Education-My Life Matters

School progress monitoring inspection report

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108 Conisborough Crescent, Bellingham, Catford SE6 2SP

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 3, 3(c) and 3(f)  At the previous progress monitoring inspection in March 2023, in some of the required areas of learning, including physical, scientific and technological education, there had been no significant improvements to the quality of teaching. Teachers did not use the most effective teaching methods or select the most suitable activities to help pupils learn. There was still a lack of high-quality resources to support learning.  This inspection identified significant improvements to the quality of education. Though there remains more to do, leaders who were new at the time of the previous inspection have taken significant steps to develop the curriculum. New curriculum plans in all subjects, investment in a range of suitable resources and high-quality training for staff are together ensuring that there is now suitable breadth and depth in all subjects.

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Main inspection findings

 The requirements of the independent school standards (the standards) in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 11 and 16 to 16(b)  At the previous inspection, policies and procedures for health and safety and risk assessment had not been updated in respect of the new premises.  This inspection found that policies and the arrangements to assess risks and maintain the premises to be as safe as possible are now fit for purpose.  The standards in this part are now met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(c), 29(1) and 29(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, the school’s courtyard was not an appropriate space for outdoor play, and there were no suitable arrangements to provide pupils with the required changing and shower facilities.  This inspection found the courtyard to be clean and clear, with plants, a bench and some space to play basketball. Physical education is now taught twice a week at leisure centres and a boxing club, where pupils have access to changing and shower facilities.

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Main inspection findings

Use of these facilities has been suitably assessed for the possible risks presented.  The standards in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  At the previous inspection, the proprietor had recently increased leadership capacity and work had begun to address the unmet standards.  This inspection found there to have been significant improvements to the quality of the school’s leadership and management. As well as resolving concerns about the curriculum and premises, leaders are now demonstrating a clear working knowledge of the independent school standards and are working diligently to ensure that these are all met consistently. There is now capacity for further improvement.  The standards in this part 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are– – 2(2)(a) full-time supervised education for pupils of compulsory school age (construed in accordance with section 8 of the Education Act 1996), which gives pupils experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education;  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school– – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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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.  29(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable– – 29(1)(b) pupils to play outside.

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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; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £19,000 to £57,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 6 to 8 July 2022

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Information about this school

 Education My Life Matters (also known as EMLM) is an independent school providing an alternative education to pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and other special educational needs and/or disabilities. Most pupils have an education, health and care plan or are under assessment for one.  The school makes use of two alternative providers: Y.O.U.R. Beauty School, London SE6 2JH and Millwall Football Club, London SE16 3LN.  The school’s most recent inspection was a progress monitoring inspection in March 2023, which also considered the school’s change in premises. Prior to this, the school’s last graded inspection was in July 2022.

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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 since its last graded inspection in July 2022. The inspection was conducted without notice.  The focus of the inspection was to check whether the school complies with particular requirements in parts 1, 3, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector met with the headteacher and designated safeguarding lead. He toured the school, talked to pupils and considered evidence relating to the curriculum and the premises. He also met with the proprietor.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the

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Information about this inspection

single central record of checks on adults. The relevant requirements in parts 3, 4 and 6 of the independent school standards continue to be met.

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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 .

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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

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