The Corner School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Douglas Avenue, Wembley, Middlesex HA0 4DT

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7 (b) and Part 8 paragraph 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy takes account of the latest statutory guidance. As at the time of the previous inspection, leaders’ arrangements for keeping pupils safe remain suitable. Leaders and staff are well trained, and any concerns about a pupil’s well-being are identified promptly. Leaders respond effectively when issues arise.  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on its website.  The requirements of the independent school standards (the standards) in this part continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1), 23(1)(c)  At the time of the previous standard inspection in February 2022 and the subsequent progress monitoring inspection in November 2022, inspectors found that the proprietor body had not ensured that it provided suitable changing accommodation and showers for pupils aged 11 years or over who receive physical education.  Leaders have subsequently applied to the registration authority to change the age range of the pupils admitted. From September 2023, leaders will no longer admit pupils aged 11 or over at the start of the academic year. If this material change application is granted by the registration authority, the requirements of paragraphs 23(1) and 23(1)(c) will no longer apply.  In the interim, leaders have taken suitable steps to mitigate the lack of shower and changing facilities at the school site. For example, since March 2023, leaders have

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Main inspection findings

arranged weekly swimming sessions for pupils aged 11 and above at a local swimming pool. This facility has suitable changing rooms and showers for pupils’ use.  The requirements of these standards are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  Since the previous monitoring inspection, leaders have taken action to address the previously unmet standards relating to changing and shower facilities. All the standards are now met.  The proprietor body appointed a substantive headteacher, who took up her post in January 2023. The proprietors have engaged the services of an external consultant to train and support school leaders in regularly auditing and ensuring consistent compliance with the independent school standards. They have also commissioned other, ongoing, external support for school leaders. Trust-wide senior staff also visit the school regularly.

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Main inspection findings

They check on and support leaders’ work, such as in relation to safeguarding and meeting the needs of all pupils at this special school. This means that there is a range of mechanisms in place designed to ensure that the school will continue to meet all the independent school standards and other requirements.  The requirements of these standards are 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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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 23(1)(c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

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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 admin@thecornerschool.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 1 to 3 February 2022

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Information about this school

 The new headteacher took up her post in January 2023. She took over from the chief executive officer of the proprietor body, who had taken on the role of interim headteacher from September 2022.  Leaders have submitted an application to the Department for Education (DfE) to change the school’s registered age range from five to 12 to five to 11 years.  The most recent standard inspection took place in February 2022.  The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  Leaders do not make use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of 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.  This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection. It was conducted without notice. The first progress monitoring inspection took place in November 2022. The unmet standards identified in the last standard inspection continued to be unmet. The school was asked to submit a new action plan after its first progress monitoring inspection in November 2022. The action plan was judged by Ofsted to be acceptable in March 2023. The school was notified of this outcome by the DfE in May 2023.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether particular independent school standards contained in Parts 5 and 8 are now met.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector met with the headteacher and spoke on the telephone with the chief executive officer of the proprietor body. He spoke with pupils and members of staff. He checked the single central record of vetting checks. The inspector also considered a range of documentation about safeguarding. The inspector also looked at a range of documents and email correspondence relevant to the independent school standards in Parts 5 and 8 that were being considered.

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Inspection team

David Radomsky, 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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