The Holmewood School

School material change inspection report

p.1

88 Woodside Park Road, London N12 8SH Inspection date 15 September 2023

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 11, 12, 14, 16–16(b)  The school’s culture of safeguarding continues to be strong. Pupils feel safe and well looked after. Leaders have a clear understanding of the latest statutory guidance, including ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (September 2023). The school’s safeguarding policy reflects this guidance and is available online. Leaders follow up any concerns quickly and appropriately. Arrangements for the recruitment, training and induction of staff are suitable.  The school’s policies for health and safety and risk assessment have been appropriately adapted to consider the additional premises. The written risk assessments for the additional building consider clearly and in detail how to minimise the possible risks.  The recent external fire risk assessment of the additional premises identified a very few actions that have been, or are being, completed. Fire safety infrastructure and

p.1

Main inspection findings

equipment are either new or have been recently serviced. Leaders are carrying out and recording the required fire safety checks.  Staffing and supervision levels are high. As pupil numbers grow gradually, leaders have credible plans to deploy existing staff and to recruit more to ensure that all pupils receive the same high-quality teaching, therapy and support as current pupils do.  The independent school standards (the standards) checked in Part 3 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  The single central record contains an accurate record of all the required vetting checks on the adults responsible for, and working at, the school.  The standards in Part 4 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The additional premises at 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY have been refurbished to a high specification. From September 2023, pupils began attending this site between one and two days a week to access the new specialist classrooms for art, cooking and computing. Lighting, acoustics, toilets, and washing and medical room facilities are all suitable. Labelled drinking water supplies are available throughout the premises. The hot water supply is safely regulated. There is ample outdoor space for recreation. Physical education is taught off site at local leisure facilities, where pupils also have access to changing and shower facilities.  Since September 2023, pupils are timetabled to attend lessons across the school’s three premises. Leaders intend to increase the school roll gradually to 100 pupils. The increased space available at the additional premises means that this is likely to be

p.2

Main inspection findings

suitable.  The standards in Part 5 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1)–(c)  The proprietors have invested heavily in refurbishing the additional premises. Leaders have planned thoroughly for this material change. They have thought carefully about how to timetable and meet the complex needs of up to 100 pupils.  Leaders demonstrate a continued secure understanding of the standards.  The standards in Part 8 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.4

School details

Type of school Other independent special school

p.4

School details

School status Independent special school

p.4

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 17 to 19 May 2022

p.4

recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 19 No change Not applicable

p.4

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 80 Up to 100 Up to 100

p.4

School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed No change Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 54 Up to 100

p.4

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities All pupils No change

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan All pupils No change

p.5

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 All pupils No change

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 17 21

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 7 No change

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 41 49

p.5

Information about this school

 The Holmewood School is an independent special day school in the London Borough of Barnet.  Its lower school premises and administrative centre are located at 88 Woodside Park Road, London N12 8SH. Its upper school premises, including the sixth form, are at 8a Muswell Hill, London N10 3TD. From September 2023, the school will also use its third premises for specialist teaching at 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan for autism. They are placed in the school and funded by a range of local authorities.  The school is part of, and governed by, Cavendish Education Ltd.  The school makes use of several external providers of further education for some students in the sixth form, who attend these providers on a part-time basis with support.

p.5

Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this inspection to consider the school’s application to increase the number of pupils it admits.  This was the first inspection to consider the school’s material change application to increase the maximum number of pupils from 80 to 100 and to include additional premises.  The inspection was announced with two days’ notice.  The inspector considered whether the independent school standards are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.  The inspector met with a range of senior leaders, including the headteacher and the proprietors’ compliance director. He toured the new premises, which the school had already started to use from September 2023, and met with a group of pupils. He considered a range of evidence, including documents related to health and safety, risk assessment and fire safety. The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding

p.7

Information about this inspection

arrangements, including checks on the single central record.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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.

p.8

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 .

p.8

Inspection team

achieve 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.

p.8

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection team

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

p.8