Brook View School

School material change inspection report

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Mountwood Academy Ward Green Lane, Preston PR3 3YB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2, 3 and 4  Leaders intend to personalise the curriculum to meet the needs of the age group within the material change.  The school has a clear written curriculum policy which is suitable for the age range being proposed. Detailed schemes of work have been written for each subject. Students’ literacy and numeracy skills will be accredited through functional skills awards. Students will also be offered a range of additional courses, such as employability, cookery, ASDAN qualifications and GCSE music. Students benefit from a varied range of extra-curricular activities such as visits to music concerts and the gardening club. The staff demonstrate good knowledge of the subjects being taught and have the appropriate skills and experience to teach them. Strong relationships exist between teachers and students.  Leaders have developed an appropriate programme of personal, social, health and

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Main inspection findings

economic education (PHSE), which encourages respect for others, including those with protected characteristics, as set out in the 2010 Equality Act.  The promotion of fundamental British values threads through the curriculum and links closely with the study of students’ rights and responsibilities. Students have opportunities to discuss issues linked to democracy, such as the role of MPs and parliament. Students also have opportunities to participate in work experience to help prepare them for the experience of life in Britain. Regular monitoring, including visits to classrooms and scrutiny of books, ensures that fundamental British values are not being undermined.  Leaders ensure that students receive impartial careers advice from external careers guidance advisers. This enables students to make informed choices about their future careers and helps them to fulfil their potential.  The planned location for 19- to 25-year-old students is at Mountwood Academy. This

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Main inspection findings

means that students will benefit from existing specialist facilities and resources. Classrooms are well equipped, providing students with an attractive environment in which to learn. Resources are of a good quality and range.  Leaders have developed effective internal assessment systems to evaluate and understand the progress of students. These will continue to be used for older students.  Effective strategies are in place for managing students’ behaviour. Leaders ensure that there are always high levels of supervision. Students receive individual reward points for good behaviour, which enables them to respond positively.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  The programmes for personal, social, health and economic education contain well- chosen topics to promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, including

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Main inspection findings

fundamental British values. For example, lesson plans include opportunities for students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures and religions. Religious festivals such as Eid, Hanukah and Diwali are celebrated annually. Discussions aim to address topics such as online safety and health and welfare. There are good links with the local community police officer, who helps students to understand important aspects of personal safety.  Staff plan together to ensure that partisan views are not promoted in the teaching of any subjects.  Leaders give a high priority to improving students’ behaviour and self-esteem so that they can achieve their potential. Provision aims to enable students to know right from wrong and to ensure that they take responsibility for their actions and behaviour.  Leaders are aware of the vulnerabilities of students and strong procedures are in

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Main inspection findings

place to protect them. For example, access to tablet computers is closely monitored and internet access is only allowed with close supervision.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  There is a culture of vigilance in the school. Leaders and other staff members have a good understanding of their responsibilities with regard to keeping children safe. Thorough procedures are in place to promote the welfare, health and safety of students.  The school has a safeguarding policy which is up to date and takes account of the most recent guidance and legislation. The safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers and is published on the website.  The standards in this part are like to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)

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Main inspection findings

 The school has a website which includes the school’s most up-to-date child protection policy, along with a broad range of other safeguarding policies and procedures which promote the welfare of students in school.  The standards in this part are like to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  The headteacher has a clear vision for the school and has high expectations for students. Leaders demonstrate strong knowledge and understanding of the learning needs and provision for students. Leaders have identified that there is a need for continuing specialist provision for some students after they leave the sixth-form provision. Through their involvement with other settings, leaders have established effective links with other schools and agencies which benefit all students.  Leaders have a good understanding of the independent school standards. Due to the

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Main inspection findings

vulnerable nature of some students, leaders focus on the individual needs of students and all aspects of safeguarding are high priority. Staff ensure that students are always fully supervised. Leaders actively promote the well-being and safety of students.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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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 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

School status Independent residential special school

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School details

Website http://mountwoodacademy.lancs.sch.uk

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School details

Email address Emily.haddock@mountwoodacademy.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 12–14 September 2017

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 8 to 19 8 to 25 8 to 25

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 19 19 19

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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 19

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School’s current position School’s proposal

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

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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 19

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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 19

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 4 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 3 3

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Information about this school

 Mountwood Academy is an independent special school. The school is located on the outskirts of Preston.  The school caters for young people with autism. They require residential provision for up to 52 weeks per year. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school caters for boys and girls aged between eight and 19 years. The school is registered for 34 pupils. There are currently 19 pupils on roll.  The school does not currently make use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The school has applied to change its age range from eight to 19 to eight to 25 years.  The DfE requested that Ofsted conduct a material change inspection to report against paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) (c) and 34 of the independent school standards.  This was the school’s first material change inspection.  The inspector scrutinised school policies and other documents, including those relating to safeguarding, the planned curriculum for students aged over 19 and samples of schemes of work used by the school.  The inspector held discussions with the headteacher, assistant headteacher, teachers and students.  Accompanied by the headteacher and other staff, the inspector had a brief tour of the teaching area for students.  The inspector observed students singing and playing musical instruments. The inspector also carried out a scrutiny of students’ work.  The inspector examined the school’s website to ensure that proprietors are complying

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Information about this inspection

with the requirements to publish information.

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Inspection team

Ahmed Marikar, 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

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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