Oakwood School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Oakwood School C/O Cambian Education, 4th Floor Waterfront, Chancellors Road, London W6 9RU

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3, 3(a)  The requirements of this independent school standard were not met at the standard inspection in June 2018. This was because pupils were not making good enough progress, especially in key stages 1 and 2. Pupils’ progress in these key stages was not good enough in writing and reading, geography and history.  Since the last inspection, leaders have put into place effective schemes of work. These are based on national curriculum guidance. As a result, curriculum plans are appropriately challenging. There is good curriculum breadth.  Teachers set work that is appropriate to pupils’ ages and abilities. In key stage 4, for example, pupils are successfully entered for GCSE and other nationally accredited qualifications.  Teachers are committed and enthusiastic. They capture the interest of their pupils. Pupils remember recently taught lesson content, especially when it is imaginatively taught.

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Main inspection findings

Lessons are well structured and pupils value this. Teachers know how to assess pupils’ work well, and they ensure that pupils know what to do to improve. Pupils have a pride in their books and make a strong effort to present them well.  Pupils make good progress in writing in all key stages. This is because teachers make activities relevant and interesting. There are good examples of extended writing.  Writing is successfully encouraged in a range of subjects. For example, pupils write accurate explanations in science. In mathematics, pupils use accurate grammar and punctuation. They write clearly about the steps they need to complete calculations.  Staff are skilled in teaching phonics. Consequently, pupils in key stages 1 and 2 have a good grounding in letter patterns, and they know how to sound them out. This helps them to read with confidence when they get to key stage 3 and 4, and to make good

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Main inspection findings

progress in reading.  Reading out of school is strongly encouraged. Leaders and teachers have a good relationship with those who look after pupils when they are at home. Their reading is well planned. Books are interesting, varied and appropriate for the ability of each pupil. Teachers make sure pupils review their reading well, and this helps promote their interest and progress in reading. Pupils enjoy reading. A typical comment from a pupil was, ‘When we have prizes for good work, we ask for books.’  Pupils make good progress in subjects across the curriculum, such as geography and history. For example, teachers help pupils to understand the significance of the work of Martin Luther King. It could also be seen that pupils’ interest in extinct animals was well developed.  The school has a sufficient number of good-quality outdoor learning spaces that provide opportunities for safe play and learning. However, there are still some additional outdoor

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Main inspection findings

areas that remain underdeveloped and unused.  School leaders have successfully addressed the shortcomings found at the time of the previous inspection, and the standards in this part are now met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  This standard continues to be met.  The school has a safeguarding policy that is fit for purpose and conforms to the latest guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  Leaders’ arrangements for safeguarding pupils are effective. Pupils are kept safe and feel safe. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  This standard continues to be met.  The safeguarding policy is available to parents as a hard copy on request. The school does not have a website. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  Standards in this part were not met at the standard inspection in June 2018. The

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Main inspection findings

proprietor had not made sure that all the independent school standards were consistently met.  Leaders have ensured that they understand and meet all the independent school standards.  Leaders have planned a broad curriculum. They help teachers with good-quality professional development. As a result, staff plan and deliver lessons that interest pupils and challenge them appropriately. Pupils make good progress in all four key stages.  Leaders monitor their strategic planning well. They involve staff at all levels in this. Staff say they are included and listened to. For example, the leader of special educational needs and/or disabilities works closely with the pastoral leader to plan and put in place high-quality therapy. This means that pupils get effective access to help when they need it.  The headteacher had been in post for a very short time prior to the last inspection. She has secured the changes she wanted. There is clear communication between leaders and

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Main inspection findings

staff. Morale is high. Staff are challenged well.  The proprietorial body is effective and committed to the welfare and good progress of pupils. For example, the regional headteacher supports the headteacher well. The appointment of a new deputy headteacher has led to more effective monitoring. Leaders now have the time and expertise to see through their changes. The quality of writing across all four key stages has improved because leaders have ensured that staff access good-quality regular training.  Safeguarding is highly effective. Leaders train staff well. Pupils are confident. They feel safe. They know that staff are on their side. Their many needs are well known to their teachers and leaders.  In 2018, following the standard inspection, leaders submitted their action plan to the Department for Education. In May 2019, this plan was found not to be effective. Leaders have improved this plan considerably. It now has clear, measurable outcomes and

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Main inspection findings

realistic timescales. Leaders know what actions are likely to be effective, and they are accountable to one another and the proprietor for achieving them.  School leaders have addressed the shortcomings found in this paragraph, so this standard is now met.

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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. 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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school– – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught.

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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.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Website www.cambiangroup.com/childrensservices/s pecialisteducationservices Email address lisa.lyon@cambiangroup.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 5–7 June 2018

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Information about this school

 The previous standard inspection was conducted on 5 to 7 June 2018. The school was judged ‘requires improvement’.  The school makes use of one alternative provider, Jamie Drummond Outdoor Activities. Staff accompany pupils on all visits to the provider.  Oakwood School is an independent special school for pupils with complex trauma difficulties.  Half of all pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan.  All pupils are looked after and are funded by a range of different local authorities.

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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 inspector conducted a wide range of inspection activities, including: meetings with the headteacher and designated safeguarding lead; observations of teaching in all key stages; and scrutiny of pupils’ work in books in several subject areas.  All observations of teaching and scrutiny of workbooks were undertaken jointly with the headteacher and other senior staff.  The inspector had discussions with the headteacher, deputy headteacher, other senior and middle managers, class teachers, teaching assistants and other members of staff.  The inspector met with Cambian’s regional headteacher.

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Information about this inspection

 Documentation was reviewed to check compliance with the independent school standards. For example, the inspector took account of curriculum plans, teaching and learning monitoring documents, whole-school evaluations and the school’s safeguarding policy.  The inspector held two telephone discussions with social workers.  The inspector spoke to pupils throughout the inspection.

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Inspection team

Graham Tyrer, 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/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 for looked after children, 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.gov.uk/ofsted

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