Rochdale Old Road

Rochdale Old Road Independent school inspection report

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DCSF registration number 354/6200 Unique reference number 135737 URN for registered social care SC069198 Inspection number 342485 Inspection dates 20-21 January 2010 Reporting inspector Mohammad Ismail Social care inspector Stella Henderson

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended. The inspection of boarding was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Age group: 11-16 Published: 09 February 2010 Reference no: 090070 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090070 Independent school inspection report

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Purpose and scope of the inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Section 162A 1 of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005 2 , the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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Purpose and scope of the inspection

An inspection of the care provision was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 having regard to the national minimum standards for children’s homes. This inspection took place at the same time but the full report is published separately on Ofsted’s website and should be read in conjunction with this report which covers the educational registration of the school.

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Information about the school

Rochdale Old Road School is an independent special school and children’s home that is part of Meadows Education System, which consists of 13 independent special schools. The school aims to provide a high quality of care and education for students with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. This is the school’s first education inspection. The school was registered in 2008 for two students aged 11–16 years and there is currently one student on roll. Whilst the school caters for students with statements of special educational needs, the current student does not have a statement. Meadows Care has been set up to provide education for young people in full-time residential care. The school states that, `those concerned with the education of young people in care, constantly strive to deliver high standards in all aspects of education.’ The school’s last social care inspection was in June 2009.

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Evaluation of the school

The quality of education is satisfactory. Teaching is satisfactory with some good features that ensures students make satisfactory progress. The school’s social, moral, spiritual and cultural provision is good which results in good behaviour. Provision for welfare, health and safety is good. The school meets all the requirements for safeguarding. Boarding and care provision are good. The school meets nearly all of the regulations and is well on its way to meeting its aims. There are some minor issues with the school’s accommodation and its scheme of work for physical education is not fully implemented.

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Quality of education

The quality of education is satisfactory and so is the curriculum. It meets the requirement of students with special educational needs. The school offers the National Curriculum schemes of work for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, adapted to

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Quality of education

1 www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020032_en_14#pt10-ch1-pb4-l1g162 2 www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/ukpga_20050018_en_15#sch8 Independent school inspection report meet the individual needs of its students and to meet the requirements of statements of special educational needs for those students who have one. In addition, the school has implemented social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) in its curriculum in order to improve students’ learning and behaviour. The school has also developed its own personal, social and health education (PSHE) programme. This sensitive subject is programmed with help from the school’s clinical psychology team. The school also offers the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN) key skills programme. Provision helps students to improve their key skills as well as work towards an accredited award. The school has established an effective partnership with Connexions to help students plan for future

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Quality of education

careers or further educational opportunities.

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Quality of education

There is a very good working relationship between social care and teaching staff. The school occasionally organises cultural and social events in the evening, which provide suitable social and cultural development opportunities for its students. Students are involved in producing a magazine to highlight their educational activities and achievements. Physical education lessons are not currently timetabled during the school-day. Whilst this means that the school does not implement its physical education scheme of work, it offers a range of sport and leisure activities beyond the end of the school day which provides for students’ physical areas of learning. The school’s provision for extra-curricular and evening activities is not linked fully with the different subject areas of the curriculum.

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Quality of education

The quality of teaching and assessment is satisfactory. Trained social care staff support teachers in lessons. However, some individual lessons are good. Where this happens, teachers plan their lessons carefully to match individual abilities. They consider prior attainment. However, in some cases teaching staff face difficulties when previous schools delay access to students’ records. In such cases teaching is satisfactory and students are not always given the right level of work. The teachers use individual educational plans to record students’ progress and to focus on future development.

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Quality of education

Lessons are usually taught on a one-to-one basis. Most of the time teachers give students opportunities for independent learning. Teachers use a variety of methods to engage students in the lessons and make learning more enjoyable. There are sufficient resources for teaching. In almost all lessons teachers use real life situations effectively to help students develop their key life skills and social and moral attributes. Teachers always take the opportunity to link their lessons with other subjects. In good lessons teachers are calm and engage students effectively in a variety of educational activities. This process helps students to progress satisfactorily in their work and to behave well. Students and staff relationships are good. Independent school inspection report There is an assessment policy, which is satisfactorily implemented. The school is in the process of enhancing its assessment programme. This will include a data

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Quality of education

collection programme for progress monitoring and tracking. The school helps students to progress into further education with help and support from external organisations.

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Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the students

The provision for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. The school has adapted different programmes to promote good behaviour. Students feel happy and enjoy attending school; attendance and behaviour are good. The school aims, through ASDAN and Connexions programmes, to effectively help students promote their self-confidence and independence in their life skills. Religious education, PSHE and different social activities help students to recognise right and wrong, respect the law and how they should behave in wider society.

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Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the students

Citizenship and history programmes help students to gain knowledge about public institutions and different cultures. Students have started learning about different cultures and faiths in the religious education programme. The school is planning a range of visits to religious and other places of interest to broaden students’ understanding. On occasions different cultural evenings are organised in which a variety of different costumes are displayed, music is played and food is offered. This gives students the opportunity to gain self-confidence in social gatherings and also learn about other cultures. Multi-cultural representation in the school’s staff helps students to understand different cultural beliefs. Social care staff contribute effectively to all aspects of this work.

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Welfare, health and safety of the students

The provision for the welfare health and safety of the students is good. Students’ awareness is raised effectively in different ways about healthy food and healthy life styles. They are involved in cookery lessons and they are taught and involved in different physical activities. Students have the opportunity of taking part in indoor and outdoor sports and leisure activities. The school implements all its policies effectively and thus ensures the health and safety of its students and staff. Relevant risk assessments are mostly carried out and safety equipment is checked regularly. The safeguarding and child protection policy is effectively implemented. The school maintains appropriate attendance and admission registers. The school fulfils its duties under the Disability Discrimination Act.

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Suitability of the proprietor and staff

The school has taken into account all relevant measures to make sure that all staff, proprietors and volunteers are suitable to work with children. There is a robust Independent school inspection report recruitment policy which is suitably enforced and a single central register is maintained which meets the regulations.

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School’s premises and accommodation

The school is a safe and effective place in which students can learn. The building is well-maintained and is equipped with the required facilities. The outside area is not suitable as a playground. The school has yet to plan fully and carry out a risk assessment of using a local park opposite to the school. There is no window or extractor fan in the staff toilet on the first floor.

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Provision of information for parents, carers and others

The school meets the requirements by providing necessary information to parents, carers and others through an up-to-date prospectus. The school has an effective policy to report to parents, carers and others annually.

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Procedures for handling complaints

The school meets all the requirements for this provision and no formal complaints have been registered in the past 12 months.

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Effectiveness of the boarding provision

The care provision was judged to be good and national minimum standards were met. A full report on the care provision is available on Ofsted’s website and should be viewed in conjunction with this report.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets all of the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2003 as amended (‘the Regulations’), with the exception of those listed below. 3

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet all requirements in respect of the curriculum (standard 1) and must:

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 effectively implement the scheme of work for physical education by providing physical education sessions in the school timetable (paragraph 1(2)).

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

3 www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031910.htm Independent school inspection report The school does not meet all requirements in respect of the premises and accommodation (standard 5) and must:

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 provide an extractor fan in the staff toilet (paragraph 5(k))  provide an appropriate external area in which students may play safely (paragraph 5(t)).

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What the school could do to improve further

While not required by regulations, the school might wish to consider the following points for development.

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What the school could do to improve further

 Enrich the curriculum by ensuring extra-curricular and evening activities are linked more effectively to different subject areas of the curriculum.

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What the school could do to improve further

 Conduct initial assessments of new students on each occasion where their previous records are not available. Independent school inspection report Inspection judgement recording form outstanding good satisfactory inadequate

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What the school could do to improve further

Overall quality of education  How well the curriculum and other activities meet the range of needs and interests of students 

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What the school could do to improve further

How effective teaching and assessment are in meeting the full range of students’ needs 

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What the school could do to improve further

How well students make progress in their learning 

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What the school could do to improve further

Students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development

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What the school could do to improve further

Quality of provision for students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 

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What the school could do to improve further

The overall welfare, health and safety of students 

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What the school could do to improve further

Evaluation of boarding provision  Independent school inspection report

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School details

Name of school Rochdale Old Road DCSF number 354/6200 Unique reference number 135737 Type of school Special Status Independent Date school opened October 2008 Age range of students 11-16 Gender of students Mixed Number on roll (full time students) Boys: 1 Girls: 0 Total: 1 Number of boarders Boys: 1 Girls: 0 Total: 0 Number of students with a statement of special educational need Boys: 1 Girls: 0 Total: 0

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School details

Number of students who are looked after Boys: 1 Girls: 0 Total: 0 Annual fees (boarders) £195,000 Telephone number 01706 630022 Fax number 01706 630033 Email address shelliebarcroft@meadowscare.co.uk Headteacher Ms Shellie Barcroft Proprietor Frederick Kearsley Reporting inspector Mohammed Ismail Dates of inspection 20-21 January 2010

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