Setting

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

p.1

Mark Richardson Headteacher Danesgate Community Danesgate Fulford Cross York North Yorkshire YO10 4PB

p.1

Ofsted visit to Danesgate Community

Following my visit with Jean Watt, 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Danesgate Community

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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Danesgate Community

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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Danesgate Community

During the visit, we spoke to the senior leadership team. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

p.1

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:

p.1

Context

 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.

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school opened to all pupils on 9 September 2020.  A small number of pupils currently attend on a part-time basis. You are providing one-to-one support for these pupils.  Pupils’ attendance, since the start of the autumn term, is slightly higher than it was over the same period for the last academic year.  Leaders explained that pupils are studying the school’s usual curriculum and that it will be continually reviewed and developed. As a pupil referral unit, with a high proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, you have not found it necessary to make any changes to the curriculum or the way you assess pupils.  A number of Year 11 pupils, who left school in the summer term, have not transitioned to post-16 education, training or employment due to COVID-19. You are providing a programme of learning to support this group.  Should it be needed, you have plans in place to deliver learning remotely. You

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

have purchased a new system to deliver online learning.

p.2

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.

p.2

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 York. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website. Yours sincerely

p.2