Waterton Newstead Academy

School material change inspection report

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Waterton Newstead Academy Newstead Road, Athersley, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S71 3NA

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Overall outcome The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 1, 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(1)(b)(ii), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 2(2)(b) 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(d)(ii)  The proprietor has applied for a material change to extend the lower age range of the pupils that the school admits from seven years old to five years old.  The school opened in September 2023. A pre-registration inspection has taken place in April 2023, where the inspector found that the school is likely to meet all the independent school standards when it opens.  The proprietor body has a suitable written curriculum policy in place to meet the needs and developmental stages of the pupils. The associated schemes of work clearly set out what pupils will learn in a broad range of subjects.  The school’s curriculum includes all the subjects of the national curriculum. It also considers the early years foundation stage statutory framework. The proprietor has

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Main inspection findings

plans in place to educate pupils aged five to 11. The plans are sequenced logically and progressively. They are likely to take account of pupils’ different ages, abilities and interests.  The school has put a phonics programme in place. All staff are trained in how to teach phonics. The school has invested in reading books that align with the phonics programme.  The school has purchased a programme for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. It focuses on developing pupils’ understanding of safety, as well as supporting them to develop resilience and have high aspirations.  The curriculum teaches pupils about protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Paragraphs 2A(1), 2A(1)(a), 2A(1)(d), 2A(1)(e), 2A(1)(f), 2A(1)(g), 2A(2)  From January 2024, the school will implement a new programme for PSHE. The programme will teach pupils about relationships at an age-appropriate level. The

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Main inspection findings

programme covers all the required areas of statutory guidance.  The proprietor body has written a suitable policy for relationships education. This is published on the school’s website.  The school will consult parents of registered pupils at the school about the curriculum for relationships education once the new PSHE programme is implemented. Paragraphs 3, 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(f), 3(g), 3(h), 3(i), 3(j), 4  The school has thought carefully about how to ensure that pupils make progress from their starting points. Pupils are grouped according to their ability and needs as opposed to being grouped by chronological age. Staff work together to plan the curriculum for each pupil.  The school uses appropriate online systems to carefully track the progress that pupils make. Staff discuss the progress that pupils are making towards the targets on their education, health and care plans during pupil progress meetings.

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Main inspection findings

 Strong systems are in place to ensure that teaching meets the needs of pupils. The trust and governors effectively support staff in order to continually improve their practice. The school has formed positive working relationships with other similar settings. This will contribute further to staff’s professional development.  The school has a calm and purposeful atmosphere. Despite the school being newly opened, staff have quickly formed positive relationships with pupils. Strong transition arrangements are in place to help pupils to settle quickly. Leaders have thought carefully about how to use the space in school effectively to be of maximum benefit to the pupils.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(a), 5(b), 5(b)(i), 5(b)(ii), 5(b)(iii), 5(b)(iv), 5(b)(v), 5(b)(vi), 5(b)(vii), 5(c), 5(d), 5(d)(i), 5(d)(ii) and 5(d)(iii)  The school has considered the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils within its curriculum design. For example, pupils complete a topic linked to faiths and festivals. There is a sharp focus on ensuring that pupils develop into well- rounded individuals as well as achieving their full potential academically.  Leaders are determined for pupils to play an active role in the life of the trust, but also the local community. They have formed links with the local community shop. Pupils can visit the shop and take part in activities while they are there.  Pupils from the school are represented at the trust’s pupil parliament. This teaches pupils about democracy and ensures that they have a voice.

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Main inspection findings

 By the end of the year, the school hopes to have whole-school assemblies where pupils will have opportunities to hear about and discuss a range of different topics.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The proprietor has a detailed safeguarding policy in place. The child protection and safeguarding policy takes account of the most recent government guidance and is available on the school’s website.  The proprietor uses regular training and briefings to update staff about safeguarding matters. They are aware of their statutory duties and of the likely risks faced by pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Safeguarding is given a high priority in staff recruitment and induction.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17, 18(1), 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3)  All required suitability checks were being made at the time of the last pre-registration inspection. This continues to be the case. Paragraph 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b)  There is an electronic single central record in place. All required checks are recorded here.  The school does not currently use any supply staff or volunteers.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  All the required information and policies are available on request for prospective parents and carers. Leaders have a website in place. The website contains all the relevant information required by the standards.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted.

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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), 34(1)(c)  Leaders have given very careful thought to the increase in age range. They are committed to providing high-quality education for each pupil. They are mindful that any changes made to the school do not have an adverse impact on the quality of education currently offered.  The school has the appropriate provision in place to support the proposed change to the age range of pupils.  All of the independent school standards checked are likely to be met if the proposed material change is implemented.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meets 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 compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) The school does not charge set day fees.

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School details

Email address lnorton@watertonacademytrust.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 11 5 to 11 5 to 11

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 25 30 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 24 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 25 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 25 30

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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 25 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 3 3

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 0.6 1.6

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Information about this school

 The school opened in September 2023. The school does not charge set day fees. Individual funding arrangements are in place for each pupil.  The school’s last inspection was a pre-registration inspection in April 2023.  Since the pre-registration inspection, the trust has appointed a substantive head of school.  The school admits pupils with communication and interaction needs, including pupils with autism.  The school does not use any alternative providers.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned the inspection to check the school’s suitability to admit pupils from the age of five.  The school has already implemented the material change.  This was the first material change inspection in respect of this particular change that the school has applied to make.  The inspector met with the deputy chief executive officer of the trust, representatives of the governing body, the executive headteacher and the head of school.  To check compliance with the independent school standards, the inspector scrutinised a range of documentation, including curriculum plans and policies. The inspector also visited a sample of lessons.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central register of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the

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Information about this inspection

independent school standards are met. The inspector visited a sample of lessons.

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Inspection team

Philippa Kermotschuk, 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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