Bramdean School

Bramdean School Richmond Lodge, Homefield Road, Heavitree, Exeter, Devon EX1 2QR

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7–7(a)  This inspection was undertaken as a consequence of a complaint that raised wider concerns about the school. These concerns related to the school’s work in ensuring pupils’ safety and well-being on the school grounds and premises.  Since the previous full Section 109 inspection in January 2019, the proprietor/headteacher has not maintained some aspects of the premises or facilities well enough. This means welfare, health and safety standards are not met consistently. As a result, pupils are exposed to a few avoidable risks. For example, during the inspection, some windows leading onto the roof were not secured consistently and a hazardous cleaning agent was found unlocked and accessible to pupils.  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on its website and pays due regards to the guidance issued by the Secretary of State in ‘Keeping children safe in education’,

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Main inspection findings

2018.  Pupils say that they feel safe and well cared for at school. They have confidence in staff and have a secure knowledge and understanding of key safeguarding matters, including, for example, internet and road safety. Paragraph 11  Leaders, including the proprietor/headteacher, have an agreed and up-to-date written health and safety policy. However, this is not implemented or checked well enough. Consequently, some breaches in safety on the premises have gone unnoticed.  Other staff have not been quick enough in reporting potential health and safety risks to leaders. Consequently, there are occasions when action is not taken in a timely manner to avoid a few unnecessary risks from occurring. Paragraph 16–16(b)  Risk assessments, with particular reference to premises maintenance and the storage or use of hazardous cleaning products, could not be provided to the inspector. As such, leaders are not yet checking or evaluating the risks of some of these vital areas

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Main inspection findings

well enough. Leaders do not have refined or well-developed systems for routinely checking the school grounds, premises and property well enough.  Leaders undertake premises checks with staff, including the site manager. However, these checks are not sufficiently rigorous to enable leaders to keep abreast of all of the issues that inevitably emerge. For example, a padlock between the Kindergarten and the proprietor’s residence was attached to one side of the gate but not the other, rendering it useless. This leads to the risk of additional harm, which had not been identified by leaders.  Other risk assessments, for example school trips and visits, the use of science laboratories and fire risks, are in place. These are used appropriately in mitigating risk for pupils in these kinds of pursuits and activities.  The standards in this part are not met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25

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Main inspection findings

 Some findings during the inspection are not consistent with the requirements of the independent school standards (refer to detail in afore-mentioned bullets). On occasions where leaders have not been quick enough to either identify or respond to health and safety issues, pupils are put at an unnecessarily increased risk of harm. In particular, the danger posed through insecure high-level windows is not acceptable.  The standards in this part are not met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(c)  As the shortcomings in the health, safety and welfare systems of the school indicate, the proprietor does not ensure that the independent school standards are met consistently.  The standard in this part is not met.

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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 5

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £6,204 to £11,490

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 15–17 January 2019

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Information about this school

 Bramdean School is a non-selective, independent school in Heavitree, Exeter. Founded in 1901, it provides education in line with its registration from children aged three to 18.  The proprietor is also the headteacher of the school. There is no governing body.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place on 15–17 January 2017. The overall judgement of the school during the previous inspection found the school to require improvement.  The school does not use alternative provision.  There are five students in the sixth form. The school provides a suite of examinations in different subjects, including to AS- and A-level examinations for students in key stage 5.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education in response to a complaint it had received about the school.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector met with the proprietor/headteacher and worked extensively alongside the senior teacher during the inspection. The inspector toured the school with the senior teacher to evaluate the condition and management of the school site.  The inspector looked at a range of documents provided by the school, including those on its website. In particular, the inspector reviewed key health and safety policies and sampled some risk assessments. The inspector also checked the school’s single central record (SCR).  The inspector spoke with a range of pupils across the school, including pupils in Years 3, 4 and 11. He also spoke briefly with a few members of staff to gather their opinions of the school.  The inspector also checked Parent View as part of the pre-inspection planning for the

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Inspection team

Stewart Gale, lead inspector Her Majesty’s 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  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.

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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

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.

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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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