Heathside Preparatory School

School material change inspection report

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Heathside Preparatory School 16 New End, Hampstead, London NW3 1JA

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  From September 2021, leaders plan to increase the school’s age range from two to 14 years to two to 16 years. Leaders plan to introduce GCSE courses for pupils in Years 10 and 11.  Leaders articulated a clear curriculum vision for pupils at the school. Leaders have planned a broad academic curriculum for all pupils, regardless of their starting points. Leaders explained that academic GCSEs are one part of their curriculum offer. Pupils will also complete the Heathside Fellowship and extra-curricular activities alongside their academic studies. Leaders have a clear policy for the support of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The aim of this policy is for pupils to receive quality teaching in the classroom supported by teaching assistants.  The curriculum policy and schemes of work show that pupils will experience linguistic,

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Main inspection findings

mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative subjects. Schemes of work detail the content of the curriculum and cover the exam board specifications.  Assessment opportunities are planned in the Years 10 and 11 schemes of work. Pupils’ work will be assessed in class and assessed work will also be set for homework. Leaders will monitor assessments to find out if pupils are making appropriate progress through the curriculum.  The school has policies for personal, social, health and economic education, equal opportunities and British values. Curriculum plans also identify opportunities to include the teaching of British values and diversity. The school assembly programme covers a range of religious festivals and allows for pupils to understand the difference between right and wrong.  Leaders have developed a careers policy that provides opportunities for pupils in Years

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Main inspection findings

10 and 11 to engage with employers, experience the workplace and to receive one-to- one, objective careers guidance. Leaders plan to use the skills of their parent body, as well as from Dukes Education. Leaders are keen for pupils to fulfil their potential and be prepared for further study and/or work in the future.  Teaching staff at the school are well qualified and are specialists in their subjects. There is evidence that teachers have attended examination board training sessions to prepare for the GCSE courses. Teachers also work in partnership with teachers in the other Dukes Education family of schools.  The school has a behaviour policy and leaders have high expectations of all pupils. Leaders want their pupils to excel and they plan to use the Heathside Fellowship to challenge and motivate pupils. Pupils will also have opportunities to work on the school council and become leaders.  Leaders plan to use the same reporting format for Years 10 and 11 as is currently

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Main inspection findings

used for other year groups. Reports will include information about pupils’ progress. The reports will cover all subjects studied by the pupils in Years 10 and 11.  The school is likely to meet the relevant standards in this part if the material change is implemented. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All Paragraphs  School policies and schemes of work promote fundamental British values. Documentation shows that the school is inclusive of all pupils, regardless of their background. This is seen in both curriculum plans and assembly themes.  There is a clear behaviour policy. Pupils are also encouraged to take on responsibility within the school, for example via the school council programme. Pupils will engage with and support their local community. In Years 10 and 11, the Heathside Fellowship will provide opportunities for pupils beyond their academic studies.  Pupils in Years 10 and 11 will be able to participate in a variety of extra-curricular

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Main inspection findings

activities and trips. Leaders explained their role in providing support for pupils’ emotional and physical well-being, in addition to their academic education.  The school is likely to meet the relevant requirements in this part if the material change is implemented. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1)(c)  The safeguarding policy is compliant with the most recent government guidance. It is available to parents and carers on the school’s website. All staff receive regular face- to-face and online training. The most up-to-date amendments to the policy are included in the staff handbook. Leaders with designated responsibility for safeguarding are in regular contact with the local authority regarding local issues that might affect pupils in the school. Pupils are taught in lessons and assemblies how to keep themselves safe.  The school is likely to meet the relevant requirements in this part if the material

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Main inspection findings

change is implemented. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All Paragraphs  Leaders have worked together with Dukes Education and other partner schools to ensure they are ready to deliver GCSE courses from September 2021.  Leaders have planned a key stage 4 curriculum that is broad and balanced. Leaders have subject specialist teachers who have planned schemes of work for all GCSE courses. These schemes of work cover the specification requirements, as well as detailing resources and assessment opportunities. Furthermore, links to prior learning and other curriculum areas are highlighted.  Leaders have contacted examination boards and the Joint Council for Qualifications to ensure that they will be compliant as an exam centre for all courses. Leaders are planning to appoint an examinations officer.  There is a good understanding among leaders of the regulations for independent

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Main inspection findings

schools and in particular with regard to increasing the age range to 16.  The school is likely to meet the relevant requirements in this part if the material change is implemented.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £9,000 –£18,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 19–21 March 2019

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 2 to 14 2 to 16 2 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 226 256 256

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 168 198

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 53 53

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 5 5

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 4 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 57 57

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this school

 The date of the previous standard inspection was 19–21 March 2019, which was followed by a progress monitoring inspection on 12 September 2019.  Heathside Preparatory School is an independent school for girls and boys in the London Borough of Camden. The school is registered for up to 600 pupils between the ages of two and 14. There are currently 226 pupils on roll.  The school is based on four sites, all of which are in Hampstead, London NW3. The lower school is located at 84A Heath Street. The middle school for Years 7, 8 and 9 is at 16 New End. Years 5 and 6 attend the premises at The Old White Bear. The Village Shul is used for break-out groups in Years 5 to 9. The school makes use of local parks and Hampstead Heath for outdoor space, including for the teaching of physical education.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools, the Department for Education. The purpose of the inspection was for a material change request.  The material change request is to increase the age range of the school from two to 14 years to two to 16 years.  This is the first material change inspection in respect of this particular change that the school has applied to make.  I met with leaders, including the headteacher, the deputy headteachers, the designated safeguarding lead and the business development manager.  I scrutinised a range of documentation, including the safeguarding policy, curriculum policies, schemes of work, reports and assessment plans in order to review the impact of leadership.  I undertook this inspection remotely, with meetings held via webcam due to current COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions.

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Inspection team

Mark Smith, lead inspector Her Majesty’s 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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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