Invested Education

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Invested Education Hall Close, Marske-by-the-Sea, Redcar, Cleveland TS11 6AB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i)

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Main inspection findings

 The previous inspection, in September 2022, identified shortcomings in the reading curriculum. Leaders’ plans did not enable pupils to gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in reading, or to develop their wider vocabularies. Furthermore, the lack of focus placed on developing pupils’ subject-specific vocabulary within the curriculum meant that some pupils struggled to digest important knowledge.  Leaders have now appointed a senior leader who has responsibility for the curriculum.  Leaders have developed their reading and English curriculums. There is a suitably ambitious policy in place with ongoing plans to improve reading across school. They have purchased various resources to support pupils’ early reading and acquisition of phonics knowledge. Leaders have identified a range of books that pupils will study in their English lessons.  English plans are clear and define what leaders want pupils to know and remember

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Main inspection findings

over time. There is explicit vocabulary that pupils are expected to learn each week, including in other subjects such as science.  Previous approaches to assessing pupils when they join the school did not provide leaders and staff with a clear enough overview of pupils’ gaps, including gaps in phonics as well as their specific emotional needs.  Leaders now check pupils’ reading and mathematical abilities when they start school. They use this information to plan support. This support is adapted to meet the individual needs of the pupils, including any social, emotional and mental health needs.  This previously unmet standard is now met. Paragraph 2(2), 2(2)(a)  At the standard inspection in September 2022, inspectors found that the curriculum lacked breadth as it did not include all the subject areas outlined in the standards. In particular, there were issues with creative, aesthetic and technological learning. These

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Main inspection findings

subjects lacked clear planning for what pupils learned during this time.  Leaders have sought external support to help them plan their ‘breaking barriers’ curriculum. They have revised the curriculum policy and developed long-term and medium-term plans. This has extended the range of subjects within the curriculum that pupils require to gain a broader range of subject-related knowledge and skills. There is more to do to develop this curriculum further, but actions so far show that leaders have put an informed strategy in place.  This previously unmet standard is now met. Paragraph 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(ii), 2(2)(e)(iii), 2(2)(i), 2A(1), 2A(1)(e), 2A(1)(f), 2A(1)(g), 2A(2)  The previous inspection found that the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme did not provide pupils with important knowledge about British society and how it works. In addition, the relationships and sex education (RSE)

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Main inspection findings

element within PSHE did not follow the statutory guidance because pupils did not learn about healthy relationships.  Leaders have consulted with parents and carers on the RSE programme and informed them of their right to withdraw their children from certain aspects.  This inspection confirms that leaders have improved their approach to PSHE education and RSE. Leaders have developed their policy, which is available to parents on the website.  Pupils learn about healthy relationships and to respect other people in particular regard to the protected characteristics of sexual orientation, civil partnership and gender reassignment.  Through the well-planned PSHE programme, pupils gain important knowledge about modern Britain.  Inspectors found in the last inspection that the programme for careers education did not give pupils sufficient knowledge about different career options or about the routes into them, and they did not give pupils sufficient knowledge of the world of work

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Main inspection findings

either.  Leaders now have a well-planned careers provision in place. They measure their programme against the Gatsby benchmarks. They use a range of providers, such as Sunderland University, to inspire and inform pupils. Leaders ensure that all pupils have access to quality, impartial careers advice.  This previously unmet standard is now met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 16, 16(b)  Part 3 was not met at the previous standard inspection because leaders had not implemented their plans to improve the quality of risk assessments. They remained without sufficient detail.  Since that time, leaders have updated their risk assessments. The risk assessments sampled during this inspection are now detailed and clear.  This previously unmet standard is now met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  The previous inspection identified that the outside area of the school was not suitably

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Main inspection findings

maintained and therefore unsafe for pupils.  This shortcoming has now been addressed. A suitable fence has been erected. Leaders undertake regular checks on this space.  This previously unmet standard is now met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) 34(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, these standards were unmet. Leaders were not doing all they could to ensure the independent school standards (ISS) were being met.  Since then, the Department for Education rejected the school’s action plan submitted in February 2023. Leaders swiftly sought support from an external school improvement partner to review the action plan and undertake an audit of the school’s provision. As a result, a new action plan is in place which is regularly reviewed by the proprietor and the school improvement partner.  Leaders have taken a number of steps to bring about improvements to the school,

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Main inspection findings

including the appointment of new leaders to support with the development of the curriculum.  Leaders have undertaken the necessary training, which enables them to understand the requirements of the ISS. As a result, they are now able to fulfil their role so that the ISS are met consistently.  This previously unmet standard is now met.

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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 were checked during this inspection. 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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 Part 1. Quality of education provided – Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(e),2(2)(e)(ii), 2(2)(e)(iii), 2(2)(i) – Paragraph 2A(1), 2A(1)(e), 2A(1)(f), 2A(1)(g), 2A(2)  Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils – Paragraph 16, 16(b)  Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools – Paragraph 25  Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management – Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) 34(1)(b)

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Email address dave.parrish@invested-education.com

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 21 to 23 September 2022

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Information about this school

 The school’s last standard inspection was in September 2022, when it was judged to be inadequate overall.  Since the previous inspection, three staff have left and five new staff have joined. The current headteacher started in September 2022.  Pupils have physical education lessons at several local venues.  The school uses one alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the Department for Education, the registration authority for independent schools. 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.  Leaders were not given any prior notice of this progress monitoring inspection. The inspector arrived at the start of the school day.  Since the previous inspection, leaders were asked to submit an action plan. This was submitted in February 2023 and was judged by Ofsted to be not acceptable in March 2023. It was subsequently rejected by the Department for Education.  The focus of the inspection was to check whether the school complied with requirements within Parts 1, 3, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards that were unmet at the previous standard inspection.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector met with the headteacher and the proprietor. She also spoke with some staff and pupils.  The inspector checked a range of school documentation and policies, including safeguarding records.  The inspector toured the premises and reviewed a range of documents, including policies, incident logs and the single central register of pre-employment checks on adults.

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Inspection team

Jenny Thomas, 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Inspection team

excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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