Moon Hall School, Reigate

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Moon Hall School, Reigate Flanchford Road, Leigh, Reigate, Surrey RH2 8RE

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33(b), 33(f), 33(g), 33(h), 33(i), 33(i)(i), 33(i)(ii), 33(k)  At the previous emergency inspection, inspectors judged that the school’s procedures for managing complaints did not meet the independent school standards. Governors had not made sure that complaints were considered within their stated timescales. Complaints from parents were not managed well.  Governors have reviewed the way they handle complaints from parents and carers and made some improvements to their procedures. For example, the school’s complaints policy now includes more realistic timescales for reviewing concerns.  However, the school’s procedure is still not clear enough for parents. The policy does not provide enough reassurance that serious concerns will be considered objectively. The policy outlines how a committee will be set up to review a complaint if it cannot be

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Main inspection findings

resolved informally. The policy indicates that the committee will consist of ‘the next three available governors’. It does not state, as required, that one panel member will be independent of the management and running of the school.  The school does not meet this aspect of the independent school standards.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  Although overall leadership in the school has improved, governors have not ensured that all the independent school standards are met consistently.  At the last inspection, inspectors identified that communication between governors, parents and staff was weak. A significant number of parents and staff had lost confidence in the governing body. Many parents felt that their concerns were not dealt with properly.  The Charities Commission reviewed concerns raised by parents and made a number of recommendations to the school. The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to draw up an action plan outlining how previously unmet standards will be met. The school’s action plan was judged to be acceptable, but required modifications. Some deadlines in the action plan were not clearly defined. The plan did not include precise

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Main inspection findings

success criteria to help governors evaluate improvements.  The school has sensibly strengthened the governing body by appointing new governors with a range of skills and expertise. The headteacher has commissioned external support for governance and school improvement. This support includes a new clerk, who has improved the organisation of meetings and recording of minutes.  However, the headteacher and governors agree that improvements are still ‘work in progress’. Governors have made some changes to their action plan, but it is still not precise enough. The plan does not make clear exactly how governors will measure the impact of improvements.  In addition, it is early days for the new governors, who are in the process of getting appropriate training for their roles.  Governors have not checked carefully enough whether the school’s policies meet the independent school standards consistently. They have not ensured that the complaints

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Main inspection findings

procedure meets requirements.  The headteacher has now been appointed to oversee both schools in the trust, as executive headteacher. The day-to-day running of the school, under the senior school leadership, is more settled and positive. The new academic year has started well.  Parents, staff and governors are confident in the abilities of the executive headteacher. Several parents have sent in messages of support, praising the school leadership.  The school’s safeguarding and child protection policy is published on the school’s website and is available to parents. The policy has been updated in line with the latest guidance from the Secretary of State.  The school does not meet this aspect of the independent school standards.

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Proprietor Moon Hall Schools Educational Trust

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £18,480–£23,475

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School details

Email address enquiries@moonhallcollege.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 3 March 2009

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Information about this school

 Moon Hall School is a co-educational school catering for pupils aged seven to 16.  The school is owned and governed by the Moon Hall Schools Educational Trust.  All pupils require support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), particularly associated with dyslexia. Nearly half of pupils have education, health and care plans (EHCPs).  About one third of pupils have places at the school funded by their local authorities. The remaining pupils are privately funded.

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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.  This inspection was the first progress monitoring inspection since the emergency inspection on 3 December 2018. The inspection was carried out with no notice.  The Department for Education (DfE) issued the school with a statutory notice on 5 March 2019, requiring them to draw up an action plan. In June 2019, the school’s action plan was judged to be acceptable with modifications.  Her Majesty’s Inspector met with the headteacher and a group of governors. She toured the school, accompanied by the headteacher.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation, to check the school’s compliance with

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Information about this inspection

the independent school standards. These documents included the school’s complaints procedure and records relating to complaints made by parents.  Minutes from governors’ meetings were reviewed. The inspector considered emails from parents and additional information provided by staff and parents.  The inspector checked the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy.

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Inspection team

Janet Pearce, 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 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 and which-

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

– 33(g) ensures that, where there is a panel hearing of a complaint, one panel member is independent of the management and running of the school.

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 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

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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 visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/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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