Bodywork Company Performing Arts Cambridge

Bodywork Company Performing Arts Cambridge Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jules Steele, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Dance and drama school

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Address:

25–29 Glisson Road Cambridge CB1 2HA Monitoring visit: Bodywork Company Performing Arts Cambridge, 10 May 2021

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Context and focus of visit

This monitoring visit focused on safeguarding arrangements and was undertaken as outlined in the operational note on visits carried out from January 2021 and with reference to the further education and skills handbook.

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Context and focus of visit

This is the second visit following safeguarding concerns that had been brought to Ofsted’s attention. The previous remote visit found that leaders had made insufficient progress in their oversight of safeguarding arrangements for students.

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Context and focus of visit

The provider offers the Trinity diploma in dance and musical theatre, funded by the national dance and drama awards (DaDA) scheme.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the visit, a total of 78 students were working towards the Trinity diploma, of which 53 were in receipt of DaDA funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

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Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders’ arrangements to keep students safe while at college remain insufficient. Leaders have yet to establish a comprehensive culture of safeguarding.

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Insufficient progress

Students told inspectors that a few staff make inappropriate comments to them in class in front of their peers. This leads to those students having negative images of themselves and developing behaviours that are harmful to their health and well- being. For example, a few students choose not to eat when they arrive home late after classes for fear that they will gain weight. Students told inspectors that ‘looking beautiful’ was more valued by these staff than students’ talents. There are incidents of some staff discouraging students from going to auditions for roles when they may not have ‘the desired physique’.

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Insufficient progress

Governance arrangements are inadequate. The governing body resigned five months ago because of the lack of safer recruitment practices and there being barriers to governors having the appropriate oversight of safeguarding arrangements. Leaders have yet to establish any form of external scrutiny or convene a new governing body. Monitoring visit: Bodywork Company Performing Arts Cambridge, 10 May 2021 Tutorial arrangements for male students require improvement. Managers have worked with staff to strengthen the tutorial programme. However, they have only recently dedicated time to exploring subjects relevant to the specific challenges faced by males in the performance industry. For example, male students understand sexual predation related to their female peers, but have not yet had the opportunity to explore how sexual predation potentially relates to them.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders’ ongoing scrutiny of safeguarding arrangements, although strengthened, is not yet comprehensive. Leaders’ oversight of chaperoning arrangements for visiting and guest tutors remains insufficient. Leaders have not followed up with managers to ensure that the new procedure for recording and securely storing recorded lessons is in place and effectively monitored. Safer recruitment practices are now established, and employment references followed up appropriately.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have improved the focus staff place on making safeguarding explicit to students. Tutors now systematically teach students how to stay safe in the performing arts world. For example, students know how to protect their online identity and manage their social media presence appropriately. Students demonstrate a good understanding of safe working practices. They know how to prevent, recognise and treat performance-related injuries.

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Insufficient progress

Students have an effective understanding of the protected characteristics of others. They develop empathy for the challenges faced by people with a range of disabilities. For example, the topics they choose for their final year work explore the perspectives of those with autism spectrum disorder and victims of sexual assault, and the societal issues related to gender identity. Monitoring visit: Bodywork Company Performing Arts Cambridge, 10 May 2021 regulates and inspects to 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

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Insufficient progress

children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Insufficient progress

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Insufficient progress

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Insufficient progress

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Insufficient progress

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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