The Corner School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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The Corner School Douglas Avenue, Wembley, Middlesex HA0 4DT

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a),7(b)  The previous standard inspection judged safeguarding to be effective. This continues to be the case.  The school’s safeguarding policy reflects latest government guidance. The proprietor body provides school leaders and staff with regular training to ensure that they know and uphold their responsibilities to safeguard their pupils.  The safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(c)  At the time of the last inspection, the proprietor body had not ensured that the school’s premises met the requirement to provide suitable changing and shower facilities for pupils aged 11 years and above.  The post-inspection action plan set out the proprietor body’s proposals to commission the required works to design and install suitable changing and shower facilities. The action plan included realistic timescales and indicated that the initial stages of the plan had been completed. Leaders intended the installation to be ready for the start of the academic year in September 2022.  Since the action plan was submitted, work to instal the shower and changing facilities has not proceeded as leaders initially intended. Difficulties securing building services and financial constraints mean that the work has not progressed beyond the planning stage.

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Main inspection findings

The proprietor body has paused pursuing this work pending their decision to apply to the Department for Education (DfE) to make changes to their registration agreement. Leaders are planning to organise physical education for the small number of pupils over 11 years to take place at local sports facilities so that pupils will have access to suitable changing accommodation and showers. This arrangement was not in place at the time of the inspection.  The proprietor body has not ensured that suitable changing and shower facilities are provided for pupils, as set out in the registration requirements. This standard remains unmet. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the time of the last inspection, the proprietor body had not ensured that independent school standards relating to the school premises were met.  The proprietor body and school leaders drew up an appropriate post-inspection action

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Main inspection findings

plan. This set out their intended steps to ensure that the necessary works were carried out so that the independent school standards were met consistently.  The post-inspection action plan also made reference to the proprietor body’s commissioning of an external consultant to support leaders’ work to ensure compliance with the independent school standards.  The proprietor body and school leaders are working currently with an external consultant, as set out in the post-inspection action plan. The proprietor body has also prioritised securing the work of additional education professionals and external consultants to support the interim headteacher in all aspects of the school’s work. The proprietor body and school leaders have developed their knowledge of the requirements of the independent school standards. Nevertheless, the standards that were unmet at the time of the last inspection continue to be 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. 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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £48,000 to £64,000

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School details

Email address cassie.oakeshott@up.org.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 1 to 3 February 2022

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Information about this school

 Since the previous inspection, the headteacher has left the school. The chief executive officer of the proprietor body took on the role of interim headteacher in September 2022. The trustees are currently recruiting a new substantive headteacher.  The last standard inspection took place in February 2022.  The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.

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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 monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This inspection was conducted without notice. Inspection activities focused on the independent school standards in Parts 5 and 8 found to be unmet at the last standard inspection.  The inspector met with the interim headteacher and held telephone conversations with the chair of the proprietor body and the director of safeguarding of the trust. The inspector also held a remote meeting with the human resources officer to review the administration of the record of pre-employment checks of staff.  The inspector looked at a range of documents and email correspondence relevant to the independent school standards in Parts 5 and 8 being considered.

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Inspection team

Amanda Carter-Fraser, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 23(1)(c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.

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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. 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

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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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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