The Christian School (Takeley)

School progress monitoring inspection report

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The Christian School (Takeley) Dunmow Road, Brewers End, Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM22 6QH

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  Although met at the previous inspection in February 2019, the requirements of these paragraphs are no longer met.  The standard of record-keeping has regressed since the previous inspection. Some safeguarding records are not kept in the appropriate files. Some records do not contain sufficient detail, such as who has been involved in managing concerns. Some records do not show what actions have been taken as a response to concerns raised.  Some safeguarding records show that matters which should have been followed up with external agencies have not been.  There is a suitable safeguarding policy on the school’s website.  Leaders have not ensured that this independent school standard is met. Paragraph 16, 16(b)  While risks are assessed, they are not always appropriately addressed. For example, leaders were unsure which items of equipment should have been electrically tested or

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Main inspection findings

when it had been done. Some items had not been tested at the time leaders said they should have been.  Leaders have not ensured that this independent school standard is met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The standard was not met at the previous inspection because some aspects of leadership and management remained underdeveloped. The independent school standards had not been consistently met.  At the time of the previous inspection, paperwork showed a lack of clarity and understanding about how to evaluate the effectiveness of provision. This remains the case. Leaders’ evaluation of the effectiveness of the school does not demonstrate the impact their actions have had. Their evaluation and associated action plans are not helpful to leaders in improving the quality of provision.  Trustees lack a strategic understanding of the impact of the school’s work. The

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Main inspection findings

information they receive about the progress that pupils are making is difficult to interpret. Trustees do not understand it. They are not able to hold leaders properly to account.  While leaders have sought advice and professional development from outside the school, this has not addressed the weaknesses identified in the previous inspection report. The headteacher’s ambition that this would enable trustees to use well the information they were given has not been realised.  The standard for the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements was met at the previous inspection but is now unmet. Leaders are not actively promoting the well-being of pupils. There are weaknesses in safeguarding records and in how concerns are followed up, and appropriate actions are not taken to reduce identified health and safety risks.  Leaders have not ensured that this independent school standard is 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. 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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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

Proprietor Christian School (Takeley) Trust

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £3,012 to £6,012

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School details

Website www.takeley-christian.essex.sch.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 5–7 December 2017

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Information about this school

 The Christian School (Takeley) was registered with the Department for Education (DfE) in 1989. The school was founded by a group of parents and friends who belonged to the same church. The school’s aim is to provide an education based on Christian faith and values. School governance is conducted by the trust.  The trust is the proprietorial body of the school.  The majority of pupils attending the school are White British.  There are currently 52 pupils on roll, aged from three to 16 years, including three children in Nursery and Reception.  The school admits some of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) arising mainly from social, emotional or mental health needs or medical conditions. Some pupils have an education, care and health plan.  The school does not use supply staff.

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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 carried out without notice.  This was the second progress monitoring inspection following the school’s most recent standard inspection in December 2017, when the school’s overall effectiveness was judged to require improvement.  In March 2018, following the December 2017 standard inspection, a school action plan was submitted, containing actions that leaders identified they intended to take in order to meet the independent school standards. The plan was deemed unacceptable. A second action plan was presented in August 2018. The DfE accepted the second action plan as appropriate.

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Information about this inspection

 The first progress monitoring inspection, in February 2019, found that leaders had made progress and met some of the previously unmet independent school standards.  During this second progress monitoring inspection, the inspector met with the headteacher, another leader and two trustees. He undertook a tour of the school.  The inspector reviewed the documentation relating to the leaders’ evaluation and improvement planning, health and safety, and safeguarding. He looked at information about pupils’ progress and records of staff development.

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Inspection team

Andrew Hemmings, 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 unmet at this inspection

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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.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that— – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. 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 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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