Wessex Lodge School

School material change inspection report

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Wessex Lodge School Wessex Lodge, Nunney Road, Frome, Somerset BA11 4LA

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(1)(b)(ii), 2(2), 2(2)(a)–(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(d)(ii), 2(2)(f), 2(2)(g), 2(2)(h), 2(2)(i)  All schemes of work are in place for each key stage, including personal, social health and economic education (PSHE).  The PSHE curriculum supports pupils’ preparation for responsibilities in life in British society.  Pupils are able to access a wide curriculum covering all required areas of learning across the two school sites. A curriculum plan is in place to meet the needs of pupils for key stages 2, 3, 4 and post-16. This includes vocational training, functional skills and therapeutic provision. Paragraph 2)(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i) to (iii)  There is a vocational curriculum in place, work experience placements are available to students and impartial careers advice is in place. Paragraph 3, 3(a)–(j), 4  Leaders have embedded systems that support the planning of lessons and the

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Main inspection findings

assessment and evaluation of pupils’ progress. There is also an established appraisal process in place, which links to professional development for staff.  Staff receive frequent training about how to manage pupils’ behaviour. The recording of behaviour incidents is effective and pupils receive appropriate support following incidents. Leaders analyse behaviour incident patterns over time so that lessons are learned and incidents reduced.  The standard is likely to be met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(a), 5(b), 5(b)(i)–(vii), 5(c), 5(d), 5(d)(i)–(iii)  The PSHE curriculum provides weekly sessions for each pupil. In addition, pupils learn about themes such as respect for others, friendship, courage and problem-solving through other subjects.  The standard is likely to be met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 11, 12, 14, 16

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Main inspection findings

 There is a safeguarding policy on the school’s website that meets current government requirements.  Home visits, regular review meetings and daily communication provide strong communication with parents and carers. Safeguarding training for staff is well organised. Leaders ensure that there is a strong culture of keeping pupils safe from harm.  The written health and safety policy is implemented effectively. Staff prioritise pupils’ health and safety as a focus of their work.  Fire safety measures are in place and records are meticulously kept. Leaders ensure that staff are up to date with fire-safety training. Leaders plan to review pupils’ evacuation plans. Some evacuation plans for pupils are not precise enough to ensure that staff know exactly the strategy to use in the event of having to evacuate the building quickly.  There are sufficient adults in place to keep pupils safe and also to focus on their

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Main inspection findings

learning across both school sites. Leaders plan to continue this high ratio of staff to pupils if the material change is approved. If the school’s strategy is implemented effectively, this approach should ensure that the planned increase in the number of pupils is well managed and that pupils continue to be well taught and supervised appropriately.  The risk assessment policy describes the high expectations that leaders place on identifying the risks that pupils have and the strategies to help support them. There is a written risk assessment policy. There are high-quality risk assessments for pupils, for activities and for the school sites.  If the planned improvements to pupils’ evacuation plans and strategy to increase pupil numbers take place, the standard is likely to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17–21(8)  The systems for checking the suitability of staff, supply staff, governors and

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Main inspection findings

proprietors are thorough and robust.  The standard is likely to be met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22–31(c)  Toilet and washing facilities at both sites meet requirements. Water is at a suitable temperature for washing.  There is suitable accommodation at both sites to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils.  Both sites are maintained to a high standard. A few adaptions are being made at the farm site to ensure that it meets all requirements for pupils once this has been agreed. Some first-floor windows require safety locks to ensure that they do not open too widely and thereby cause a safety risk to pupils.  The acoustics and lighting systems, including external lighting, are suitable.  Suitable drinking water facilities are provided at both sites.  The farm site has ample, good-quality outside space for pupils to play in. The school site has restricted outside space. However, arrangements are in place to use a nearby

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Main inspection findings

park to ensure that pupils can have suitable space outside.  If the planned improvements to the windows at the farm site take place, the standard is likely to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  The proprietor has ensured that there is strong accountability through the formation of a local governing body. Governors know the school well and provide challenge to leaders to ensure that the independent school standards are met in full.  The proprietor has recruited suitably skilled and experienced leaders. These leaders are well equipped to provide the support, monitoring and strategic direction for the additional number of pupils and age ranges being considered.  The standard is likely to be met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £51,740 to £67,600

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School details

Website www.enhancedlearningservices.co.uk/wess ex-lodge-school Email address theoffice@enhancedchildrensservices.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 13–15 March 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 8 to 18 8 to 18

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 19 50 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 19 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 19 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 19 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 19 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 11 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 9 20

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Information about this school

 The school was established in 2001 as an independent day school. It offers specialist provision for boys and girls who have social, emotional and behavioural needs.  The school operates from two sites. One site is in Frome itself and the other, Triskele Farm, is just outside Frome in a rural location. Pupils have a timetable that can include learning at either or both sites, depending on their learning needs and interests. The farm caters for a wide range of vocational training such as animal care, horticulture, catering and land management.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  The school is part of Enhanced Learning Services. The director of education and learning oversees the quality of education at the two sites.  A recent application to the Department for Education (DfE) to change the name of the school from Wessex College to Wessex Lodge was agreed.  Pupils are referred and placed by a local authority and attend for varying amounts of

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Information about this school

time, depending on the agreement with the local authority.  The school has admitted pupils above and below the registered are range, having received appropriate permission for a temporary change from the DfE.  A full standard inspection took place in March 2018, when the school was judged to be good.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the DfE following the school’s request to increase the age range from 11 to 16 to 8 to 18. The school also requested to increase the capacity of the school from 16 to 36 pupils. This is the first material change inspection.  There was an additional request by the school to increase further the capacity of the school, to 50 pupils. The DfE requested this change to be considered as part of this material change inspection at the end of the inspection. The lead inspector considered this request and reviewed the inspection evidence after the completion of the inspection before making a judgement. The lead inspector concluded that a further inspection was not required to agree on increasing the school’s capacity from 36 to 50 pupils.  The changes requested will affect the educational provision, as they add an additional two key stages to the school as well as increasing the pupil numbers.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector met with senior leaders, including the headteacher and the director of education and learning. The inspector also met with the proprietor.  A number of school documents and policies were scrutinised, including schemes of work, the framework for assessment, leaders’ records of the monitoring of teaching and learning, and documents to do with health and safety, careers guidance, behaviour and safeguarding. The school’s recruitment procedures, including the single central record, were also checked.  A walk of both sites took place alongside the headteacher to check compliance with the independent school standards.

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Inspection team

Tonwen Empson, lead inspector 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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