Burstow Park School

School material change inspection report

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Burstow Park School Antlands Lane, Burstow, Surrey RH6 9TF

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  Leaders take their responsibilities to safeguard pupils seriously. Safeguarding was judged to be effective at the school’s last standard inspection in October 2022. The safeguarding policy is fit for purpose and published on the school’s website.  Designated safeguarding leads continue to be trained at the right level and understand their responsibilities. Additional safeguarding leads have been appointed to cover the increase in number of pupils should the material change be approved. This will also allow appropriate cover for the new premises the proprietor has acquired.  As well as increasing capacity, leaders are planning to redistribute roles within the safeguarding team. This will enable the executive headteacher, who is also one of two directors and currently the designated safeguarding lead, to assume a more strategic

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Main inspection findings

role with oversight of safeguarding. An appropriately senior and experienced leader will then take on the role of designated safeguarding lead.  Leaders understand the complexities and additional challenges pupils face linked to keeping safe in and out of school. Staff know pupils well. Leaders ensure that staff are well versed in the current safeguarding climate, both nationally and linked to local contextualised information. Processes to share key information are well established.  Staff know what to do if they have concerns. Systems to record and escalate problems are sound. Leaders are aware of their responsibilities to escalate concerns to the appropriate outside agencies when required. The culture to promote the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff continues to be given a high priority by leaders. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14 and 16  The school has suitable policies for risk assessment and health and safety. A small

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Main inspection findings

team of suitably experienced staff ensure that appropriate checks are carried out at prescribed intervals. This includes daily premises checks and timely checks on aspects such as fire alarms, emergency lighting and asbestos. Fire risk assessments are in place. This includes the proposed new accommodation acquired by the proprietor.  Suitable risk assessments are in place. These cover a multitude of aspects linked to the day-to-day running of the school. Leaders are aware of the associated risks linked to the proposed new site which is currently used by another independent special school. Appropriate health and safety processes and procedures, including risk assessments and other checks, will continue if the material change is approved.  Leaders have thought carefully about the impact the additional numbers of pupils will have should the application be successful. They have taken into account the impact

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Main inspection findings

this will have on current pupils. Plans to expand the workforce to ensure safe oversight of pupils are in place. A suitable behaviour policy is also in place. Leaders are currently piloting new initiatives linked to the policy. This work includes involving pupils and parents or carers in strengthening the school’s ‘restorative’ approach when there are problems.  These independent school standards (the standards) are likely to continue to be met if the material change request is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2)–18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2)–19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6)–20(6)(c), 21(1)– 21(3)(b), 21(5)–21(6), 21(7)(a) and 21(7)(b)  Leaders are fully aware of the checks that need to be carried out on adults working at or visiting the school. Recruitment processes are sound. Key leaders have attended appropriate training linked to safer recruitment. The board of directors has close

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Main inspection findings

oversight of the suitability of staff, including supply staff.  The single central record in sound. It contains all the required information to evidence the different checks that have been carried out on teaching and support staff, supply agency staff and members of the board of directors.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change request is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22–24(1)(b), 24(2), 25–29(1)(b)  The material change request is for an increase in maximum pupil numbers from 50 to 75. To facilitate this, the proprietor has acquired new premises. These are approximately six miles from the current Burstow site. The new premises are currently occupied by Cornfield School, Redhill, Surrey.  Cornfield School will close at the end of the 2023 summer term. The last standard inspection of Cornfield School took place in October 2022 when all relevant standards

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Main inspection findings

were found to be met, including those associated with part 5.  The newly acquired premises are fit for purpose. The accommodation provides comfortably for the additional 25 pupils the proprietor is applying for.  Aspects such as suitable toilet facilities, hot and cold running water, a medical room and outside space for play are readily available. The fabric of the building is well maintained. Acoustics and lighting are suitable. Labelled drinking-water points are accessible to pupils and staff.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change request is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(c)  Leaders’ rationale for the material change request has been clearly thought out. The change will enable the school to expand pupil numbers slowly, as well as develop its current ‘blended’ pathway, which is increasingly successful at reintegrating pupils who

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Main inspection findings

have been absent from school settings for extended periods of time.  The new premises, currently used by another independent special school, will provide safe and suitable accommodation for pupils who will complete a programme that is aimed at achieving full-time education. Leaders are able to explain clearly the need for this aspect of the school’s work to be developed further. In doing so, they are responding to a clear need in the local community (and further afield), as well as considering the ongoing needs of current pupils.  Leadership of the school is stable. Directors have clear oversight both on a day-to-day and strategic basis. A post-inspection action plan is in place following the recent standard inspection which judged the school to require improvement, but which also found safeguarding to be effective and all relevant standards to be met. It should also be noted that the behaviour and attitudes and personal development of pupils were

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Main inspection findings

judged to be good at that inspection.  Leadership of the school has been strengthened. This includes aspects such as curriculum leadership and the safeguarding team. Capacity in the staff workforce has already been increased. The proprietor has plans in place to recruit further should the material change be approved.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met should the material change be granted.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

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

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Email address emmaslaughter@burstowparkschool.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 4 to 6 October 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 18 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll Up to 50 Up to 75 Up to 75

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Not applicable Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 41 Up to 75

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 41 Up to 75

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 41 Up to 75

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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 41 Up to 75

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 15 20

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Information about this school

 Burstow Park School caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. Additionally, many pupils are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school is governed by the two joint directors of the proprietor company. One of the directors acts as the executive headteacher of both Burstow Park School and Cornfield School, which is situated in Redhill.  Several local authorities place pupils at this school. The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  The school’s first standard inspection took place in October 2022.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education in response to the school’s request to increase the number of pupils on roll from up to 50 to up to 75 pupils. This was the first inspection in respect of this proposed material change.  During the inspection, the inspector met with the executive headteacher, who is also chair of the proprietor company, and other leaders. A meeting was held focusing on all aspects of safeguarding. The inspector toured the main site and the proposed additional site of the school. When doing so, he briefly talked to pupils and staff.  The inspector also reviewed the school’s website and considered a wide range of policies and documents relating to the request for a material change. This included checking the school’s single central record and other documentation relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, lead inspector His Majesty’s 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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