Ateres Girls High School

School material change inspection report

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Ateres Girls High School Willow Grove, Felling, Gateshead NE10 9PQ

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Overall outcome 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 Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  These standards were met at the previous standard inspection, in July 2022.  The school’s safeguarding policy continues to be available to staff, parents and visitors. As the school does not have a website, this policy is available, on request, from the school’s reception. The policy takes into account the most recent statutory advice and guidance.  Staff training continues to be a priority for leaders. All staff access regular safeguarding training. Staff can recall the important points from this training. They know how to spot concerns and how to pass on concerns internally.  Where concerns arise, leaders keep records of these. Leaders work with other agencies, including the local authority, such as at ‘Team around the Family’ meetings.  Leaders are clear about the systems in place for handling allegations about adults. They know the steps to take should concerns arise.

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Main inspection findings

 These standards continue to be met. Paragraphs 11, 12  These standards were met at the previous standard inspection, in July 2022.  Leaders have a written health and safety policy. It is reviewed annually.  Leaders have appointed an external consultant to independently review and audit the school premises. This includes the completion of an annual audit of the school site. It also includes providing support with other aspects of site management on an ad-hoc basis. The actions identified at the most recent audit have since been implemented.  Records show that leaders undertake regular checks throughout the premises. These include, for example, checks linked to the fire alarm and water temperature checks.  The school complies with fire safety regulations. Fire checks of school buildings are undertaken regularly. Firefighting equipment is available in the main school and in the additional classrooms which have opened since the previous inspection. Premises staff

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Main inspection findings

understand their responsibilities linked to fire safety.  Some areas of the school were untidy during this inspection. For example, in one area of the school building, bags of rock salt were being stored on a main thoroughfare. Elsewhere, one of the blocks of toilets was also untidy on inspection. These matters did not present a health and safety risk, or fire risk, to pupils or staff. However, it was important that these potential risks were addressed during the inspection.  These standards continue to be met. Paragraph 14  This standard was met at the previous standard inspection, in July 2022.  Pupils are appropriately supervised in and out of lessons. Site security staff manage the entrance to, and exit from, the school site. Class sizes are appropriate. Pupils are well supervised at breaktimes. Pastoral and administrative staff provide further support for pupils out of lessons.  This standard continues to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 16  This standard was met at the previous standard inspection, in July 2022.  The school continues to have a risk assessment policy. It is updated annually. A sample of risk assessments were reviewed during this inspection. These identify the risks that pupils face and provide advice on how to manage and reduce the risks.  Leaders have appropriately identified the risks associated with the construction of a new school building. Pupils are aware of these risks.  This standard continues to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17 to 29  These standards were met at the previous standard inspection, in July 2022.  The school continues to keep a single central register to monitor the checks that are made on staff prior to their appointment.  This register is complete and well managed. The relevant checks have been made on staff in line with statutory guidance. Leaders are aware of the various checks that

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Main inspection findings

need to be made. They have an awareness of steps to take when further information is needed, such as when a member of staff has taught or worked abroad.  These standards continue to be met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22 to 29  These standards were met at the previous standard inspection, in July 2022.  Since then, leaders have installed two additional classrooms. These are portable buildings of a kind often used for temporary purposes. The rooms are suitably decorated, lit and equipped for lessons. Access into and out of the building has been carefully considered. Leaders have ensured that the rooms contain firefighting equipment and fire alarms. A first-aid kit is available in this building, in addition to those available in the main school.  Leaders have also installed a new staff room. Staff spoke positively about this new facility. They appreciate the additional space available to work and meet colleagues.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have started a project to create a new school library. Bookshelves have been installed in the one of the new portable classrooms. A small but growing collection of books are available for pupils. Leaders have important plans to further expand this collection. Although pupils spoken to were aware of the library, the vast majority said they did not routinely access it.  There are several blocks of toilets. A shower is available for pupils to use should they wish to do so. Drinking water facilities are available at either end of the main school building.  Leaders have improved the outdoor play area. A series of wooden, swinging chairs have been installed for pupils to relax on at social times. Two outdoor table tennis tables have been installed. Pupils were seen enjoying these during the inspection. Additional outdoor seating has also been installed.  Although the school meets the relevant standards linked to first-aid and sick room

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Main inspection findings

requirements, leaders are aware that as the school expands, the arrangements in place need to be reviewed. Currently, first-aid matters are handled in the school office, and a sick bed is available in a separate room which is also used as an office. Leaders plan to allocate a single room for the sole use of first aid and supporting pupils should they become sick. This is an appropriate action and will strengthen the school’s adherence to the Department for Education’s guidance ‘First aid in schools, early years and further education’.  The proprietor is overseeing the construction of an additional three-storey building adjacent to the existing school. This building is expected to contain an additional eight classrooms and an additional social space. This construction project is expected to be ongoing throughout the 2023/24 school year. Leaders have ensured there is a clear and safe barrier between the construction site and the main school.

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Main inspection findings

 These standards continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, in July 2022, these standards were not met.  The report from the previous inspection, in July 2022, states, ‘The proprietor has ensured that most of the independent school standards (the standards) have been met. The standards that have been met during this inspection are consistently met. Standards relating to the teaching of all the protected characteristics remain consistently unmet. The proprietor and school leaders follow the wishes of parents by not making pupils aware of two of the protected characteristics. They make some provision in the sex education element of the RSE curriculum. However, the RSE curriculum is not planned in line with statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education. The curriculum does not encourage respect for all of the protected

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Main inspection findings

characteristics. As a result, pupils do not have the opportunity to explore the features of stable and healthy same sex relationships.’  The actions that leaders have taken in response to these points were not in the scope of this material change inspection.

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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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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school’s previous standard inspection took place in July 2022. At this time, the school did not meet some of the independent school standards. These particular unmet standards were not considered within the scope of this material change inspection.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) Voluntary contributions

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 12 to 14 July 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 11 to 16 11 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 286 300 300

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Girls Girls Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 286 300

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 19 22

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 1 1

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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 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 30 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 78 78

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 22 22

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Information about this school

 Ateres Girls High School is an Orthodox Jewish school providing education for girls between the ages of 11 and 16 years.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place in July 2022, when the overall effectiveness of the school was judged to require improvement. At this time, the school did not meet some of the independent school standards. A review of these particular standards was not in the scope of this material change inspection.  At the time of this inspection, the school has exceeded its registration requirements by 36 pupils. It is currently registered to admit up to 250 pupils and has 286 on roll.  There have been no changes to the school leadership team since the previous inspection, in July 2022.  Since the previous inspection, in July 2022, the school has erected two additional portable classrooms and a new portable staff room.  The proprietor is overseeing the construction of an additional three-storey building

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Information about this school

adjacent to the existing school. This building is expected to contain an additional eight classrooms and an additional social space. This construction project is expected to be ongoing through the 2023/24 school year.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned Ofsted to carry out this inspection because the proprietor applied to make a material change to the school’s registration. The proprietor requested an increase in the maximum pupil capacity from 250 to 300.  To accommodate the additional pupils, leaders have constructed two temporary classrooms and created additional teaching space in the main school. These arrangements were considered as part of this inspection.  The proprietor is also overseeing the construction of an additional three-storey building adjacent to the existing school. This building is expected to contain an additional eight classrooms and an additional social space. This construction project is expected to be ongoing through the 2023/24 school year. It was not possible to consider the suitability of these premises as part of this material change inspection.  The inspector met with the proprietor, the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the

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Information about this inspection

caretaker, the school’s health and safety consultant, several members of staff and several groups of pupils.  The inspector undertook a tour of school premises to evaluate the school’s suitability to increase pupil numbers.  The inspector analysed a range of documents and school records, including those relating to health and safety and behaviour.  The inspector spoke with the school’s designated leader for safeguarding, reviewed documentation relating to safeguarding and the school’s single central record.

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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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Inspection team

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