Homeschool

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Homeschool 49 Manifold Way, Sandwell, Wednesbury, West Midlands WS10 0GB

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c), 32(1)(d), 32(1)(g), 32(4), 32(4)(b), 34(1)–34(1)(b)  The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned Ofsted to conduct a progress monitoring inspection of Homeschool to report on whether the school now meets the previously un-met independent school standards. An earlier inspection in January 2020 found that the school failed to meet several of the standards in part 1 (Quality of education provided), part 3 (Welfare, health and safety of pupils), part 5 (Premises of and accommodation at schools), part 6 (Provision of information) and part 8 (Quality of leadership in and management of schools). A progress monitoring inspection in March 2021 could not be completed because the proprietor refused to allow inspectors to enter the school premises. At that time, Ofsted issued the proprietor with a letter notifying him that refusal to allow the inspection to continue is unlawful and amounts to

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Main inspection findings

the criminal offence of obstruction under section 110(5) of the Education and Skills Act 2008.  Ofsted was unable to complete this inspection because the proprietor again refused to allow inspectors to enter the school premises. The proprietor explained that he was unwell. He said that, currently, the premises are not set up to provide education because the school was not open at this time. The proprietor informed the lead inspector that, at present, the premises do not meet the independent school standards.  Homeschool is currently under a restriction not to admit new pupils. This restriction came into effect on 3 August 2020. The proprietor informed the lead inspector that he was abiding by this restriction and that there were no pupils present at the school. The proprietor also said that he does not intend to operate the premises as a school while the current restriction remains in place. He said that, because of this, the premises have

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Main inspection findings

reverted to being a private residence. He told the lead inspector that any further progress monitoring inspections were likely to find a similar situation and reception to that encountered today.  The school’s website does include the enforcement letter from the DfE that gives notice of this restriction. The website continues to have an admissions page advertising places to prospective parents. However, academic year dates refer to the 2019/20 school year. The website is mostly out of date.  As noted at the time of the March 2021 inspection, policies published on the school’s website are dated 14 February 2020. These have not been updated. The current published safeguarding policy is not informed by the government’s most recent guidance. Therefore, it does not meet statutory requirements, and it is reasonable to judge that requirement 7(b) is not met.  The school website does contain all previously published inspection reports as required

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Main inspection findings

by the independent school standards. Therefore, requirement 32(1)(d) is met.  The proprietor did not provide inspectors with any evidence to demonstrate that previously un-met standards in parts 1, 3 and 5 are now met.  The standards in part 8 remain un-met. This is because the limited evidence available shows that at least some independent school standards remain un-met. Furthermore, the proprietor stated that, in his view, the school was not currently meeting the required standards.

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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. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. 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

Number of pupils on the school roll Unable to ascertain

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School details

Number of part-time pupils Unable to ascertain

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Unable to ascertain

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School details

Website www.homeschoolsocialenterprise.org

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 20 to 21 November 2018

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Information about this school

 Homeschool is part of Homeschool Social Enterprise, a registered charity.  The school was registered with the DfE in October 2014. The school is registered to provide education for up to five pupils between five and 11 years old.  The school has been inspected seven times since its registration in 2014. It has only met the independent school standards checked at an inspection once during this period of time. The school has never been judged to be any better than inadequate by Ofsted.  The school has a Christian religious ethos.

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Information about this inspection

 This progress monitoring inspection was commissioned by the DfE to report on whether the school now meets the independent school standards.  The lead inspector called at the premises at 8:49am but got no answer from ringing the doorbell. The lead inspector subsequently telephoned the proprietor to notify him of the inspection at 8:56am. The lead inspector then had a telephone conversation with the proprietor until 9:36am.  The inspectors looked at the school’s website and observed the outside of the premises. They did not witness any pupils entering or leaving the premises.

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Inspection team

Martin Pye, lead inspector 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 – 7(b) arrangements that are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 32(1)(c) particulars of the arrangements for meeting the standard contained in paragraph 7 are published on the school's internet website or, where no such website exists, are provided to parents on request; – 32(1)(g) any information reasonably requested in connection with an inspection under section 109 of the 2008 Act which is required for the purposes of the inspection is provided to the body conducting the inspection and that body is given access to the school’s admission and attendance registers.

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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; and – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 32(1)(d) following an inspection under section 108 or 109 of the 2008 Act, a copy of the report of the inspection (if it has been sent to the proprietor) is published and maintained on the school’s internet website, and provided to the parents of each registered pupil, by any date specified by the body who conducted the inspection.

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(4) The action specified in this sub-paragraph is- – 32(4)(b) any decision of the Secretary of State to impose a relevant restriction on the proprietor under section 116 of the 2008 Act;

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Part 1. Quality of Education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub-paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively, and – 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work– – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan.  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school– – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 3(b) fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves;

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Part 1. Quality of Education provided

– 3(c) involves well-planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range; and – 3(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that- – 9(a) a written behaviour policy is drawn up that, amongst other matters, sets out the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupil misbehaviour; – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively; and – 9(c) a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour.  10 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that bullying at the school is prevented in so far as reasonably practicable, by the drawing up and implementation of an effective anti-bullying strategy.  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  13 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written first aid policy.  14 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff.  15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006.  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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.  29 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable– – 29(1)(a) physical education to be provided to pupils in accordance with the school curriculum; and – 29(1)(b) pupils to play outside. 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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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