Promised Land Academy

Promised Land Academy St Cedd’s Hall, Webb Gardens, Plaistow, London E13 8SR

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Inspection dates 6 October and 4 November 2020

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(b)(i), 3, 3(a), 3(c), 3(d) and 3(g)

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Main inspection findings

 The previous inspection in July 2019 found that the afternoon curriculum lacked long- term organisation and suitably detailed programmes of study. Leaders had not sequenced the curriculum to ensure that pupils made progress over time. Where commercial programmes were used, they had not been adapted to meet the pupils’ aptitudes and needs.  Leaders have made some headway in planning the afternoon curriculum (the time when pupils are not following the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) programme). For example, the programmes for ethics and law, and business, show the sequence of sessions and the key learning objectives that pupils are taught.  However, curriculum plans in other subjects taught in the afternoon still lack detail and most are too vague. For example, the design and technology scheme of work does not contain enough information about the materials, tools and processes that pupils will use

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Main inspection findings

when designing and making things. Plans do not identify expected outcomes, including knowledge and skills, or take enough account of the ages and needs of pupils.  Pupils’ knowledge of the subjects taught in the afternoon is not developed well enough. They do not demonstrate a deep enough understanding of the subjects taught in the afternoon. Pupils’ work in their folders does not demonstrate that they have been taught an effective curriculum across all subjects in order to build their knowledge securely.  The school’s written assessment policy sets out leaders’ intentions and provides an appropriate framework for checking pupils’ achievements. Pupils are clear about how the ACE programme is assessed and told the inspector how it helps them to progress through the units of work. Assessment of the afternoon curriculum is less structured. At the end of each topic, pupils produce a presentation that teachers assess. These show

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Main inspection findings

that pupils develop their information technology skills appropriately. However, the assessments do not thoroughly check whether pupils have learned the knowledge that has been taught. The assessments are not used to plan teaching so that pupils can progress.  The standards listed above are not met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 11  The previous inspection found that the delay in implementing the health and safety policy was unacceptable. There was insufficient evidence available to demonstrate how leaders check the extent and quality of procedures to ensure the safety of the premises.  This inspection finds that the health and safety policy has been updated. It reflects statutory guidance including, for example, the regulations for reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences. Additional policies have been drawn up for dealing with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. There is evidence that leaders have now put these

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Main inspection findings

policies into practice. For example, there is an electrical safety certificate and checks on water temperature, heating and fire safety equipment are carried out.  The standard in this paragraph is now met. Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  These standards were judged to be met at the previous inspection.  The school’s safeguarding policy was updated in September 2020 and includes the latest statutory guidance. The policy is published on the school’s website. Arrangements for safeguarding, including those related to vetting checks for staff, continue to be suitable.  The standards in these paragraphs remain met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) and 23(1)(c)  The previous inspection found that the arrangements for pupils to change and shower did not meet requirements. Pupils did not have consistent access to changing and shower facilities before and after physical education (PE) lessons.  At this inspection, leaders explained that the arrangements for PE have now changed. A nearby park is no longer used, and all PE lessons are to take place at the local leisure centre. However, the leisure centre is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, PE lessons are restricted to exercises in the playground and shower facilities are unavailable.  Despite leaders’ intention to ensure that shower facilities are available, pupils still change for PE in a first-floor room. This room is used by teachers as a work area and as a store. One window looks onto the main hall where lessons take place and thus lacks privacy.

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Main inspection findings

Posters on the window restrict the view from the hall but it is still possible to see in. This makes the room inappropriate for pupils aged 11 and older to change their clothes.  Standards 23(1) and 23(1)(c) remain unmet. Paragraphs 24(1), 24(1)(a) and 24(1)(b)  The previous inspection found that facilities in the medical room were inadequate. There was no water in the portable washing facility and the room was too cluttered to enable pupils to receive medical attention.  This inspection finds that the medical room is no longer cluttered. The piano has been removed. Water and soap are available. A toilet facility is nearby. The hole above the light switch has been repaired.  The standards 24(1), 24(1)(a) and 24(1)(b) are now met. Paragraph 25  The last inspection found that leaders did not ensure that that the safety checks for the premises had been completed effectively.  This inspection finds that the relevant safety checks are being carried out. It was clear

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Main inspection findings

from the additional visit on 4 November 2020 that the floor of the medical room and the stairs to the first-floor workroom had been cleaned.  The independent school standard 25 is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  This inspection finds that leaders are still not ensuring that the independent school standards are met consistently. This is the third inspection since January 2018 that has judged that some of the independent school standards remain unmet. As a result, leaders are not fulfilling their responsibilities effectively.  Leaders have made progress in some areas. The health and safety policy includes relevant legislation and safety checks are being carried out on the premises.  Leaders continue to teach pupils over the age of 16. This is a breach of the proprietorial body’s agreement with the registration authority.  The independent school standards in this part remain unmet.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.

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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 1

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School details

Email address admin@promisedlandacademy.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 17–19 January 2018

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Information about this school

 The school is a Christian faith school and is part of the Christian Education Europe network of schools.  The school uses the curriculum known as the ACE programme for subjects that are taught in the mornings, including mathematics, English, science and social studies. This is supplemented by other curriculum subjects, including design and technology, physical education, business and entrepreneurship, and citizenship. These are taught in the afternoons.  The school is registered for 35 pupils aged four to 16. The school admits pupils over the age of 16. The school is therefore in breach of its registration agreement.  There are currently no children on roll in the early years.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision or other premises.  The school was last inspected in July 2019, when a progress monitoring inspection judged some of the independent school standards to be unmet. A progress monitoring visit in

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Information about this school

October 2018 also judged some of the independent school standards to be unmet. The most recent full standard inspection was in January 2018. This judged the school’s overall effectiveness to be inadequate.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspection on 6 October 2020 was conducted with 30 minutes’ notice. A further visit to the school took place on 4 November to gather additional evidence.  The inspector spoke with the headteacher to discuss how she ensured that the school met the independent school standards. The inspector visited lessons and spoke with all the pupils and staff.  The inspector considered the written policies, including documents related to arrangements for safeguarding, child protection, health and safety and risk assessments. The inspector considered the school’s policies for the curriculum, teaching plans and

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Information about this inspection

examples of pupils’ work. The school’s vetting checks for staff were also seen.

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Inspection team

Brian Oppenheim, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector ;

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if–  2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work–  2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan. 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school–  3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught  3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time  3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons  3(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that–  23(1)(c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.  24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school–  34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently  34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and  34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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