Aspire Ap School

School material change inspection report

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TLG South Birmingham Hall Green Baptist Church, 1250 Stratford Road, Birmingham B28 9EJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c) [Part 6 – provision of information]  Leaders have ensured that the centre has an up-to-date safeguarding policy that is personalised to the setting. It includes the most recent guidance issued by the Secretary of State. The designated safeguarding lead and her deputy are suitably trained, as is the chair of the management committee. The proprietary body, Transforming Lives for Good (TLG), provides an added level of safeguarding oversight for the school in all safeguarding matters. Appropriate pre-employment checks have been carried out on new members of staff.  New members of staff are given a comprehensive induction to the school. They complete a range of training in safeguarding, fire safety and health and safety. Leaders ensure that they follow up this training to make sure that staff are putting it into practice. Leaders are aware of the risks in the local area. For example, staff have

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Main inspection findings

recently received training on the impact of gangs. Leaders have an additional suite of safeguarding policies for the school to help make sure that pupils are kept safe from harm, including the use and storage of medication, and e-safety.  Leaders make sure that the curriculum is planned well to educate pupils about all aspects of safeguarding, be it through internet safety, or through the wider personal, social, health and economic education curriculum. Pupils can learn about how to keep safe from risks such as domestic abuse, grooming, and the misuse of drugs and alcohol.  These standards are likely to be met if the material changes are implemented. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The proprietary body applies a clear structure of accountability for all aspects of health and safety within the organisation. An effective system for record-keeping focuses on all aspects of safeguarding, health and safety and training for staff. The

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Main inspection findings

centre has a suitable risk assessment policy, with a range of accompanying risk assessments. Leaders are proactive in identifying any possible risks to pupils, including risks identified due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.  The proprietary body and leaders take fire safety seriously. A full fire risk assessment of the new premises was carried out in September 2019 and the building was identified as being low risk. Staff and pupils receive training in fire safety. Two members of staff have been appointed as fire marshals. Fire exits around the building are suitably lit and free from obstructions. Evacuation procedures are clearly displayed around the building. Leaders carry out drills and make frequent fire safety check of equipment and emergency lighting, for example, and all are recorded and up to date.  This inspection was conducted without visiting the school site owing to COVID-19. It

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Main inspection findings

is, therefore, not possible to provide the full level of assurance to judge that this standard would be likely to be met should the material changes be accepted. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools  The following standards were reviewed through a virtual tour of the school site using mobile video technology. As this inspection was conducted without visiting the school site owing to COVID-19, it is not possible to provide the full level of assurance to judge that all of these standards would be likely to be met should the material changes be accepted. Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 25, 26, 27, 27(a) and 27(b)  Leaders ensure that the single-storey premises are well maintained, clean, bright and airy. During the tour of the premises, the acoustics appeared suitable. There are two classroom areas, both of a good size, to accommodate the proposed numbers of pupils. They are well resourced. External lighting is installed on the building, but it

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Main inspection findings

was not possible to check whether it was functioning during the virtual tour.  Separate toilet facilities for pupils of both sexes are available in the building. They are clean and provide adequate handwashing and drying facilities. Currently, there are no showers available for pupils to use, but the inspector saw evidence that suitable plans are in place to install them. The installation has been delayed due to COVID-19, but leaders are aware that a shower facility is one of the requirements of the independent school standards. They plan to address this as soon as restrictions allow. In the interim, leaders have planned for physical activities to take place in the afternoon, enabling pupils to go home and shower afterwards. Paragraphs 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a) and 28(2)(b)  Pupils have access to a medical room, near the toilets. It has a sink, with hot and cold

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Main inspection findings

running water, a first-aid kit and a foldaway bed should pupils need medical attention. This room is also used as an office.  All the toilet facilities have handbasins and a running supply of water, labelled hot and cold. It was not possible to verify the temperature of the hot water in any of the toilet areas or the medical room as the tour of the premises was virtual. Paragraphs 29(1), 29(1)(a) and 29(1)(b)  There is a large sports hall on the premises which enables pupils to participate in a range of physical education (PE) and sporting activities. There is also a smaller outdoor area, suitable for the small number of pupils attending the school to be able to play outside. Leaders ensure that pupils are able to participate in outdoor PE activities at the local park. They have completed suitable risk assessments for these activities. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)

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Main inspection findings

 Members of the proprietary body and leaders are fully committed to meeting the specific needs of the pupils they serve. The chair of the management committee is one of the founding trustees of TLG. He and other leaders recognise the challenges that individual pupils face. They work closely with referrers to ensure that there is a joint responsibility and focus on meeting pupils’ academic and well-being needs.  TLG has a clear management structure with well-defined roles which help to support robust quality assurance of the school. Leaders’ checking of the independent school standards is part of their regular monitoring, evaluation and review cycle. As a result, they are knowledgeable about the standards. The new management committee is providing an extra level of assurance for the centre. Clear protocols are in place to challenge and support the newly appointed headteacher. She is receiving good

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Main inspection findings

support and training from the organisation.  The school actively engages with referring bodies, such as local authorities so that the referrer can be assured that pupils’ needs are likely to be met. One local authority representative spoken to reported that the centre was meeting their ‘stringent’ expectations.  These standards are likely to be met if the material changes are implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders have an up-to-date accessibility plan, ensuring that they are likely to meet the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet 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.

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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 likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Proprietor Transforming Lives for Good (TLG)

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School details

Website https://www.tlgsouthbirmingham.org.uk

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School details

Email address southbirmingham@tlg.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 13–15 February 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 11 to 16 11 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 5 10 10

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 9 10

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 1 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 1 2

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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 1 2

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 2 3

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 0 0

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Information about this school

 TLG South Birmingham is one of several schools in the TLG company. The school is run in partnership with Ecclesia International Church.  The school moved to new premises in September 2019 and is now based at Hall Green Baptist Church.  The school provides education for vulnerable pupils and those at risk of exclusion, including a small number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The headteacher was appointed in January 2020.  There is a new chair of the management committee, who is also the proprietary representative. He is not yet listed on the DfE’s ‘Get information about schools’ website, but the lead inspector saw evidence of the appropriate checks made by the Department for Education (DfE) on this individual.  All pupils who attend the school are dual registered with their home school.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the DfE in response to an application by the school for a change to the location of the premises and a small increase in pupil numbers. The inspection focused on whether the new premises would be likely to meet the relevant welfare, health and safety and premises standards in Parts 3 and 5 of the independent school standards if the material changes were implemented.  This was the first material change inspection of the school.  I met, via video conferencing, with the headteacher and chair of the management committee for the school. I also met with the school development manager, the head of education and strategy developer for TLG via the same process.  I spoke on the telephone to a representative of a local authority that refers pupils to the school.  A virtual tour of the premises was carried out with the headteacher and school development manager for TLG using mobile video technology.

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Information about this inspection

 I looked at a range of documents submitted electronically by the school, including the safeguarding policy, induction processes, risk assessments and documents and policies relating to fire safety and health and safety.  I also looked at the school’s procedures for recording safeguarding checks made on staff and pupils, and strategic systems for monitoring and evaluating the work of the school via computer screen sharing.  This inspection was conducted without visiting the school site owing to COVID-19. It is, therefore, not possible to provide the full level of assurance to judge that some standards would be likely to be met should the material change be accepted.

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Inspection team

Deb Jenkins, 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 .

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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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 children looked after, 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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