Spring Hill High School

c/o 28 Slade Road, Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands B23 7PG

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  This emergency inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to confirm whether or not the school was still in operation.  The school’s safeguarding policy is up to date and takes into account current government requirements. The school does not have a website, so the policy is not available online. However, the safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers on request, in line with requirements.  All staff have regular and appropriate child protection and ‘Prevent’ duty training to understand their responsibilities in keeping pupils safe. They know how to report any concerns about pupils’ welfare and they are vigilant in looking out for indicators of risk or harm. Leaders also have a clear understanding of the specific safeguarding concerns that relate to the context of the school.  The safeguarding team maintains the required confidential records and works

p.1

Main inspection findings

effectively with a range of external agencies. Referrals are conducted in a timely manner and leaders ensure that the proper procedures are closely followed.  Leaders ensure that appropriate checks are carried out on all adults appointed to work at the school.  Since the last inspection, leaders have taken appropriate action to address concerns relating to fire safety. They have improved the accommodation available for the treatment of pupils who are unwell at school.  All of the standards in this part are met.

p.1

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. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

p.2

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.

p.3

School details

Type of school Other independent special school

p.3

School details

School status Independent special school

p.3

School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

p.3

School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 8

p.3

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £29,000 to £86,000

p.3

School details

Email address info@springhillhighschool.co.uk

p.3

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 12–14 June 2018

p.3

Information about this school

 Spring Hill High School is an independent special school for male and female pupils between 11 and 19 years of age. All have varying degrees of social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Prior to joining Spring Hill High School, many of the pupils have not attended school for long periods of time. Many pupils also have associated complex learning and medical needs, including autistic spectrum disorder.  The school is registered for up to 50 pupils. Currently, 23 attend the school. All have education, health and care plans. All pupils are placed in the school by their local authority. The school is presently working with four local authorities.  The school currently operates across three sites, so that it is able to keep the numbers low at each centre. This allows leaders to provide bespoke provision to support pupils’ needs. The school is led by the headteacher and each school site is overseen by a

p.3

Information about this school

deputy or assistant headteacher.  The school does not use alternative provision.  The school was first registered in 2005. The previous standard inspection, in June 2018, judged the school to be inadequate.  The proprietor has changed since the previous standard inspection. The information held on the government’s ‘get information about schools’ website is no longer accurate. The Department for Education was informed of the proposed change to the proprietor in August 2018 and the process to register this change is under way.  Following a change in ownership, the school was temporarily housed in alternative accommodation. However, the school is now based on three of the five sites that were used by the school until June 2018. The school has a new telephone number. Contact email addresses remain the same. The school does not currently have a website, although a new website is under development.  Since the last inspection, a governing body has been formed to increase levels of

p.4

Information about this school

scrutiny and accountability. The governing body is chaired by a former headteacher of the school.  The aim of the school is to provide a caring, safe and secure environment that values education and enables pupils to realise their full potential.

p.4

Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to confirm whether or not the school was still in operation. The inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector checked the school’s arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils.  The inspector met with the new proprietor, who is also the headteacher, and the deputy headteacher.  The inspector visited two of the school’s three sites and conducted a brief tour of each building, visiting all classrooms and areas of the school.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation, including: the school’s safeguarding policy and related information; documents relating to fire safety; and records of communication with the Department for Education.

p.5

Inspection team

Catherine Crooks, 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 .

p.5

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection team

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.6