Lord's School

School material change inspection report

p.1

Lord’s Independent School Enterprise House, 340 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, Lancashire BL1 4JU

p.1

The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

p.1

Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy is up to date and follows the most recent guidance from the government. It is published on the school’s website. Staff receive regular training and know how to respond to and report concerns about pupils. A detailed e- safety policy supplements the safeguarding policy. Pupils who spoke with the inspector said that they feel safe in school. They trust adults to respond effectively to any concerns. Leaders gave pupils a ‘safety tour’ of the new building to acclimatise them to it and to ensure their safety on the premises. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The school’s health and safety policy is detailed and covers a range of matters. It includes a commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment and the carrying out of health and safety audits. The policy also contains emergency evacuation procedures.  Suitable documentation shows how leaders propose to carry out and record

p.1

Main inspection findings

appropriate checks on fire safety equipment and evacuation drills in the new building. The evacuation procedure is detailed in the health and safety policy and on signs posted around the school. Leaders presented evidence that recent checks have been made on the school’s fire detection system. The system has been upgraded so that it is up to date and effective.  The school’s risk assessment policy details the definitions of risks, hazards and control measures. It states that risk assessments of the buildings are carried out annually, including for the purposes of fire safety. Leaders presented examples, based on existing practice, of methods of risk assessment, including for educational trips. A ‘risk rating guide’ enables risks to be determined. An initial risk assessment of common areas of the new building has been made, with hazards noted and control measures put in place.  Leaders have ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are met.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

p.2

Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b), 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  There are suitable toilet and washing facilities for the sole use of pupils. These are separate for boys and girls. There is a disabled toilet that is also available for visitors and adults.  There are no facilities for showering or changing for pupils in key stage 3 and above. Leaders make use of off-site facilities for physical education (PE). Leaders have drawn up a risk assessment to cover the use of these facilities. It is suitably detailed and covers an appropriate range of aspects of pupils’ safety and welfare when they are showering or changing. There is a separate risk assessment for the use of the minibus to transport pupils. This includes control measures such as checks for roadworthiness

p.2

Main inspection findings

of the vehicle and pupils’ use of seatbelts.  A suitable room is available as a medical room. There are washing facilities and nearby toilet facilities. There is a bed available during the school day.  The new premises have undergone substantial alterations to make them suitable for pupils. Renovation of the decor is imminent. The building is currently adequate for the purposes of educating pupils. Leaders take reasonable and practicable steps to ensure that pupils’ health, safety and welfare are secured.  There is external lighting to ensure safe entry and departure from the premises. Safe access to the building is by way of the rear entrance in the short term. However, the main entrance will be ready within a few days. A communication from the builder responsible for completing this work was presented to confirm this.  The acoustics in each room are suitable for the purposes of those rooms. Lighting is

p.2

Main inspection findings

also at least adequate. Leaders plan to upgrade lighting in some rooms to make the environment even better.  All water supplies to toilet facilities are suitable. Any risk of scalding by hot water has been minimised using a central thermostatic control.  Bottled drinking water is available to pupils whenever they require it.  There is a hard-surface space outside which is sufficient for up to 70 pupils to play or be provided with PE. There is also a substantial grassed area for these purposes. However, PE is provided offsite at a local sports centre.  Leaders have ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

p.2

Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  Leaders have ensured that the standards included in this inspection are met. It should be noted that leaders have moved to the proposed building already. They cite the poor condition and the imminent termination of the lease at the previous premises as the reasons for the move.  Leaders have ensured that pupils’ welfare is secured. The policies and procedures around matters of health and safety, fire safety, risk assessment and safeguarding are suitable for the purposes of the standards inspected.  Leaders have ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

p.3

Main inspection findings

 The school has a suitable policy and plan for accessibility for disabled pupils. The school aims, on a three-year cycle, to do the following: improve access to the curriculum through, for example, the use of technology or external agencies to support pupils; improve the physical environment by, for instance, providing alterations to doorways; and improve access to information by various means, such as enlarged print or visual timetables.  Leaders have ensured that the requirement in this part is met.

p.3

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 are relevant to the material change.

p.4

School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

p.5

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £4,200 to £6,600

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14–16 March 2017

p.5

recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 18 Not applicable Not applicable

p.5

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 48 Not applicable Not applicable

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 41 Not applicable

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils 0 Not applicable

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 10 Not applicable

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 8 Not applicable

p.6

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 6 Not applicable

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 3 Not applicable

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 5 Not applicable

p.6

Information about this school

 Lord’s Independent School received its last standard inspection on 14–16 March 2017.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned Ofsted to carry out this inspection because the proprietor applied to make a ‘material change’ to the school’s registration.  The proprietor applied to move the entire school to new premises, the address for which is: Brooklyn, Green Lane, Bolton BL3 2EF. This material change has already been implemented without the consent of the DfE. Leaders stated that the deteriorating condition of the previous premises and the imminent expiry of the lease on the building were the reasons for moving without permission. If the material change is granted by the DfE, it is unlikely to have a detrimental effect on the educational provision at the school.  The inspector met with the proprietor (who is also the headteacher) and a senior leader. He undertook a tour of the premises. He analysed a range of documents relating to the safeguarding of pupils and matters of health and safety.

p.7

Inspection team

Mark Quinn, lead inspector Her Majesty’s 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 .

p.7

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.

p.8

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 .

p.8

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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection team

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

p.8