The Acres Independent School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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South Park Enterprise College (11-19) Newdown Court, Newdown Road, South Park Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire DN17 2TX

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3(g)  At the previous inspection, inspectors found that the use of assessment was not consistent across the school. There was a lack of regularity in the manner in which staff made checks on what pupils did and did not know. As a result, teachers were not able to effectively identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge and plan appropriate next steps.  Since the previous inspection, leaders have established a common approach to assessing pupils throughout the curriculum. Curriculum objectives have been defined for each subject. These are known locally as ‘learning journey’ documents. These are now being used in lessons and can be seen in pupils’ books. Leaders regularly modify these to ensure they are fully aligned to the taught curriculum.  Staff have been trained on ways to check what pupils have and have not remembered. Staff explained to inspectors how this training has helped them to better understand

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Main inspection findings

what pupils have recalled. They also use this information to help address pupils’ misconceptions and plan their lessons.  This independent school standard is now met. Paragraph 3, 3(h)  At the previous inspection, inspectors found that staff were using a variety of different approaches when dealing with pupils in crisis. This variation led to an escalation in the frequency of incidents of poor behaviour.  Since then, there has been a decline in the proportion of incidents of poor behaviour which leaders categorise as ‘most serious’. Leaders attribute this to staff being directed to take a more nurturing approach to dealing with pupils who struggle to self-regulate. Leaders have also made changes to the set-up of their pastoral team whose members provide pupils with individualised support.  Leaders are aware that the frequency of serious incidents needs to decrease further. Some staff and pupils are concerned about the frequency of incidents of poor behaviour

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Main inspection findings

in lessons.  This independent school standard remains unmet. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  At the previous inspection, this standard was met. However, it is now not met.  At this time of this inspection, the school premises were not maintained to a high standard. Several windows had recently been smashed and/or boarded up. One classroom had recently been sealed off due to damage from a pupil. In several classrooms, ceiling tiles were either missing or damaged. Several toilet seats were missing or damaged. The only accessible toilet in one of the main school buildings contained no toilet paper.  The main first-aid room was inaccessible at the start of the inspection as a result of recent damage. This facility had reopened before the inspector left the site.  In the second site, known as the ‘enterprise’ site, located approximately half a mile away from the main school site, one of the two pupil toilets was broken.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have recently recruited a new premises operative. The start date for this appointment had not been confirmed at the time of this inspection.  Leaders are currently developing the outdoor area at the main site. They are adapting the multi-use games area and installing new play equipment. This was not available to pupils at the time of this inspection.  This independent school standard is unmet. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, the above standards were not met. This was because leaders did not demonstrate the skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards were met consistently.  Leaders now use the independent school standards as a tool for checking the school. They have commissioned an external provider to review the standards. They have also begun to implement changes to address some of the other issues raised at the time of

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Main inspection findings

the last standard inspection in May 2022. For example, a new reading curriculum has been launched and staff have received training to support the implementation of this. However, leaders are aware that there remains more to do to ensure that pupils develop an appropriate understanding of different faiths and religions.  There continue to be unmet independent school standards. An additional standard has been unmet that was previously met.  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, 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

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 0

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £25,545 to £62,000

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School details

Email address mark.panting@keys-group.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 10 to 12 May 2022

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Information about this school

 The school’s last standard inspection took place in May 2022.  The school is registered to take pupils up to the age of 19. Currently, there are no students registered in the sixth form.  The school uses two alternative providers of education: Hackberry (alternative provision); and Changing Lives (therapeutic support). Both are unregistered providers.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools, the Department for Education. 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 inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher and other senior leaders. He met with staff and pupils. He met with, and spoke by telephone to, representatives from the proprietor body including the chief executive officer and chair of governors.  The inspector reviewed a range of documents, policies and records relating to safeguarding and incidents of behaviour. The school improvement plan and other associated documentation was also considered.  The inspector toured the two buildings on the main school site, visited the nearby

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Information about this inspection

enterprise building and observed pupils in and out of lessons.

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Inspection team

James Duncan, 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

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school – 3(h) utilises effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging pupils to act responsibly.

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

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.

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standards

– 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. 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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