The Acres Independent School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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South Park Enterprise College (11–19) Newdown Court, Newdown Road, South Park Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire DN17 2TX

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3, 3h  At the previous inspection, the number of serious behaviour incidents remained too high. Some staff and pupils were concerned about the frequency of incidents of poor behaviour in lessons.  Staff have the training, knowledge and support to deal with pupils in crisis. Staff are consistent in how they implement the behaviour policy. They take a nurturing approach to helping pupils who struggle to self-regulate their behaviour.  Pupils told the inspector that staff help them with their emotions and that the school is now a calmer place to learn than it was previously. Staff spoken to agree. Records of behaviour incidents confirm a significant reduction in the frequency of incidents of poor behaviour over time.  This independent school standard is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  At the previous inspection, the school premises were not maintained to a high standard. Damage that had been sustained to the fabric, fixtures and fittings of the building had not been addressed. Several toilet seats were damaged or missing. One of the two pupil toilets at the ‘enterprise’ site, located approximately half a mile away, was broken. The outdoor area at the main site was being adapted and improved, making it unavailable to pupils at that time.  Since then, leaders have taken rapid steps to ensure that the buildings and contents are in good order. A premises operative with responsibility for premises is in post and ensures that any maintenance or restorative work is quickly undertaken.  At the start of the inspection, there were some cleaning chemicals stored inside one of the two pupil toilets at the ‘enterprise’ site. These were safely locked away before the

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Main inspection findings

inspector left the site.  The outdoor area at the main site has a multi-use games area, a play area, further exercise equipment and seating. Pupils use this area to exercise and socialise with their friends.  This independent school standard is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, the above standards were not met. This was because there continued to be unmet independent school standards.  Leaders have an accurate understanding of their school and the improvements needed. They regularly review the independent school standards and their school improvement action plan. Leaders closely monitor the progress against this action plan and rightly prioritise the areas for focus.  Leaders continue to address other issues raised at the time of the last standard inspection in May 2022. This includes a sharp focus on embedding the new reading curriculum and the revised personal, social and health education curriculum. The library has been moved to a separate room and is a welcoming space for pupils to read, or to sit quietly with staff or friends.  Leaders have the capacity to continue to improve the school. They draw on the support

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Main inspection findings

of external school improvement partners to assure themselves of the impact of their actions. They have rapidly addressed the issues raised at the last inspection.  These independent school standards are 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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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 0

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £42,000 to £62,000

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School details

Email address mark.panting@keys-group.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 10 to 12 May 2022

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Information about this school

 The school’s last standard inspection took place in May 2022.  The school is registered to take pupils up to the age of 19. Currently, there are no students registered in the sixth form.  The school does not make use of any alternative providers of education.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools, the Department for Education. 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.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  At the time of the inspection, the headteacher was not present on site. The inspector spoke with the headteacher by telephone. The inspector met with other senior leaders, staff and pupils. The inspector met with representatives from the proprietor body, including the regional manager and the chair of governors.  The inspector scrutinised important policies and records relating to safeguarding and behaviour. A range of other documentation, including the school improvement plan, was considered.  The inspector toured the two buildings on the main site and visited the nearby

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Inspection team

Eleanor Belfield, 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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