More House School

Inspection of More House School Moons Hill, Frensham, Farnham, Surrey GU10 3AP

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Sixth-form provision Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

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What is it like to attend this school?

This is a school where high ambitions underpin every aspect of day-to-day life. Staff do not let the barriers pupils face get in the way of what they teach. Expectations are high. Pupils respond well to the challenges they are set because their needs are understood and the support they receive is highly effective.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils conduct themselves well here, though recognise that behaviour is not perfect all the time. Pupils told inspectors that they feel safe in school, including from bullying, because staff are quick to act when there are problems. Pupils have a range of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and staff are skilled when managing heightened anxieties. One pupil said that he had ‘learned how to learn’ since joining the school, because staff give him good strategies to help.

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What is it like to attend this school?

One pupil described the school’s extra-curricular offer as ‘insane’. Inspectors found it extremely rich in variety and high in quality. Sport, technology, music and the arts are valued highly here. The lead inspector enjoyed a performance by the school’s big band during the inspection. Pupils love the magic club, run by a professional magician. Others enjoy drama, and are hoping to register for the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

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better?

The school has been rated outstanding for some time, yet has not stood still in its ambition to evolve and to improve. Its curriculum has great breadth. Students in the sixth form access a wide range of subjects. The curriculum is further strengthened by the school’s excellent range of accommodation and teaching resources. Specialist equipment enables staff to deliver high-quality lessons both in and out of the classroom. Music, the visual arts, science, technology, and the physical education departments enjoy facilities that both enthuse and motivate pupils to learn, even before they set foot in a classroom. The core subjects of English and mathematics are taught with vigour and passion. Pupils who struggle to read are supported well by staff, including specialists from the school’s learning development centre, known by all as the LDC.

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better?

Younger pupils follow a pathway reaching well beyond that which might normally be expected. All pupils in the school’s junior phase are taught to play a musical instrument. Many keep this up and are performing to a high standard by the time they reach the sixth form. Older pupils enjoy a varied choice of subjects as they move through the school. These are both academic and vocational in nature, preparing pupils well for their next steps in education and life beyond More House.

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better?

The school benefits from highly dedicated, specialist staff who understand pupils’ emotional needs as well as being enthusiastic advocates for the subjects that they teach. Staff value the support they get from leaders. Classroom visits showed staff to be experts in the way they design and promote learning. Small class sizes help, and much of the teaching here is truly bespoke to individual pupils. The impact of 7–9 March 2023 this is clear to see in the outcomes at the end of key stages 4 and 5. More than half of the 39 students who left the sixth form last year gained university places. Others moved to apprenticeships or further education, or directly into employment.

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better?

One unique aspect of the school is the time pupils spend supported by staff from the LDC. Much of this work is aimed at helping pupils to overcome the language and communication hurdles they face. Speech and language and occupational therapists play their part. Literacy tutors are also crucial to the work of the LDC. All pupils access this specialist provision, which offers them expert additional support across the full scope of the curriculum. The result of this manifests itself across all areas of the school, boosting pupils’ confidence and belief in themselves as learners.

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better?

The curriculum offer here extends well beyond the academic. Pupils access a wide range of extra-curricular activities, both as part of the planned curriculum and through their own choices linked to personal interests. Team games and singing, performing both on stage and in musical ensembles, are daily occurrences. After- school clubs broaden pupils’ horizons, help develop their sense of resilience and build character. Pupils are equally at home talking about karate as they are about cooking or achieving formal qualifications in life skills.

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better?

The school’s personal and social development programme is a strength. This incorporates all aspects of personal, social and health education, including relationships and sex education. Leaders are very aware of their responsibilities to ensure that pupils learn about equality and diversity. Aspects such as making a positive contribution to wider society or understanding the concept of consent are all given a high priority. Pupils also benefit from a well-planned careers information and guidance programme. As a result, pupils are prepared well for life in modern Britain as well as their next steps in education, employment or training.

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better?

Governance is well established. Directors, who form the governing body, come from a range of backgrounds. Their varying skills and experience mean that they are well set to offer the challenge and support leaders’ need to run the school successfully. This includes oversight of aspects such as the welfare and health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors to the school. Their input ensures that the school complies with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 and all relevant independent school standards.

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better?

The large majority of parents who replied to Ofsted Parent View are supportive of the school and its leadership. Most free-text comments were extremely positive. Comments that expressed sentiments such as ‘The school is fantastic and has been a life saver for my son’ and ‘I thank God for this school. They are doing wonderful work for my son. I am very grateful’ were not uncommon.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 7–9 March 2023 The culture to safeguard pupils is strong here. Expert staff who lead the school’s work in this area are knowledgeable about the potential dangers pupils face. They ensure that teaching and support staff understand their roles fully in the school’s work to protect pupils.

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Safeguarding

Senior leaders and directors oversee the school’s safeguarding arrangements diligently. Policies are fit for purpose and understood by all. Systems to recruit staff follow relevant guidance. Timely work with outside agencies to support pupils and their families plays a big part in ensuring that the welfare and health and safety of all at the school are protected.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 7–9 March 2023

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School details

Unique reference number 125403 DfE registration number 936/6420

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School details

Inspection number 10267610 Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School category Independent residential special school

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sixth form

Proprietor Gard’ner Memorial Limited (The)

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sixth form

Annual fees (day pupils) £14,793 to £20,736

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sixth form

Email address schooloffice@morehouseschool.co.uk

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sixth form

Date of previous inspection 5 to 7 March 2019 7–9 March 2023

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Information about this school

 More House School is an independent residential special school owned by Gard’ner Memorial Limited. The school has charitable status. It is governed by the board of directors, whose members also act as governors for the school.  The school provides education for pupils who have language and communication needs as well as other needs associated with autism spectrum disorder.  Over half of pupils have an education, health and care plan and are funded by their local authority.  The school has a Catholic ethos.  The school does not use any alternative education providers.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The purpose of the inspection 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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Information about this inspection

The school meets the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

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Information about this inspection

This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspectors held a wide range of meetings with the headmaster, senior leaders, curriculum leaders and teaching and support staff.  The lead inspector met with the chair of the governing body, who was accompanied by three other governors.  An inspector held telephone conversations with officers from two local authorities who place pupils at the school.  Inspectors talked informally and formally to different groups and individual pupils to gain their views about the school.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: English, mathematics, music, visual arts and technology. Deep dives included visiting lessons, looking at pupils’ work, and talking to leaders, teachers and pupils about how teaching in these subjects builds on pupils’ knowledge over time.  Inspectors toured the school’s premises and accommodation. They checked a range of policies and documents, including the school’s single central record. They

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Information about this inspection

also reviewed the school’s website and other records regarding the welfare and health and safety of pupils and staff, linked to the independent school standards. 7–9 March 2023  Inspectors gathered evidence to explore the impact of pupils’ behaviour, the school’s wider curriculum offer and how leaders support staff with their workload.  Inspectors considered the views of parents submitted through Ofsted’s parent survey. Ofsted’s surveys for staff and for pupils were also considered.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Jo Petch His Majesty’s Inspector 7–9 March 2023 to achieve 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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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