Abingdon House School Purley

School pre-registration inspection report

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Abingdon House School, Purley 59 Godstone Road, Purley CR8 2AN

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  Leaders have developed ambitious curriculum and assessment policies, plans and procedures. These thoroughly consider the needs of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including those with education, health and care plans (EHC plans).  The school’s proposed curriculum plans include all the subjects of the national curriculum for pupils aged seven to 14. Therefore, all the required areas of learning are covered. The plans are sequenced logically and progressively. They are likely to take account of pupils’ different ages, abilities and interests.  The planned programme for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is likely to be suitable. It focuses on developing pupils socially and emotionally. The curriculum includes suitable coverage of fundamental British values and the diversity of modern British society.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have commissioned an external careers service to help ensure that pupils of secondary age receive impartial, up-to-date and wide-ranging careers education, advice and guidance.  The school’s proposed relationships and sex education (RSE) programme covers all the required areas of statutory guidance. The school’s draft RSE policy will go to parents and carers for their views when the school opens and will be published online. The policy explains clearly about the parental right to withdraw their child from sex education.  The proposed school is likely to be very well resourced and staffed. Leaders’ arrangements to recruit and train teachers, and establish and maintain a high quality of education, are likely to be effective.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All paragraphs  The proposed curriculum will focus sharply on developing pupils’ social and

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Main inspection findings

communication skills and increasing their self-confidence.  As well as twice-weekly PSHE education lessons, pupils will receive discrete lessons in social skills and life skills, as well as support from occupational and speech and language therapists.  The school’s proposed PSHE education curriculum includes progressive coverage of keeping safe, healthy relationships and physical and mental well-being.  Pupils will be encouraged to respect differences, including in relation to all the protected characteristics. Pupils will be taught about a range of religions, faiths and cultures. Leaders plan to actively promote British values and are likely to successfully prepare pupils for life in modern British society.  The curriculum and therapeutic approach will be complemented by a wide-ranging programme of enrichment activities, trips, clubs, assemblies and visitors.  The proposed school’s code of conduct makes it clear that no member of staff may

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Main inspection findings

promote partisan political views. It states that balanced points of view must always be presented in the teaching of any political topic.  The standard in this part is likely to be met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils All paragraphs  The proposed school’s safeguarding policy reflects the latest statutory guidance and will be available online. Leaders with safeguarding responsibilities have completed a suitable level of training. Leaders are aware of their statutory duties and of the likely risks faced by pupils with SEND. All staff will be appropriately trained in advance of the school opening. Leaders fully understand the importance of creating and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture.  The proposed school’s behaviour and anti-bullying policies have been produced with the needs of pupils with SEND in mind. They are likely to be suitable. Leaders will use an online system to record incidents of serious misbehaviour and any sanctions

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Main inspection findings

imposed.  The proposed school’s health and safety policy is suitable and likely to be implemented well. Arrangements to clean, maintain and keep the building’s users as safe as possible are likely to be effective.  The proposed school is likely to be compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. All fire safety infrastructure is new. All the required checks, including the alarm system, emergency lighting and extinguishers, will be completed and logged in line with the legislative requirements.  The proposed school’s first-aid and medication policy is likely to be implemented well. There will be several trained first-aiders. Suitable procedures for administering first aid and medication, and managing and documenting accidents, are in place.  The supervision of pupils is likely to be proportionate. The maximum class size will be 10 pupils, supported by two members of staff.  The proposed admission and attendance registers include all the required information

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Main inspection findings

outlined in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. Therefore, they are likely to be suitable.  The proposed school’s risk assessment and educational visits policy is likely to be implemented well. Appropriate risk assessments have been completed for the premises. Suitable templates have been prepared for the risk assessment of trips and visitors.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  The proposed school’s safer recruitment procedure is thorough and compliant with national safeguarding guidance.  All the required recruitment checks are being carried out, and their dates are recorded accurately, on a suitable single central record.  The school does not intend to make use of agency staff or volunteers.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Main inspection findings

All paragraphs  The proposed school occupies a large building previously used by a mainstream preparatory school. The premises have been refurbished throughout to a very high standard. They are likely to be safe, secure and well maintained.  The building includes eight large classrooms and specialist rooms for the teaching of science, art and design and food technology.  There are suitable toilet, washing, shower and changing facilities. The hot water and drinking-water supplies are all likely to be suitable.  Internal and external lighting is new throughout.  There is an appropriately equipped medical room, near a dedicated toilet facility.  There is a large hall, a kitchen and spaces for therapy, meetings and administration.  There are several substantial spaces for physical education and recreation.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 6. Provision of information All paragraphs

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders intend to make all the required up-to-date policies and information available on their new website. This includes information about admissions, the proprietor, formal complaints, pupil performance and the proposed school’s ethos.  The termly report template for parents and carers is likely to be suitable as it includes information about both pupils’ attainment and their progress.  Leaders have prepared a suitable template to provide funding authorities with annual statements of income and expenditure for pupils with EHC plans.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All paragraphs  The proposed school’s complaints policy is likely to be suitable and implemented well.  The policy sets out clearly how leaders intend to deal with complaints from parents, both informally and formally.  For formal complaints, leaders are aware of the requirement to document the stage of

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Main inspection findings

resolution and any action taken as a result.  The standard in this part is likely to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  Leaders have a secure working knowledge and understanding of the standards.  The proprietor has invested heavily in creating a new school that is likely to provide a high-quality provision for pupils with SEND. Its systems for governance are likely to ensure that leaders are held to account for ensuring all the standards are met consistently.  Leaders are well organised and have paid significant attention to detail in planning the opening of this proposed special school.  The standard in this part is likely to be met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proposed school’s accessibility plan includes suitable plans to improve accessibility to the curriculum, written information and physical environment over three years.  This requirement is likely to be met.

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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.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

Type of school Independent special school

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Proposed school details

School status Other independent special school

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Proposed school details

Email address purleyinfo@cavendisheducation.com

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 7 to 14 7 to 14 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable Up to 30 Up to 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Not applicable Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Not applicable Up to 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable None Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable All pupils

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan Not applicable Up to 30

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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 Not applicable Up to 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable 5

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Information about this proposed school

 Abingdon House School, Purley, is seeking to register as an independent special day school in the London Borough of Croydon.  The school proposes to open to pupils in September 2023.  Placements at the proposed school will predominantly be for pupils with EHC plans for a range of SEND.  Leaders do not intend to make any use of alternative provision.  The proposed school’s proprietors run a number of other special schools.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to assess whether the proposed school is likely to meet all of the standards if registered as an independent school.  This was the proposed school’s first pre-registration inspection.  Leaders’ original application to register this school was for up to 120 pupils aged between seven and 19 years. Leaders asked to revise their application during the inspection, instead asking for up to 30 pupils aged between seven and 14 years.  The inspection was conducted with notice. It was announced on Thursday 25 May 2023 and took place during the May half-term break on Wednesday 31 May 2023.  The inspector met with a number of senior leaders, including the proposed school’s headteacher and the managing director, who is also a member of the proprietor body.  The inspector toured the premises and considered a range of evidence to check the likelihood of the proposed school meeting the standards and associated requirements.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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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