Education-My Life Matters

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Education-My Life Matters 5 Rosenthal Road, Catford, London SE6 2BX

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 3, 3(c), 3(f)  At the last inspection, these standards were not met because pupils did not learn a broad curriculum. Pupils’ experience in curriculum areas such as physical education and technology was limited. Also, teaching was sometimes ineffective in securing essential knowledge for pupils. The purpose of learning was often unclear. There was a lack of appropriate equipment and resources to support learning, for example in science.  Leaders’ proposed actions to meet these standards were to review and enhance the curriculum. They intended to introduce more subjects with appropriate schemes of work for each subject.  Leaders have been slow to address these unmet standards. In curriculum areas such as physical education and technology, there has been no significant change to the breadth and depth of the curriculum. Teachers still do not use the most effective teaching

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Main inspection findings

methods or select the most suitable activities to help pupils learn. There is still a lack of high-quality resources to support learning. There was no evidence of any practical activity in science over recent months.  The proprietor has recently increased leadership capacity in the school. A new interim assistant headteacher took up post in January 2023 and an education consultant has also been appointed. Leaders have now made some first steps towards developing the breadth of the curriculum. They have started to plan for the introduction of computing. Leaders have also started to provide regular training for teachers. They also spend time helping teachers to decide on lesson activities.  In conclusion, the curriculum still does not provide the breadth of subjects or depth within subjects to meet the relevant standards. Teaching still needs developing so that teachers make better teaching choices, supported by provision of appropriate resources.

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Main inspection findings

 These independent school standards remain unmet. Paragraph 2A(1), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d), 2A(1)(e), 2A(1)(f), 2A(1)(g), 2A(2)  At the time of the last inspection, leaders were not ensuring that pupils received relationships and sex education (RSE). Leaders had not consulted parents and carers about the school’s RSE policy or the content of the RSE curriculum. The RSE policy did not meet requirements.  Leaders’ proposed actions to address these unmet standards consisted of establishing a new RSE policy and consulting with parents about that policy. The action plan made no reference to how leaders would ensure that the school’s policy and content of the RSE curriculum would meet statutory guidance published by the Department for Education.  Leaders have taken decisive action to address these unmet standards. Pupils now receive RSE that meets government requirements. Leaders have produced a new policy

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Main inspection findings

that reflects relevant government guidance. The policy includes information for parents regarding the right to withdraw their children from sex education. Parents are being consulted about the new RSE policy and curriculum.  These independent school standards are now met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The school’s safeguarding policy is up to date. It is informed by current government requirements.  Leaders provide staff with regular safeguarding training and updates. Staff know how to report any concerns. They are alert to the signs of risk in pupils. Leaders work well with external agencies to secure the help pupils need.  This standard continues to be met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website.  This standard continues to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the time of the last inspection, this standard was not met because leaders, including the proprietor, did not fulfil their statutory responsibilities. They did not ensure that the requirements of the independent school standards were met.  Leaders’ proposed actions to address this unmet standard lacked specificity. Leaders intended to ‘improve the effectiveness of leaders and managers’ but did not focus specifically enough on how they would meet the unmet independent school standards. Also, they did not address how they would meet all the independent school standards consistently over time.  Leaders have been too slow to address unmet standards from the previous inspection. However, recent changes in leadership have resulted in progress towards improving the quality of education. The standards relating to RSE are now met. Leaders have begun to take action to address the unmet standards relating to the curriculum and teaching.

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Main inspection findings

 These independent school standards remain 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. 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

Headteacher Winsome Fletcher (Interim Assistant Headteacher) Annual fees (day pupils) £17,500

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 6 to 8 July 2022

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Information about this school

 The interim assistant headteacher took up their post in January 2023.  The school uses one registered alternative provision.  The school operates from 108 Conisborough Crescent, London, SE6 2SP. The school has notified the Department for Education (DfE) that it is now operating from these premises.  The school is registered to admit 20 pupils.

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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, at which the school was judged not to comply with the independent school standards, was a standard inspection and took place on 6 to 8 July 2022.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection in July 2022.  The DfE required the school to prepare an action plan. This was a statutory requirement.  Ofsted evaluated the school’s action plan on 12 December 2022.  The DfE rejected the school’s action plan.  This progress monitoring inspection was conducted without notice.  To check compliance with the independent school standards, the inspector met with the

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Information about this inspection

proprietor, the interim headteacher and other staff. They looked at curriculum plans and key school documentation regarding safeguarding and RSE. They also visited lessons, sampled pupils’ work and spoke with pupils.

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The school’s proposed change to its premises

The school has applied to the DfE to make a ‘material change’ to its registration. At the DfE’s request, we checked whether the school meets the relevant independent school standards if the DfE decides to approve the change. This part of the inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002.  The outcome of this part of the inspection is: the school does not meet the

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independent school standards relevant to the material change. The material

change has already been implemented.  Leaders have not ensured that they meet the independent school standards relating to the change to the school’s premises. They have not developed the outside area of the new premises. This area does not provide a suitable space in which pupils can play. Also, they do not provide pupils with changing and showering facilities for physical education. This includes on the school’s premises and at external venues used for the teaching of physical education. Leaders do not have relevant, up-to-date health and safety and risk assessment policies. These policies do not consider the context in which leaders now operate.  Leaders have ensured that the new premises meet the relevant fire regulations. They have commissioned a risk assessment by appropriately qualified personnel and undertaken necessary actions to ensure compliance. Leaders have also ensured that the new premises meet the independent school standards in part 5 ‘Premises of and

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independent school standards relevant to the material change. The material

accommodation at schools’ except for those relating to an outside area for play and changing and showering facilities.  Leaders are not demonstrating effectiveness in meeting the independent school standards. Their non-compliance is to the detriment of pupils’ welfare. However, it does not pose any immediate safeguarding risk to pupils.

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Information about the material change inspection

 This was the first material change inspection in respect of this particular change that the school has applied to make.  The inspector toured the school premises, met with the proprietor, the interim headteacher and other school staff, and looked at relevant school documentation to check compliance with the independent school standards.

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Inspection team

Ian Rawstorne, 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.

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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

 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(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time;

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range.

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor- – 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 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 head teacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused.

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The school’s proposed change to its premises

Standards that were not met at this inspection

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 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.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that-

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 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

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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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-

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 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.  29(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable-

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 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; and

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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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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