Setting

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

p.1

Christian Cavanagh Executive Headteacher Kemnal Technology College Sevenoaks Way Sidcup Kent DA14 5AA

p.1

Ofsted visit to Kemnal Technology College

Following my visit with Brian Oppenheim, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 8 October 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 Kemnal Technology College

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 Kemnal Technology College

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 Kemnal Technology College

During the visit, we spoke to you and the senior leadership team, including the senior leader responsible for safeguarding. 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:

 You fully reopened the school to all pupils from 8 September 2020. All year groups are expected to attend full time. Year group ‘bubbles’ attended on different days from 3 September 2020 onwards to help pupils familiarise themselves with the new expectations and routines.  Pupils’ overall attendance across year groups is broadly in line with the attendance for this time of year. Staff are in contact with all pupils and families. Leaders encourage pupils to attend by increasing the number of home visits by staff. You have also arranged for parents to visit by appointment, to see the safety precautions in place.  Pupils in all year groups are studying their usual range of subjects. Leaders plan to address the gaps within subjects and return to the usual curriculum by the summer term 2021.  Staff have checked pupils’ new starting points, including for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders have identified gaps in

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

pupils’ writing skills and some pupils have forgotten some basic mathematical concepts.  In Years 7 to 9, pupils have done standard tests in mathematics and reading, as part of a trust-wide plan. Leaders are awaiting the results and analysis, to add to their own assessments and adjust their planning.  Pupils in Year 10 have also completed the standard tests. Pupils in Year 11 have completed school tests in English, mathematics and science. Year 11 pupils have an extended day to attend extra sessions in different subjects to help them catch up.  Leaders provide remote learning for pupils who are absent from school, including those who are isolating at home. The online lessons are aligned to the normal curriculum and every lesson in school has a counterpart in the remote learning resources. Staff provide paper resources for pupils who rely on mobile phones to use the online learning platform.

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.3

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the chair of the board of trustees and the chief executive officer of the Kemnal Academies Trust, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Bromley. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3