King's House Moorlands

School material change inspection report

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King’s House Moorlands School King’s House, High Street Leagrave, Luton LU4 9JY

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is given a high priority. It is woven throughout the day-to-day life of the school. For example, pupils are expected to use good manners and they do so consistently. Pupils speak politely to adults and with each other.  Pupils learn about the fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law, mutual respect and tolerance. They understand that people should be treated equally and not discriminated against on the basis of their physical characteristics or beliefs.  The proprietor has ensured that a well-considered curriculum is in place for personal, social and health education (PSHE). Pupils learn about a wide range of aspects of PSHE, including how to keep themselves safe and physical and emotional fitness. The school follows current guidance about relationships and sex education and the

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Main inspection findings

curriculum would meet the needs of pupils up to 14 years of age.  This standard was met at the previous inspection and is likely to remain met if the material change is approved. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  The school’s safeguarding policy is available on its website. The policy is up to date and meets current local and national requirements.  Staff are provided with appropriate safeguarding training regularly. An in-depth training session takes place at the beginning of every school year. This is ‘topped up’ by updates and reminders throughout the year.  The designated safeguarding leads are appropriately trained and understand the role well. Staff raise concerns promptly, when necessary, using the agreed systems. Appropriate action is taken in response to those concerns.  This standard was met at the previous inspection and is likely to remain met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 11  The proprietor has ensured that a suitable health and safety policy is in place that covers current laws and regulations.  Checks, such as of the school’s fixed and portable electrical wiring, are carried out by suitably qualified contractors, at the required intervals. The building is clean and well maintained.  This standard was met at the previous inspection and is likely to remain met if the material change is approved. Paragraph 12  The proprietor has ensured that a suitable fire risk assessment has been carried out. This is up to date and covers all aspects of the school, including those related to the premises, pupils and staff.  The school’s fire extinguishers, alarm system and emergency lighting have all been serviced by a professional company within the past year.  Fire drills are carried out termly to ensure that pupils know what to do in the event of an emergency.  This standard was met at the previous inspection and is likely to remain met if the

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Main inspection findings

material change is approved. Paragraph 14  Pupils are taught in small classes, with a maximum of 20 pupils in each. The proprietor intends that each class will have between 15 and 20 pupils, from Reception to Year 9, not exceeding the registered capacity of 170 on roll, if the material change is agreed.  The school has sufficient staff for the current pupils and to accommodate an additional class. The proprietor has employed staff with qualifications and experience in teaching key stage 3 pupils, with further teachers joining the school in September.  This standard was met at the previous inspection and is likely to remain met if the material change is approved. Paragraph 16  The proprietor has ensured that an appropriate risk assessment policy is in place. Leaders follow the school’s policy. There is a well-established system for considering and mitigating risks across all aspects of the school’s work.

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Main inspection findings

 This standard was met at the previous inspection and is likely to remain met if the material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 17, 18, 19, 20, 21  The school’s single central record of pre-appointment checks meets current requirements. It is up to date and well maintained. It includes all the required information about staff, members of the proprietor body and other adults connected with the school.  The approach to the safer recruitment of staff is robust. All the required checks are carried out before anyone is allowed to work in the school.  These standards were met at the previous inspection and are likely to remain met if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  Leaders and the proprietor have a clear rationale for requesting this material change. They have steadily increased the school’s upper age range, in a considered and

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Main inspection findings

thoughtful way. They have done this in response to requests from parents, who wish for their children to remain at the school when they finish their primary education.  Leaders and the proprietor know and understand the independent school standards. They have ensured that the standards are met consistently.  This standard was met at the previous inspection and is likely to remain met if the material change is approved.

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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

Proprietor The King’s House Moorlands Education Trust Chair Chris Sillars

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School details

Email address enquiries@kingshousemoorlands.com

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 8 to 10 March 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 4 to 13 4 to 14 4 to 14

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 170 no change no change

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Information about this school

 King’s House Moorlands is an independent school that is currently registered to educate up to 170 pupils from age four to 13 years. It opened in 1891. It has previously been known as Moorlands School and King’s House Preparatory School and Nursery.  The school moved into its current premises in 2011. The chief executive officer was previously the school’s headteacher. His title was changed to principal when the school opened to Year 7 pupils in September 2021. At this time, the deputy headteacher took the title of headteacher. The headteacher is responsible for both the primary and secondary provision.  The school is owned by The King’s House Moorlands Education Trust. The proprietor body acquired the school in 1994. The chief executive officer and headteacher are trustees of the proprietor body that provides the governance of the school.  The proprietor body is also responsible for a nursery provision, Tots Academy, located

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Information about this school

at 140 High Street, Leagrave, Luton LU4 9LJ. The nursery is separately registered and inspected by Ofsted.  The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is below average. No pupils with SEND have an education, health and care plan.  Pupils come from a range of ethnic backgrounds. Most pupils speak English as an additional language but there are no pupils who are in the early stages of speaking English.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.  In March 2022, Ofsted conducted a full standard inspection of the school. The inspection judged the school’s overall effectiveness to be good with outstanding behaviour and attitudes. All of the independent school standards were met.  In May 2021, Ofsted conducted a material change inspection as the school requested to increase its upper age range to 13 years. The inspection judged that the school was likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the change was

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Information about this school

granted. The DfE approved the change in June 2021. The school started providing education for its first cohort of Year 7 pupils in September 2021.  The DfE commissioned a monitoring inspection of the school in February 2019. This was to consider the progress the school had made regarding previously unmet standards judged at its previous Independent Schools Inspectorate Regulatory Compliance Inspection in June 2018. All standards checked during the monitoring inspection were judged to be met.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) in response to a request from the proprietor for a material change to be considered.  The school is currently registered for up to 170 pupils, from four to 13 years. The proprietor has requested that the DfE increase its age range to include 14-year-olds. This is the first time that the proprietor has requested this change.  The inspector met with: the chief executive officers, the chair of the proprietor body, other leaders and two groups of pupils. The inspector checked the school’s single central record of pre-appointment checks. The inspector visited lessons and checked the premises, including the off-site outdoor area. The inspector scrutinised a range of documents concerning safeguarding, health and safety and fire safety.  The headteacher was not present during the inspection due to a period of pre- planned absence.

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Inspection team

Wendy Varney, 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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