Keresley College

Keresley College Bennetts Road North, Keresley End, Coventry, Warwickshire CV7 8LA

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The school has a written safeguarding policy, which is available from the school office on request. However, while the safeguarding policy is dated as being reviewed in March 2021, the content has not been updated for some time. The current policy is not informed by the most recent updates to ‘Keeping children safe in education’. Instead, it makes reference to the 2018 version. Similarly, pupils’ safeguarding records are not kept and updated as they should be. That said, when safeguarding concerns have been reported, the correct referral processes have been followed.  Staff safeguarding training has been completed but its impact has been hit-or-miss. Some staff are clear about expectations and processes; others less so.  There is a written risk assessment policy, but it is not implemented effectively. Specifically, known risks connected with pupils’ behaviour are not managed well. Not

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Main inspection findings

enough thought is given to supporting difficult behaviour so as to reduce the risk of exclusion from school. When exclusion has been used, there is little evidence to show that follow-up support has given.  Risk assessments for trips and other school activities are in place, but some are out of date and need refreshing.  These standards are unmet. Paragraphs 9, 9(a), 9(b), 9(c) and 14  The current behaviour policy meets the minimum requirements of the independent school standards but would benefit from some updating. Currently, it is heavily weighted towards punishments, with little information about how to motivate and encourage positive behaviour. The school keeps records of sanctions for poor behaviour, but leaders do not make best use of these to spot patterns or bring about improvements. Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity about the processes to be followed following an exclusion.  Pupils are adequately supervised during lessons, in between lessons and at

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Main inspection findings

breaktimes. Pupils say that this is usual and routine, and that they feel safe in school .  These standards are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(a)(i), 19(2)(a)(i)(aa), 19(2)(a)(i)(bb), 19(2)(a)(i)(cc), 19(2)(a)(i)(dd), 19(2)(a)(ii), 19(2)(b), 19(2)(c), 19(2)(d), 19(2)(d)(i), 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(2)(e), 19(3), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(4), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(b), 21(5)(c), 21(6), 21(7), 21(7)(a) and 21(7)(b)

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has ensured that all the required employment checks on staff are carried out and recorded correctly. The school’s single central register of employment checks on staff is up to date. Staff files and other confidential records are kept in a locked cupboard.  The proprietor has checked that leaders are not subject to any orders that prohibit them from holding a management position in a school.  Safer recruitment processes are followed.  These standards are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraphs 33, 33(a), 33(b), 33(c), 33(d), 33(e), 33(f), 33(g), 33(h), 33(i), 33(i)(i), 33(i)(ii), 33(j), 33(j)(i), 33(j)(ii) and 33(k)  The school has a complaints policy. This was drawn up by the previous proprietor and is fit for purpose. Nevertheless, some of the job titles used in the policy no longer reflect the current leadership structure and need updating.  These standards are 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)  The change of proprietor has resulted in some tension between the new proprietor and staff. It appears that the new proprietor has tried to bring about change and this has been met with resistance from some staff. It is hard to know the whole truth behind this, but it is clear that the current proprietor has more of a presence in school than the previous proprietor. It is also clear that, while the proprietor aims to bring about change for the better, they have not focused on the most urgent priorities, in particular failures to meet all of the independent school standards. Consequently, some seemingly long-standing problems have persisted.  The proprietor’s oversight of the school’s work has not been rigorous enough over time. Shortcomings in several aspects of policy, notably safeguarding, have gone

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Main inspection findings

unchecked. In addition, the proprietor has not ensured that the school has kept to its registered age range.  The newly appointed headteacher accepts that changes in the workplace are needed. At the time of this inspection, she was just beginning to get to grips with the work to be done.  These standards are 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. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Proprietor Values Education for Life CIO

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School details

Email address gail.carter@keresley-college.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 5–7 June 2018

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Information about this school

 Kersley College is an independent special school accommodated in a former pupil referral unit in Keresley, on the outskirts of Coventry.  The current proprietor, Values Education for Life CIO, took over the school on 8 October 2020. The previous proprietor, Shaftesbury Young People, operated the school under the name of the Shaftesbury Extended Learning Centre.  The current headteacher took up her post on 1 June 2021.  The school’s previous inspection took place in June 2018 when its overall effectiveness judgement was requires improvement.  The school is registered for up to 22 pupils aged between 14 and 16. Currently, there are 13 pupils on the school’s roll in Years 8, 10 and 11. The school has not kept to its registered age range, so is in breach of its registration agreement.  The school caters for pupils who have emotional and social difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, and attention deficit and hyperactive disorder. Many pupils have experienced a

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Information about this school

disrupted education, with periods of poor attendance or exclusion from previous schools.  The school does not have a website. The proprietor plans to create one.  The school uses one unregistered alternative provider for physical education and to extend the curriculum it offers.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was prompted by information received by the Department for Education that raised concerns about aspects of the school.  The inspection was carried out with no notice and lasted one day.  The inspection focused on the school’s safeguarding arrangements, staff supervision of pupils, behaviour management, risk assessments, procedures for handling complaints and the effectiveness of leadership and management.  Inspectors met with the headteacher and the staff and pupils who were on site during the inspection day. In addition, they had an on-site meeting with a trustee from Values Education for Life and an online meeting with the chair of the trustees. They examined school policies, records, safeguarding information and the single central register of employment checks on staff.  Before the inspection, the lead inspector checked the Values Education for Life website. He also looked at Ofsted’s online questionnaire, Parent View, where there

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Inspection team

Martin Pye, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Peter Humphries Senior Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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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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