Brenkley School

School material change inspection report

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ID Academy 3-5 Brenkley Way, Seaton Burn, Newcastle upon Tyne NE13 6DS

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  The school has a safeguarding policy in place that is in line with the latest government guidance. Staff are appropriately trained to understand their role in safeguarding pupils. Safeguarding training for the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and the deputy DSL is kept up to date.  The DSL is knowledgeable about each pupil in the school. When referrals need to be made, they are timely and followed up appropriately to ensure the best outcome for the pupil.  Recording of safeguarding incidents is clearly explained to staff. All staff have received DSL training so they are aware of the requirements of this role. This strengthens their knowledge of safeguarding. Paragraph 11  An appropriate health and safety policy is in place and fully implemented. Health and safety is a high priority for the school and is discussed regularly to ensure the environment is safe for pupils and staff.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have been awarded the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment (CHAS) accreditation for the second year. The headteacher says that this enables them to think more deeply about health and safety and they have increased the frequency of some checks in line with this. Paragraph 12  A comprehensive fire safety risk assessment is in place. All checks to support this, such as checks and servicing of emergency lighting and of firefighting equipment, are in place. The risk assessment details actions taken to minimise risk, for example in storing combustible materials.  There are clear routines that are well established in school in relation to fire safety. Records show that regular tests of fire alarms and fire drills take place.  All fire signage in the school is appropriate. Staff receive regular training for fire safety and fire safety is discussed as part of staff meetings. Paragraph 14  Pupils are well supervised at this school. There is a minimum requirement of a ratio of

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Main inspection findings

one member of staff to every five pupils but, in reality, this is often one to three. The headteacher intends to recruit more staff to maintain these ratios as the school grows, if this material change is approved by the Department for Education (DfE). Paragraph 16  There is a risk assessment policy in place which sets out the risks that pupils may face on the school site and when out of school on enrichment activities and educational visits. There is an agreed procedure for constructing risk assessments.  All risk assessments reviewed during this inspection are in line with this policy. They clearly identify the risks in specific situations and how staff seek to minimise them. There is a large suite of risk assessments. This includes for the wide variety of activities that take place away from the school site.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17 to 21  The proprietor has ensured that all checks made on staff’s suitability to work with pupils are appropriate, carried out before employment commences and recorded on the single central record.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23, 24  The proprietor has ensured that toilets and washing facilities are appropriate for pupils. There is a separate toilet for girls and boys. These are single lockable cubicles with their own washing facilities. They are clean and tidy and well stocked with soap and paper towels.  Pupils take part in physical education (PE) away from the school site. When they attend specialist facilities for sports such as surfing or kayaking, there are showers and changing accommodation available for pupils to use.  The medical room is small but suitable. There is a bed and washing facilities. The room is adjacent to a toilet. There is a lockable medicine cabinet for storage of medication and a well-stocked first-aid box. Paragraph 25  The building is very well maintained. It is bright and attractive and welcoming for pupils. There are displays relating to schoolwork around the building. It is clean and

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Main inspection findings

tidy. Paragraphs 26, 27  Lighting in classrooms and the proposed additional two classrooms are fit for purpose, as are acoustics. There are smaller intervention rooms attached to classrooms and these are also bright, and acoustics are appropriate. Paragraph 28  Pupils have free access to drinking water in the school kitchen. It is clearly labelled as suitable for drinking.  At the time of the inspection, the temperature of the tap water was a little high and could have posed a scalding risk. Red lights on the taps show pupils when they should not use the water and green lights indicate it is a safe temperature to use. The headteacher arranged for the overall temperature to be adjusted on the boiler as an extra precaution. Paragraph 29  There is a garden area at the back of the school with picnic tables and space for recreational activities to take place. Pupils use this space for socialising.  The outdoor space is not large enough for PE and so all PE activities take place off

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Main inspection findings

site. The proprietor intends that this will continue with an increased number of pupils if the material change is approved.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The headteacher has an extensive knowledge of education and working with pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). She is very careful about recruitment to the school to ensure that pupils and staff have strong relationships.  The proprietor has systems in place to work with the headteacher. There are also clear systems for accountability.  There is an annual audit and regular checks of compliance with the independent school standards (the standards).  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met 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 that are relevant to the material change.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Proprietor Interactive Development Residential Limited

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 16 to 18 October 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 11 to 16 11 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 9 20 20

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 9 20 Number of part-time pupils 0 0

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 9 20

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School's current position School's proposal

Of which, number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 9 Up to 20

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School's current position School's proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 9 20

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 2 4

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Information about this school

 The school currently caters for up to 10 secondary school pupils with identified social, emotional and mental health needs. Pupils come from across North Tyneside and the surrounding area.  The previous standard inspection took place in October 2018 and the school was judged to require improvement. Since then, a progress monitoring inspection took place in March 2019, where the school was judged to meet the standards that were checked during that inspection.  The school does not use any alternative education provision.  The school was registered by the DfE in November 2017.

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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 determine whether the school would meet the standards if they increased the number of pupils from 10 to 20.  The school proposes to continue to cater for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school proposes to also cater for pupils with autism spectrum disorder.  This was the first material change inspection since the school opened in November 2017.  The inspector met with the headteacher in person and the proprietor via telephone. She toured the premises inside and out. She reviewed documentation relating to the standards that the DfE requested to be checked. She also checked safeguarding arrangements and the checks made on staff to ensure they are suitable to work with pupils.

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Inspection team

Debbie Redshaw, 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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