Young Leaders' Independent School

School pre-registration inspection report

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Young Leaders’ Independent School Bignold Hall, Station Road, London E7 0EX

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All Paragraphs  The proprietor has shown the school’s intended vision in a curriculum policy. This sets out an academic curriculum based on a suitable range of GCSE subjects, both core and optional. However, the plans in place for teaching these subjects lack the required depth. They are simply specifications from the examination boards that have been printed out. No further work has been done to show how the knowledge and skills in the GCSE specifications will be taught and assessed.  The school has provided a list of all the topics in the programme for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). The issues leaders intend to address are wide ranging, from mental health to sex and relationships education. However, very little work has been done to develop the PSHE curriculum and implement it in the context of the proposed school. Leaders are clear, for instance, about the need to raise pupils’

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Main inspection findings

awareness of all the protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010. In practice, however, no coherent plan is in place showing how this will be done.  Arrangements for careers education lack sufficient detail. Leaders are ambitious for pupils but have not translated this into a clear strategy. There are no plans in place to provide pupils with the impartial information, advice and guidance they need to make informed decisions about their futures.  The independent school standards in this part are unlikely to be met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All Paragraphs  In discussions, leaders demonstrate a sound understanding of the importance of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development. They are able to explain in a coherent way how this will underpin the school’s curriculum, both through the subjects taught and through extracurricular activities. In practice, however,

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Main inspection findings

leaders have no credible plans in place to show how their vision for SMSC will be implemented.  Leaders have produced a clear statement about British values and their importance to pupils’ personal development. However, there is no planned programme to ensure that pupils learn about a range of religions, cultures and beliefs from around the world.  Likewise, there is no planned programme to teach pupils about the most important public institutions in England which have been crucial in creating the national identity.  The independent school standards in this part are unlikely to be met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils All Paragraphs  In the absence of a headteacher designate, a proprietor is the acting designated lead for safeguarding. She has a sound understanding of the referral process to social care and to the local authority designated officer (LADO). The proprietor has drawn on Newham’s safeguarding guidance to put together a safeguarding policy which meets

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Main inspection findings

statutory requirements.  The fire risk assessment for the building is out of date. The proprietor was only able to present a fire risk assessment carried out in March 2014. Although leaders maintained that an annual update does happen, no evidence to support this was provided.  Parts of the building pose a health and safety hazard. This includes the proposed playground and office space for administration work on the top floor.  The independent school standards in this part are unlikely to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All Paragraphs  The chair of the proprietorial body is currently being assessed by the Department for Education for his suitability to be a proprietor. The final outcome of this process is not yet known.  Appropriate recruitment checks have been carried out on the second proprietor and entered on to a single central register. No other staff have yet been recruited.

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Main inspection findings

 The independent school standards in this part are unlikely to be met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All Paragraphs  Suitable plans are in place to partition the main hall on the ground floor and build three classrooms, each accommodating up to 10 pupils. However, the building work has not commenced, so the standard is unlikely to be met. An additional existing room on the ground floor is suitable for use as a fourth classroom.  The entrance to the building is not secure and is not adequately monitored. The premises are not fully accessible to users with disabilities.  The toilets for boys and girls are appropriate and well maintained. Each houses a suitable shower for pupils’ use. However, there are no facilities for drinking water in the building.  The proprietor has suitable plans in place for a medical room, adjacent to the toilet facilities. Although the proprietor understands the requirements, the necessary work

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Main inspection findings

to create this room has not yet started.  The acoustic features, sound insulation and internal and external lighting are all likely to be suitable throughout the building.  The independent school standards in this part are unlikely to be met. Part 6. Provision of information All Paragraphs  The proprietor intends that the required policies and information will be made available on the school’s new website when it is launched. For now, everything in place is available in hard copy.  The school’s intended annual report template for parents is likely to meet requirements as it identifies pupils’ progress and attainment in all the subject areas taught.  The proprietor has not recruited a headteacher. The details about the headteacher are therefore missing in the information available to prospective parents. The name, address and telephone number of the proprietor is also absent.  The proprietor has not ensured that a suitable admissions policy is in place, taking

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Main inspection findings

account of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language (EAL).  The independent school standards in this part are unlikely to be met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All Paragraphs  Leaders have prepared a suitable complaints procedure, which is likely to be compliant with all the requirements.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All Paragraphs  The proprietor does not have a thorough understanding of the independent school standards. Consequently, there are many standards that are not likely to be met.  Leaders have a suitable vision for the proposed school and articulate it well. The proprietor’s plans for the school are ambitious. However, there is lack of detail on how the vision will be implemented. Many important aspects of the curriculum, for

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Main inspection findings

instance, have not been planned in sufficient depth. Currently, the building is not fit for purpose as a school.  With a headteacher not in place, much of the preparatory work is being undertaken by a proprietor. Parts of the building are unsafe and the plans in place for major renovation have not been implemented.  The standards in this part are unlikely to be met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Although leaders know about the importance of accessibility, a written plan is not in place.  The proprietor has not ensured that the requirements of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 are likely to be met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is unlikely to meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements, as set out in the annex of this report.

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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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Proposed school details

Proprietor Young Leaders’ Education Services Limited

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Proposed school details

Website The school does not have a website

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Proposed school details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 14–16 14–16 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 40 40

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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 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

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

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan Not applicable Not known

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan Not applicable Not known

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 5

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this proposed school

 The proprietorial body seeks registration with the Department for Education (DfE) for an independent school to cater for 40 pupils between the ages of 14 and 16.  The proprietorial body is the Young Leaders’ Education Services Limited. Currently there are two active members, the chair and a second proprietor.  The school proposes to provide full-time education for pupils as a day school. Local secondary schools and local authorities are expected to commission places in the proposed school.  The site, Bignold Hall, is located in a residential area in the London Borough of Newham. It is leased by the Eastside Young Leaders’ Academy, a supplementary school registered with the DfE since 2012. The founder and chief executive officer of the academy is also the chair of the proposed school’s proprietorial body.  The role of governance when the school opens will be retained by the proprietorial body.  The proposed school does not intend to make use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This is the proposed school’s first pre-registration inspection and was conducted with two days’ notice.  This inspection sought to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with all the independent school standards relevant to registering Young Leaders’ Independent School for up to 40 pupils aged 14 to 16.  The inspector considered a wide range of evidence, toured the premises, met with two proprietors, including the chair of the proprietorial body, and scrutinised documentation.

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Inspection team

Nasim Butt, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub-paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and – 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work– – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan; and – 2(2)(d) personal, social, health and economic education which– – 2(2)(d)(ii) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act[9]; – 2(2)(e) for pupils receiving secondary education, access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that– – 2(2)(e)(i) is presented in an impartial manner; – 2(2)(e)(ii) enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options; and – 2(2)(e)(iii) helps to encourage them to fulfil their potential.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor– – 5(b)(iv) enable pupils to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England; – 5(b)(v) further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures; – 5(b)(vi) encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act; and – 5(b)(vii) encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005[12].

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

 21(6) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation each member ("MB") of a body of persons named as the proprietor appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether the checks referred to in paragraph 20(6)(b) were made, the date they were made and the date on which the resulting certificate was obtained.  21(7) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation to each member of a body of persons named as the proprietor in post on 1st August 2007 who was appointed at any time before 1st May 2007– – 21(7)(a) whether each check referred to in sub-paragraph (6) was made; and – 21(7)(b) whether an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained, together with the date on which any check was completed or certificate obtained.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 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.  25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.  28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 28(1)(a) suitable drinking water facilities are provided; – 28(1)(b) toilets and urinals have an adequate supply of cold water and washing facilities have an adequate supply of hot and cold water;

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(1)(c) cold water supplies that are suitable for drinking are clearly marked as such; and  28(2) The facilities provided under sub-paragraph (1)(a) will be suitable only if– – 28(2)(a) they are readily accessible at all times when the premises are in use; and – 28(2)(b) they are in a separate area from the toilet facilities.

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(2) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is– – 32(2)(a) the school’s address and telephone number and the name of the head teacher; – 32(2)(b) either– – 32(2)(b)(ii) where the proprietor is a body of persons, the address and telephone number of its registered or principal office.  32(3) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is– – 32(3)(a) particulars of the school’s policy on and arrangements for admissions, misbehaviour and exclusions; – 32(3)(b) particulars of educational and welfare provision for pupils with EHC plans and pupils for whom English is an additional language; and – 32(3)(c) particulars of the policy referred to in paragraph 2.

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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; and – 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

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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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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