New Level Academy

School material change inspection report

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Pendolino Way, Wembley, London NW10 0RP Inspection date 6 January 2023

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The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  Leaders have a clear understanding of current statutory safeguarding requirements. The school’s policy reflects the guidance in ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2022). The policy is available online.  Arrangements to train and induct staff are suitable. Leaders follow up concerns appropriately and record their timely actions using an online system. Pupils spoken to said that they felt safe at school.  The available evidence suggests that safeguarding continues to be effective.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 11, 12, 16  The school’s suitable policies for health and safety and risk assessment are being implemented well at the new premises. The possible risks to pupils, both at school and at the off-site physical education sessions, have been suitably assessed.  An external fire-risk assessment completed in October 2022 identified one minor action, which has been completed. All the required internal and external fire-safety checks have been completed in a timely way.  The independent school standards (the standards) checked in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The school relocated to its new premises in December 2022. The building was previously used as a training centre for people working on the railways.  Located on the ground floor, the premises include three classrooms and separate pupil and staff toilet and washing facilities. There is a suitable medical room located in the school’s office. There is also a small, open-plan area that pupils use at breaktimes. Drinking water is available from the school’s kitchen. Hot-water supplies are safely regulated. Lighting and acoustics are suitable throughout.  As the new premises do not include outdoor space, pupils attend physical education sessions twice weekly at Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre, Harrow Road, London NW10 0RG.  The standards checked in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  Proprietors and leaders have prepared suitably for the move to the new premises. They demonstrate understanding of the relevant independent school standards.  Proprietors and leaders have ensured that the standards checked, including the standard in this part, continue to be met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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 compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 10 to 12 May 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 13 to 19 No change Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 11/20 No change Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed No change Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 10 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities All pupils No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 2 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 0 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 2 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 1 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 2 No change

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Information about this school

 New Level Academy is a small independent school and alternative provision for pupils in the London Borough of Brent. The school relocated to its new premises on Pendolino Way, Wembley, London in December 2022.  The school provides permanent school placements and temporary alternative provision for up to 20 pupils aged 13 to 19. Pupils typically have social, emotional and mental health needs. Pupils are placed by their schools and are admitted on a dual registration arrangement. Very few pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school does not use alternative provision.  The school’s most recent standard inspection took place in May 2022. The school’s overall effectiveness was judged to require improvement. All the independent school standards were judged to be met.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this inspection to consider the school’s application to change its main premises.  This was the school’s first material change inspection to consider the school’s relocation to Pendolino Way, Wembley, London NW10 0RP.  The inspection was announced with two days’ notice.  The inspector considered whether some of the requirements in parts 3, 5, 6 and 8 of the independent school standards are met.  The inspector met with the chair of the proprietor body, who is also the headteacher. He also met with a member of staff with responsibility for safeguarding. He toured the new premises and met with a group of pupils. He considered a range of other evidence, including in relation to health and safety, safeguarding and risk assessment.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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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