LSI Independent College

School pre-registration inspection report

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LSI Independent College 13 Lyndhurst Terrace, London NW3 5QA

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  The proposed school has developed a curriculum policy which outlines an intended offer of a range of GCSE courses, including in English literature, English language, mathematics, the sciences, art, history, psychology, French and Spanish. There are suitable schemes of work and lesson plans in place for all these subjects for pupils aged 15 to 19, as well as an appropriate assessment system which will monitor pupils’ effort, learning and progress.  There are suitable plans in place for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, which pupils will study weekly. The teaching of British values has been sufficiently considered. Leaders have also considered how due regard will be given to all the protected characteristics, as identified in the Equality Act 2010.  At the previous pre-registration inspection, plans were not in place for physical

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Main inspection findings

education, and plans for careers education were embryonic. This inspection confirmed that a suitable programme of study for physical education is now in place, and an external careers advisor has been commissioned to provide pupils with regular, impartial careers information, advice and guidance.  All the independent school standards in this part are now likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All paragraphs  There is appropriate planning in place to provide for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The school’s PSHE plans show how the school intends to develop these areas over time, including pupils’ understanding of British values. In addition, a programme of trips and enrichment activities is planned. Planning actively encourages respect for other people by paying particular regard to all of the protected characteristics.  Staff must follow a clear code of conduct which forbids the sharing of partisan political opinions, and ensures that pupils are always presented with a balance of views.  The independent school standard in this part continues to be likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils All paragraphs  The school’s child protection policy is likely to be compliant with the latest statutory guidance. The proposed designated safeguarding leader has completed an appropriate level of training and has sufficient knowledge of the statutory requirements. There is a suitable system for the training of staff, and the recording and management of safeguarding concerns.  At the previous inspection, arrangements for safeguarding were not likely to meet requirements because the school’s system for completing vetting checks on staff was not compliant with statutory guidance. This inspection confirms that leaders have taken effective action to ensure compliance in this area, as identified in Part 4.  Leaders have produced appropriate anti-bullying and behaviour policies, which are likely to be implemented well. Leaders have prepared to log incidents of serious

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Main inspection findings

misbehaviour and any sanctions imposed as a result.  The school is now likely to be compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The external fire risk assessment undertaken in November 2018 identified a number of actions and recommendations, which have now all been appropriately actioned. Checks on the emergency lighting are now being completed and recorded, and the school’s fire safety folder now contains contemporaneous records of all the required checks.  The school’s health and safety and first aid policies are suitable and likely to be implemented well.  Pupils are likely to be appropriately supervised through the adequate deployment of staff.  Arrangements for meeting the standards in relation to pupil admissions and attendance are now likely to meet requirements. There is now a compliant admission register. Attendance registers now make use of the correct codes to record pupils’

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Main inspection findings

attendance, and whether absence is authorised or unauthorised.  Leaders have written a suitable risk assessment policy. Written risk assessments for trips and science experiments, as examples, appropriately consider how to minimise the risks presented. Since the previous inspection, leaders have also given more thought to assessing the risks presented by the premises, including off-site leisure facilities. However, they realise that this area requires even more attention.  All of the independent school standards in this part are now likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  There is now an appropriate template in place for the single central record (SCR) of vetting checks on staff.  All the required vetting checks have been identified and completed, including barred list checks and checks in relation to prohibition from teaching and the management of independent schools (known as ‘section 128’ checks).  The required additional checks on those who have lived and worked overseas have been undertaken, where necessary. Checks on staff members’ identification and their right to work in the United Kingdom are now clearly recorded.  All checks are now dated.  The required vetting checks on all three members of the proprietorial board have now been completed and recorded on the SCR.  The school does not intend to make use of volunteers, supply or agency staff.  All of the independent school standards in this part are now likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The school is a large building currently used as a further education college. It includes 10 classroom spaces and provides space for approximately 80 pupils.  An appropriate medical room facility is available. Shared with an office space, it includes a bed, first aid supplies, a washing facility and is next to a toilet.  There is a large, secure and appropriate outdoor space for recreation and physical education.  There are no changing or shower facilities. However, pupils will access these on a weekly basis at local leisure facilities whenever they attend physical education lessons.  There are separate toilet facilities for pupils, students and staff.  All the requirements relating to lighting, acoustics and water are likely to be met.  The buildings are clean, secure and well maintained.  During the inspection, the premises were in use by a languages school for a summer

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Main inspection findings

programme. Window restrictors, in place to limit the extent in which windows can be opened, had been removed because of the heat. This puts pupils’ safety at risk. The restrictors were reinstated during the inspection and the inspector was assured that the proposed school will never operate without the windows being suitably restricted.  The independent school standards in this part continue to be likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information All paragraphs  All the required policies and information are currently made available in hard copy, and will be available online when leaders set up the school’s website.  The school’s intended report template for parents suitably outlines pupils’ progress and attainment, as per the requirements.  The independent school standards in this part continue to be likely to be met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All paragraphs  The school’s complaints policy continues to be likely to meet the requirements. It has been improved since the previous pre-registration inspection to include three clearer stages.  Leaders have prepared a suitable complaints log.  The independent school standard in this part continues to be likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  Leaders have worked effectively since the previous pre-registration inspection in March 2019. They have developed a secure knowledge and understanding of the independent school standards. As a result, all the requirements are now likely to be met if LSI Independent College is registered as an independent school.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders have written an appropriate accessibility plan, which is likely to comply with Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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proposal

Inspector’s recommendation Age range of pupils Not applicable 15 to 19 15 to 19 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 80 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Not applicable Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Not applicable Up to 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable None

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable Up to 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan Not applicable Up to 5

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan Not applicable Up to 5

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 7

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 7

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable 3

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Information about this proposed school

 LSI Independent College is currently operating as an independent further education provider. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).  Leaders wish to register this proposed school as an independent day school for pupils aged 15 to 19 in the London Borough of Camden. If registered, the existing independent further education provider will cease operating.  The school intends to provide an education for pupils studying GCSEs, and students studying A-levels, only.  The school would be led by the headteacher. The proprietorial body, comprising three directors of LSI Education Ltd, would also fulfil the role of governing body.  The school does not intend to make use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.  This is the school’s second pre-registration inspection. Its first inspection was undertaken in March 2019, when some of the independent school standards were judged as unlikely to be met. The Department for Education subsequently rejected the school’s application.  The inspection was conducted with one week’s notice, as its timing coincided with the summer holidays.  The inspector conducted the inspection with one of the school’s directors and a vice- principal. He also spoke once with the chair of the proprietorial board and multiple times with the headteacher by telephone.  The inspector considered a wide range of evidence to check the likelihood of the

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Information about this inspection

school meeting all the independent school standards. He focused on the standards judged unlikely to be met at the school’s first pre-registration inspection in March 2019. He toured the premises, reviewed key documents and policies, including those related to safeguarding and health and safety, and considered the school’s proposed curriculum.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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 .

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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.

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Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk, or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted .

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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 children for looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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

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