Prism Independent School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Prism Independent School Walker Drive, Girlington, Bradford BD8 9ES

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the school’s full standard inspection in March 2019, safeguarding was found to be effective. The school’s safeguarding policy continues to meet the current government guidance. The school does not have a website. Parents spoken to during the inspection said that they had been provided with the safeguarding policy.  This standard continues to be met. Paragraph 13  In March 2019, inspectors found that records kept of accidents requiring first aid lacked detail and organisation. The school’s action plan of July 2019 states that a new first-aid record book was introduced the week following the previous inspection. The action plan also says that training took place in May 2019, to make sure that staff understood how to complete the new accident forms. The action plan also sets out how the first-aid book is checked during half-termly site walks.

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Main inspection findings

 The first-aid record book is now completed consistently, with appropriate detail about the incident and the treatment provided. Training has taken place to ensure that staff know how to complete the accident forms. Leaders are checking the quality of the first-aid records on a half-termly basis.  This standard is now met. Paragraph 15  The standard in this paragraph was not met at the inspection in March 2019. Inspectors found that leaders had not ensured that the destinations of all leavers were recorded in the admissions register. The school’s action plan stated that all omissions have now been addressed.  This inspection confirms that the destinations of leavers are now recorded correctly in the admissions register.  This standard is now met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2)c, 18(2)(c)(iii), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(vii)  The inspection carried out in March 2019 found that leaders had not carried out

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Main inspection findings

appropriate checks to confirm that staff who had previously worked elsewhere had the right to work in the United Kingdom. The inspection report said that evidence had been provided by the headteacher after the inspection, to confirm that checks had been completed.  The school’s action plan states that information on employees and volunteers has been fully reviewed. Section 128 checks on all members of the management committee and the management team have taken place. Right to work in the United Kingdom checks have also been undertaken.  This inspection has confirmed that the proprietor is now carrying out these checks.  Therefore, these standards are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1)(c)  At the inspection in March 2019, leaders had not ensured that previously installed showers had been replaced. Pupils were not able to take a shower after physical education.  The school’s action plan states that leaders have received quotes for the plumbing and electrical work required to reinstall shower facilities. The plan says that the work commenced on 13 May 2019 and was due to be completed in July 2019.  This inspection has confirmed that work has been completed and showers are now available to pupils.  This standard is now met. Paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2)  In March 2019, inspectors identified that facilities for caring for sick pupils were not well appointed and regularly cleaned, particularly on the farm site.  The action plan states that both medical rooms will be deep cleaned. It also details plumbing work that will be undertaken to provide a sink with hot and cold water in both

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Main inspection findings

rooms. This work was due to take place on 16 May 2019.  There is now a sink in both medical rooms and cleanliness has improved.  This standard is now met. Paragraph 27(b)  This standard was not met at the inspection in March 2019 because outside lighting at the farm building had not been tested and was not in working order.  The school’s action plan states that an electrician would undertake the necessary work to install LED external lighting, in May 2019.  External lighting outside the farm building is now in working order. Leaders have also increased the external lighting at the school building.  This standard is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  At the school’s standard inspection in March 2019, the inspector found leaders and managers had not ensured that the independent standards were consistently met. The quality of teaching and learning was found to be inconsistent across the school. The report said that where staff had weaker subject knowledge and understanding, pupils were less engaged and more likely to demonstrate difficult behaviour. In addition, the curriculum at key stage 3 needed further development. Pupils were not spending enough time practising basic skills in English and mathematics.  In the school’s action plan, leaders undertook to review the teaching and learning policy and supporting paperwork. The action plan states that the policy was ratified in May 2019 and that a timetable for lesson observations began at the same time. Leaders

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Main inspection findings

stated that monitoring activities would identify teachers’ skills and knowledge gaps. The action plan states that a more relevant key stage 3 curriculum and associated schemes of work would be developed in April 2019. The new curriculum would be piloted and implemented in May 2019.  A new teaching and learning policy has been introduced which sets out the arrangements for observing lessons. Observations of lessons and the scrutiny of pupils’ work take place every term. Teachers are provided with feedback and actions for improvement which are followed up by line managers. Findings from lesson observations are used to inform training needs. For example, behaviour management was identified as an area for staff development, and training has been arranged for January 2020. Leaders have provided training to staff in English and mathematics to strengthen their subject knowledge. Leaders intend that this will help teachers to plan more effectively to

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Main inspection findings

engage pupils in lessons.  The curriculum at key stage 3 has improved. The rationale and intent reflect the schools aims for pupils to be successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. Detailed schemes of work guide teachers with their planning and delivery of lessons. The pilot of the new curriculum informed leaders that learning through short projects was a more successful approach. Unit awards have been introduced which follow pupils’ interests and engage them more in learning. Teaching time in English and mathematics has increased to 2 hours per week since the previous inspection.  The proprietor and leaders acknowledge that the ongoing maintenance of the buildings at the two sites is a priority.  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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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 13 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written first aid policy.  15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 18(2)(c) the proprietor carries out appropriate checks to confirm in respect of each such person – 18(2)(c)(iii) the person’s right to work in the United Kingdom; and  21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff (“S”) appointed on or after 1 st May 2007, whether – 21(3)(a)(vii) a check of S’s right to work in the United Kingdom was made.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1)(c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.  24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including– – 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils; – 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short-term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility; and  24(2) The accommodation provided under sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) may be used for other purposes (apart from teaching) provided it is always readily available to be used for the purposes set out in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).  27(b) External lighting is provided in order to ensure that people can safely enter and leave the school premises.

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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 schools standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promotes the well-being of pupils.

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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 0

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £70–£80 per day

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School details

Email address info@prismyouthproject.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 5–7 March 2019

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Information about this school

 The previous standard inspection took place on 5–7 March 2019.  The school is situated on two sites approximately 0.2 miles apart.  The farm site is based on the former site of Bradford City Farm. The second site, referred to as the Youth Centre, is based in a school building further down the same road.  Pupils attend one site or the other but not both. The accreditations offered at the farm include rural studies and animal care. The accreditation offered at the Youth Centre site is based around BTEC accreditation in sport and leisure and AQA Unit Awards.

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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 was the first progress monitoring inspection following the school’s standard inspection in March 2019.  The inspection was conducted with no notice to the school.  The Department for Education accepted the school’s action plan in July 2019.  During this inspection, the inspector held meetings with the headteacher, staff and pupils. Telephone conversations took place with the proprietor, two parents and the Local Authority Designated Officer.  The inspector checked the school’s safeguarding policy and the school’s register of pre- employment checks. Visits to lessons at both sites took place and documents were

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Inspection team

Suzette Garland-Grimes, 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

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