Setting

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Anne Clinton Headteacher Oaklands School Gresham Road Hounslow TW3 4BX

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Ofsted visit to Oaklands School

Following my visit with Noeman Anwar, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 29 September 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

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Ofsted visit to Oaklands School

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended.

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Ofsted visit to Oaklands School

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

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Ofsted visit to Oaklands School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the senior leadership team, including leaders with responsibility for safeguarding. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:  approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

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Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

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Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school opened to all pupils on 3 September 2020. Pupils have been attending on a full-time basis since this date. This includes pupils who were new to the school.  Pupils’ attendance is lower than it would typically be at this time of the year. Some pupils with complex medical needs are not attending school. You are working with families and external professionals to support these pupils to return to school safely and as soon as possible.  Throughout the school, all pupils are studying the usual curriculum and learn the same subjects as previously. To ensure that all the usual subjects are taught, you have made changes to the way that art, design and technology, music and physical education are organised and delivered.  Initially, teachers in all year groups are focusing on re-establishing pupils’ language and communication skills, including pupils’ use of visual strategies. You said that this focus was important because it would help pupils to express their

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

needs, as well as understand and follow new school routines. Teachers’ planning aims to compensate for pupils’ limited access to therapeutic provision over the last six months.  Teachers are currently checking all pupils’ new starting points, focusing first on English and mathematics. You and your team intend to use the information to adjust planning further to meet each pupil’s specific needs.  Pupils in Years 10 and 11 and students in the sixth form access vocational training and are studying for accredited qualifications. These opportunities, including work experience placements, remain the same as in previous years. You are also prioritising experiences which aim to promote pupils’ independence, including their preparation for adulthood.  Pupils who are not attending school are accessing the curriculum remotely. Teachers provide a wide range of activities and resources, which are tailored to pupils’ individual needs, including online materials and pre-recorded lessons

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

where appropriate. You are currently reviewing the school’s approach to remote learning should more pupils need to use it in the future.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Hounslow. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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