Prudentia Education

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Prudentia Education GAP Centre, Bowden Road, Garston, Liverpool, Merseyside L19 1QP

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1)–2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 2(2)(h), 3, 3(a), 3(d), 3(g)  The standard inspection in March 2022 found that for some subjects, leaders had not considered in enough depth what they wanted pupils to learn each year and in what order pupils should learn this knowledge. There was also no clear assessment system in place for some subjects, so teachers could not judge how well pupils gained knowledge.  The action plan that Ofsted evaluated in July 2022 stated that leaders would update their schemes of work to account for pupils’ ages, aptitudes and needs. They also planned to take action to improve assessment procedures. However, leaders were not precise enough in defining the actions that they would take to achieve these ends. Leaders also failed to include appropriate timescales and measurable methods of judging the success of their actions.  The evidence from this inspection indicates that leaders have still not thought precisely

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Main inspection findings

enough about what they intend pupils to learn in several subjects, including scientific, technological and human and social education. Schemes of work in these subjects contain disconnected and superficial learning and do not take into account pupils’ ages, aptitudes and needs. Consequently, pupils do not make good progress.  Teachers are unable to assess how well pupils are performing. This is because the knowledge that pupils need to acquire is not clearly defined or arranged in a logical order. Consequently, teachers do not have an accurate picture of pupils’ progress and are unable to plan teaching well enough to secure good progress for pupils. Paragraph 2A(1), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d)–2A(1)(g), 2A(2)  During the standard inspection in March 2022, evidence showed that leaders had not implemented a programme of relationships and sex education (RSE). They had not fulfilled the government’s requirements to draw up a suitable policy, consult with parents

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Main inspection findings

and carers and offer parents the option to withdraw their child from sex education.  The action plan evaluated by Ofsted in July 2022 stated that leaders would provide suitable training for staff and ensure that resources were in place to deliver RSE. The plan contained realistic timescales and measurable success criteria.  During this inspection, leaders presented evidence that there is now appropriate provision for RSE which meets the government’s requirements. The scheme of work is suitably organised and contains age-appropriate content. It covers key topics, such as consent and healthy relationships.  Leaders held a consultation with parents before launching the RSE policy and programme. They have ensured that parents have the right to withdraw their child from the sex education element of the learning.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part remain unmet. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The proprietor body has drawn up a comprehensive safeguarding policy. It explains leaders’ approach to managing a wide range of relevant concerns, such as sexual violence and sexual harassment, radicalisation and county lines issues. It references current guidance from the government and provides links to other relevant documents. Leaders have published the policy on the school’s website.  Leaders have ensured that staff receive thorough training in safeguarding matters. The proprietor body has a suitable system in place for reporting and recording safeguarding concerns about pupils. Leaders respond quickly and give help to pupils who need it. Leaders involve other agencies, such as the local authority’s children’s social care team, when necessary.  Leaders understand the processes involved in managing allegations against members of staff, should they occur.  The standards inspected in this part are met.

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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)  Leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards which were inspected are met. In a number of subjects, leaders have not thought precisely enough about the knowledge which they want pupils to acquire and the order in which it will be taught. In addition, leaders have not considered the ages, aptitudes and needs of pupils when devising schemes of work in these subjects.  Leaders have not made sure that teachers are able to assess how well pupils are progressing. This is because, in several subjects, leaders have not defined clearly enough what they want pupils to learn. As a result, teachers cannot plan teaching effectively enough or enable pupils to make good progress in their learning.  The standard in this part remains unmet. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders have a suitable plan in place to improve access for pupils with disabilities who

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Main inspection findings

may attend the school. Actions that leaders will take include making reasonable adjustments to the premises as needed and providing information in alternative formats, such as large print.  Leaders have ensured that this requirement is met.

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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

Email address christian@prudentiaeducation.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 8 to 10 March 2022

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Information about this school

 The school is based on two sites: GAP Centre, Bowden Road, Liverpool, L19 1QP and Harthill Youth Centre, Wellington Road, Liverpool, L15 4JN.  In liaison with the local authority, the school operates as an alternative provision for pupils with social and emotional needs and behavioural difficulties.  A small number of pupils attend on a part-time basis.  Leaders do not use any 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.  The school’s previous inspection was a standard inspection which took place on 8 to 10 March 2022.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since its previous inspection.  The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. This was evaluated by Ofsted on 4 July 2022.  The DfE rejected the school’s action plan.  This inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector held discussions with the chair and the other member of the proprietor body. The chair is also the headteacher. The inspector analysed a range of documents, including curriculum plans and schemes of work and records relating to safeguarding.

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Inspection team

Mark Quinn, 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 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(2)(a) full-time supervised education for pupils of compulsory school age (construed in accordance with section 8 of the Education Act 1996), which gives pupils experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education;

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(2)(h) that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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;

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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;

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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 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;

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

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standards

 2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor–

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standards

– 2A(1)(b) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with secondary education at the school is provided with relationships and sex education, except in so far as the pupil is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)

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standards

– 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools

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standards

– 2A(1)(e) makes and keeps up to date a separate written statement of its policy with regard to the provision of education as required by each of paragraphs (a) and (b)

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standards

– 2A(1)(f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e), and

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standards

– 2A(1)(g) publishes a copy of the statement on a website and provides a copy of the statement free of charge to anyone who asks for one.

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standards

 2A(2) Arrangements made by the proprietor for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) must ensure that where a pupil’s parent requests that the pupil is wholly or partly excused from sex education provided as part of relationships and sex education, the pupil is so excused until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the headteacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused. 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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standards

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standards

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standards

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standards

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standards

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standards

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