfast club and lunchtime. She scrutinised a variety of documents, including the safeguarding policy, minutes of trustees’ meetings, the behaviour policy, records and analyses of behaviour incidents and examples of risk assessments.

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Inspection team

Eileen Mulgrew, lead inspector Senior 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

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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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