St Paul's School

St Paul’s School 73 Hertford Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 8NJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 14 and 32(1)(c) [Part 6 provision of information]  The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned this inspection because of concerns raised about safeguarding and the supervision of pupils. These standards were met in full at the time of the last inspection.  The school’s safeguarding and child protection policy meets government requirements. It is displayed on the school’s website and is also available to parents and carers in paper format if requested.  The senior leaders with responsibility for safeguarding have completed the necessary training to undertake this role. They are vigilant in their care for pupils and ensure that all staff members have the opportunity to bring their concerns to leaders. Record- keeping is detailed and retained securely.  Safeguarding training for staff has ensured that all adults employed at the school are

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Main inspection findings

knowledgeable about potential risks to pupils. For example, they are aware of the signs of possible mental and physical harm, neglect and radicalisation. Senior leaders with responsibility for safeguarding make themselves available for any member of staff and parents or carers to share their concerns if they are worried about a child. There are also two formal opportunities every week for staff to bring any concerns to the staff group for discussion.  The school’s curriculum provides a range of opportunities for pupils to learn how to keep themselves safe from risks in the community, such as exploitation, maintaining healthy relationships and when using the internet.  Observations of pupils both within their classrooms and around the school demonstrate that pupils are well supervised. Pupils say that the staff keep them safe and that they are well looked after.  The school therapy dog provides comfort for pupils and makes them feel safe.

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Main inspection findings

 All staff interviewed say that they work together in teams well and this enables them to effectively care for pupils. The number of staff deployed is appropriate for adequate care to be given to all pupils.  Parents spoken to during the inspection appreciate the strong communication between the school and home that contribute to keeping their children safe.  The school continues to meet these standards. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18, 18(1), 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(1), 19(2), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(a)(i), 19(2)(a)(i)(aa), 19(2)(a)(i)(bb), 19(2)(a)(i)(cc), 19(2)(a)(i)(dd), 19(2)(a)(ii), 19(2)(b), 19(2)(c), 19(2)(d), 19(2)(d)(i), 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(2)(e), 19(3), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 21(1), 21(2),

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Main inspection findings

21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(4), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(b), 21(5)(c), 21(6), 21(7), 21(7)(a) and 21(7)(b)  The DfE commissioned this inspection because of concerns raised about safeguarding within the school. These standards were met in full at the time of the last inspection.  Leaders have carried out all necessary checks on the suitability of staff to work with pupils before they started working at the school. The school’s single central register meets government requirements.  The school continues to meet these standards. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33, 33(a), 33(b), 33(c), 33(d), 33(e), 33(f), 33(g), 33(h), 33(i), 33(i)(i), 33(i)(ii), 33(j), 33(j)(i), 33(j)(ii) and 33(k)  The DfE commissioned this inspection because of concerns raised about the manner

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Main inspection findings

in which complaints are handled. These standards were met in full at the last inspection.  The complaints policy meets government requirements and is displayed on the school’s website. Documentation of complaints is appropriate, with leaders handling complaints in accordance with the dictates of the policy.  The school continues to meet these standards. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c) and 34(2)  The DfE commissioned this inspection because of concerns raised about the management of the school. The standards in this part were met in full at the last inspection.  The headteacher and leadership team have wide experience of working with pupils with behavioural and mental health difficulties. Their expertise ensures that all the independent school standards continue to be met consistently.  Leaders have created a strong team of staff who work closely together to support the

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Main inspection findings

vulnerable pupils in their care.  Leaders’ emphasis on safeguarding, along with the vigilance of all staff, make sure that concerns about the well-being of pupils are constantly monitored.  Support for the school from members of the trust and the governing body has strengthened since the last inspection. Trustees and governors bring a wide range of expertise to enhance the work of the school.  The school continues to meet these standards. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school continues to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

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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. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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) £20,000 (dependent on need)

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 9–11 July 2019

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Information about this school

 St Paul’s School is a small special school catering for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Pupils are referred to the school by Birmingham local authority’s special educational needs assessment and review team. The school is located in the Balsall Heath area of Birmingham and admits pupils from age seven to 19. Currently there are no pupils in the sixth form.  The school is part of the St Paul’s Community Development Trust. The trust operates a children’s centre, a nursery and out-of-school play services. These centres and services are inspected separately.  The school operates across primary and secondary sites. These sites are approximately 500 metres apart.  The school’s last standard inspection was in July 2019 when it was judged to be good. The school met all of the independent school standards at this inspection.  Following the standard inspection, an emergency inspection took place in March 2020

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Information about this school

where all standards inspected were found to be met.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the DfE regarding concerns received about the school relating to safeguarding, supervision and the manner in which complaints are handled. Concerns related to the primary department of the school. The school was given 30 minutes’ notice of the inspection to discuss the practical arrangements of the inspection and the school’s measures for having visitors on site.  The inspection was commissioned to review: the extent to which leaders promote the safety of pupils; the supervision arrangements of pupils; the suitability of staff; how complaints are dealt with; and the quality of leadership and management within the school. The inspector checked if the independent school standards were met in all these aspects of the school’s work.  The inspector toured the premises in both buildings.  The inspector observed key stage 2 pupils working in classrooms and at breaktime.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector held meetings with the headteacher and the deputy headteacher, the human resources manager, the safeguarding lead of St Paul’s Trust, the chief executive officer of St Paul’s Trust and the chair of governors.  A number of policies were scrutinised, including those associated with safeguarding and the complaints procedure. The inspector checked the school’s recording of safeguarding concerns, as well as the recording of complaints.  The inspector reviewed information on the school’s website.  The inspector reviewed the school’s single central register.  The inspector spoke with six members of staff in the primary department and four members of staff in the secondary department about the school’s safeguarding procedures and policies.  The inspector spoke with two parents and carers on the telephone about the supervision and care of pupils. The inspector spoke with two pupils in the primary

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Inspection team

Mary Maybank, 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

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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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