Setting

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

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Jackie Addison Headteacher Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit Franciscan Road Tooting London SW17 8HE

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Ofsted remote visit to Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit

Following my remote visit with Daniel-John Constable, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 17 November 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.

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Ofsted remote visit to Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit

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. Following changes to government guidance and the imposition of COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, we made this visit remotely to reduce pressure on the school.

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Ofsted remote visit to Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit

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.

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Ofsted remote visit to Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit

During the visit, we spoke to you and members of your senior leadership team, including the leader responsible for safeguarding. We did not speak to pupils.

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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 pandemic.

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Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 Around one fifth of pupils have needed to self-isolate since the start of this term.  Pupils are studying their usual range of subjects. Leaders have made some changes to the practical elements of subjects, for example fewer experiments in science and less contact sport in physical education. Leaders plan to return to the school’s usual curriculum by the end of this term.  Leaders have prioritised getting pupils back into the school’s routines and learning. Staff have modified the content of the school’s ‘creative curriculum’ to put more emphasis on embedding social and emotional skills. To supplement this approach, pupils have immediate access to on-site mental health support and advice about sexual health.  Staff checked pupils’ knowledge and skills in September 2020 and through the term when pupils have joined later. Teachers have used this information to make adjustments to subject content in response to pupils’ knowledge gaps.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

In mathematics for instance, in Years 7 to 9 the focus is on remembering the knowledge needed to perform a range of calculations.  Pupils in Year 11 are taking formal tests in their examination subjects earlier than usual. Staff plan to use their analysis of the results to shape their teaching plans for the rest of the academic year.  The school’s provision for remote education has varied according to pupils’ individual needs. Staff have provided some pupils with ‘learning packs’ at home, while others have received work online. Leaders maintain daily contact with any pupil working remotely.  You are moving to a new system for remote education. Leaders are currently planning the precise content of the programme and how it will be delivered. Making sure all pupils have the right technology to access online remote education has been a barrier that leaders have gradually overcome.

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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.

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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 Wandsworth. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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