Fusion College

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Willows Manleys Farm, West Buckland, Wellington, Somerset TA21 9LQ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii), 3, 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(f), 3(g), 4  At the time of the previous standard inspection, leaders had not drawn up an effective curriculum policy or appropriate schemes of work. Additionally, leaders had not ensured that pupils were being provided with impartial, accurate and up-to-date careers guidance which enabled them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options. As a result of weaknesses in the school‟s assessment and planning processes, teaching was not effective. Work was often too easy or too difficult. This was weakening the progress pupils were making across a range of subjects.  Since the previous inspection, the head of education, supported by the newly appointed executive director of education, has drawn up and implemented a comprehensive and effective curriculum policy. This policy is in line with the school‟s ethos that pupils

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Main inspection findings

receive a personalised education, matched to individual need, while also being supported in their social and emotional development. The school‟s curriculum also contains a specific focus on developing pupils‟ life-long learning skills and encouraging them to continue into further education or training.  Leaders have put in place diagnostic tests to ensure that work is matched accurately to pupils‟ needs. Assessments at the end of each module monitor the progress being made, with subsequent learning being adapted accordingly. Across subjects, schemes of work are now in place. These set expectations for pupils‟ progress within individual units of work. Teachers are using these schemes of work to plan individual lessons which now take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils. Consequently, pupils are making stronger progress towards their individual targets. Furthermore, in the majority

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Main inspection findings

of cases, pupils in both Years 10 and 11 are able to attain formal qualifications across a range of subjects.  In order to provide pupils with up-to-date careers guidance, the head of education has secured the services of an independent adviser. Together, they have drawn up a plan to deliver careers guidance in line with published benchmarks. As well as regular one-to- one support, this will also include opportunities for pupils in Years 10 and 11 to undertake both college and work placements.  The standards in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5, 5(b), 5(b)(v)  At the time of the previous inspection, teaching was not enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of, and a respect for, their own and other cultures.  Leaders have ensured that the newly implemented schemes of work cover the breadth of pupils‟ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. This is done through discrete lessons, as well as through other curriculum subjects. Regular monitoring by school leaders confirms that the school‟s plans are being implemented effectively in lessons.  The standard in this part is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The school‟s arrangements to safeguard pupils are not effective. For example, the suitability checks that need to be carried out for staff and the proprietor have not been completed or recorded in line with guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  Additionally, there are discrepancies in some of the school‟s record-keeping. For example, during the progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that attendance registers had not been completed in line with school policy.  The standard in this paragraph is now unmet. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  At the time of the previous inspection, there were deficiencies in the school‟s procedures for identifying and minimising the risks faced by pupils. This was particularly the case for regular activities undertaken beyond the school site.  Leaders have drawn up a risk assessment policy which details clearly the school‟s

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Main inspection findings

procedures for managing risk. They have also created risk assessments covering a wide range of activities, such as swimming, work experience and visits to the nearby Wellington Monument. However, although these risk assessments identify any potential risks, they do not describe the control measures which will be put in place to reduce them.  The standard in this paragraph remains unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2), 18(2)(b), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(c)  The school‟s arrangements to check the suitability of staff and the proprietorial body are not compliant with the guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  As part of their employment checks, leaders have not carried out the required prohibition checks. They are, therefore, unable to confirm whether members of staff have been subject to a direction under section 142 of the 2002 Education Act, prohibiting them from being employed in a school.  The proprietor has not checked whether school leaders have been subject to a direction under section 128 of the 2008 Education Act, prohibiting them from taking part in the management of an independent school. Additionally, leaders were not able to confirm that these checks had been carried out for members of the proprietorial body.

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Main inspection findings

 The standards in these paragraphs are now unmet. Paragraph 21(1), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(b)  The proprietor has not ensured that the school‟s single central register is maintained in line with statutory guidance. The information detailed above is missing from the register and the proprietor is not included.  The standard in this paragraph is now unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34, 34(a), 34(b), 34(c)  At the time of the previous inspection, school leaders had not ensured that all of the independent school standards had been met. This remains the case. While they have successfully addressed a number of the unmet standards, particularly around the quality of education, some remain unmet. In addition, a number of standards that were met at the previous inspection are now unmet. This is mainly due to leaders having an underdeveloped understanding of the statutory guidance outlined in „Keeping children safe in education‟.  The proprietor has not ensured that school leaders have a secure understanding of the independent school standards. This is exacerbated by the proprietor not having put in place a procedure for checking continued compliance with the standards.  The standard in this part remains unmet.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively.  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are– – 2(2)(e) for pupils receiving secondary education, access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that– – 2(2)(e)(i) is presented in an impartial manner; – 2(2)(e)(ii) enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options.  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school– – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range; – 3(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils‟ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 4 The standard in this paragraph is met where the proprietor ensures that a framework for pupil performance to be evaluated, by reference to the school‟s own aims as provided to parents or national norms, or to both, is in place.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor– – 5(b) ensures that principles are actively promoted which– – 5(b)(v) further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of, and respect for, their own and other cultures.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Girls

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School details

Executive director of education Ronnie Gleeson

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 16–18 January 2018

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Information about this school

 Willows is an independent special day school. The school was established in 2005. It moved to its current site in 2007.  The school offers provision for up to 16 girls who have severe social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.  Pupils are placed by their respective local authority.  The proprietor has responsibility for the governance of the school.  The school‟s previous standard inspection took place on 16–18 January 2018, when it was judged to be inadequate.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  At the time of this progress monitoring inspection, the school did not comply with its registration agreement. This was with respect to a change of proprietor.

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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 the first progress monitoring inspection since the previous standard inspection and was carried out with no notice.  After the previous inspection, which found the school‟s overall effectiveness to be inadequate, the school was required to produce an action plan explaining how it would meet the independent school standards that were unmet at this inspection. This action plan, evaluated on 20 June 2018, was judged as being acceptable with modifications.  Prior to the inspection, the lead inspector scrutinised a range of documentation, including that provided by the registration authority for independent schools, the

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Information about this inspection

previous inspection report and the subsequent action plan drawn up by the school.  During the inspection, the inspector met with school leaders, including the executive director of education and the head of education, to discuss the effectiveness of actions taken since the previous standard inspection. He also held discussions with staff and pupils. The inspector scrutinised a range of documentation, including curriculum plans and information about safeguarding. Along with the head of education, he visited classrooms to observe learning and evaluated a sample of pupils‟ work.

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Inspection team

Jonathan Dyer, lead inspector Her Majesty‟s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the secretary of state.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 18(2) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 18(2)(b) no such person carries out work, or intends to carry out work, at the school in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act, or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in either such direction;  20(6) The standard in this paragraph is met in relation to an individual ("MB"), not being the chair of the school, who is a member of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate named as the proprietor of the school in the register or in an application to enter the school in the register, if– – 20(6)(a) MB– – 20(6)(a)(ii) does not carry out work, or intend to carry out work, at the school in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any disqualification,

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in either such direction; – 20(6)(b) subject to sub-paragraphs (7) to (8), the chair of the school makes the following checks relating to MB– – 20(6)(c) subject to sub-paragraph (8), where the Secretary of State makes a request for an enhanced criminal record check relating to MB countersigned by the Secretary of State to be made, such a check is made.  21(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor keeps a register which shows such of the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (3) to (7) as is applicable to the school in question.  21(3) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is– – 21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff ("S") appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether– – 21(3)(a)(iii) a check was made to establish whether “S” is subject to any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any disqualification,

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction; – 21(3)(b) in relation to each member of staff ("S"), whether a check was made to establish whether “S” is subject to a prohibition order or an interim prohibition order, including the date on which such check was completed.  21(6) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation each member ("MB") of a body of persons named as the proprietor appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether the checks referred to in paragraph 20(6)(b) were made, the date they were made and the date on which the resulting certificate was obtained.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are– – 2(2)(e) for pupils receiving secondary education, access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that– – 2(2)(e)(i) is presented in an impartial manner; – 2(2)(e)(ii) enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options.  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school– – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range; – 3(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils‟ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress.  4 The standard in this paragraph is met where the proprietor ensures that a framework for pupil performance to be evaluated, by reference to the school‟s own aims as provided to parents or national norms, or to both, is in place.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor– – 5(b) ensures that principles are actively promoted which– – 5(b)(v) further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of, and respect for, their own and other cultures. 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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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

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