Barbara Speake Schools for Performing Arts

Barbara Speake Stage School East Acton Lane, East Acton, London W3 7EG

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5(a), 5(b)(i) and 10  The curriculum actively promotes all the fundamental British values through personal, social, health and economic education, assemblies, trips and events.  As a result of the school’s approach, pupils become respectful, tolerant and self- confident. They are highly articulate and supportive of each other; the oldest pupils in the school told the inspector that they feel like part of a family.  The school’s anti-bullying strategy is appropriate and implemented well. The inspector found no evidence to suggest that bullying is a problem in the school. Long-standing pupils told the inspector that the school is a harmonious place and that everybody gets along well.  The independent school standards checked in this part are met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)

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Main inspection findings

 The school’s compliant safeguarding policy, which pays due regard to ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (September, 2018), is available online. Leaders with responsibility for safeguarding and child protection have been suitably trained and clear systems are in place for the referral of any concerns.  However, leaders have not ensured that information about pupils leaving the school is consistently shared with local authorities in a timely way, such as during the headteacher’s absence. This means that local authorities are unlikely to know about some pupils’ destinations and current educational placements. Paragraphs 9, 9(b), 9(c) and 32(3)(a)  The school’s exclusion policy, part of the behaviour policy, is appropriate but is not implemented well. In the case of one permanent exclusion that took place in the past year, the process outlined in the school’s policy was not followed. The exclusion letter

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Main inspection findings

issued to the parent failed to reflect the school’s agreed approach to permanent exclusion, and did not provide the parent with the opportunity to appeal the decision.  Records of exclusions and any other sanctions for incidents of serious misbehaviour are not kept in line with requirements. Paragraph 13  The school’s suitable first aid policy is implemented well. There are suitably-qualified first aiders. Accidents and provision of first aid are well documented, and parents are notified accordingly. Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  Leaders have not written a risk assessment policy.  The risk assessment of the premises is not thorough enough, and does not consider all activities and areas within the school.  Not all the independent school standards checked in this part are met, as listed in the annex to this report. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1)(c) and 25  The separate changing room facilities for boys and girls are suitable.

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Main inspection findings

 The school is suitably heated and well maintained. The premises are generally clean, though the inspector found the girls’ shower to be in need of further cleaning.  Leaders have removed the closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance system.  The independent school standards checked in this part are met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All paragraphs  The school’s complaints procedure and log of formal complaints are suitable.  However, in conjunction with leaders’ failure to implement the exclusions policy correctly, the complaints policy is also not implemented consistently well. For example, in one case a complainant wrote multiple times to the proprietor and was ignored.  Not all the independent school standards checked in this part are met, as listed in the annex to this report. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  The leadership of the school is unique, as it revolves around the proprietor who has

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Main inspection findings

been teaching at the premises since 1945. The leadership team is still relatively new, and the headteacher was absent from the school during the time of the permanent exclusion referenced in part 3 above.  The proprietor acknowledges that some of the independent school standards are no longer met and that things need to change. She is making plans to introduce a form of governance and to delegate all responsibility for leadership and management to her leadership team, who are ready and willing to work together to move the school forward.  The independent school standards checked in this part are not met, as listed in the annex to this report.

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

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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

Email address enquiries@barbaraspeake.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 7–9 November 2017

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Information about this school

 Barbara Speake Stage School is an independent day school in the London Borough of Ealing. It specialises in the teaching of the performing arts.  The school was last inspected in November 2017, when its overall effectiveness was judged to require improvement.  The school makes no use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency 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.  The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education in response to multiple complaints which raised concerns about various aspects of the school’s work.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector was asked to report against some of the regulations contained within Parts 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector reviewed key documents and policies, including those related to safeguarding, exclusions, complaints and risk assessment. He conducted the inspection with the school’s proprietor and headteacher throughout, and met with the assistant headteacher and a deputy designated safeguarding leader. The inspector

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Information about this inspection

also toured the premises and met with all pupils in Years 10 and 11.  There were not enough recent responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View, to be considered as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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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.  9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour among pupils by ensuring that  – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively; and – 9(c) a record is kept of the sanctions imposed on pupils for serious misbehaviour.  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 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

 33 The standard about the manner in which complaints are handled is met if the proprietor ensures that a complaints procedure is drawn up and effectively implemented which deals with the handling of complaints from parents of pupils.

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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. 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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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