Phoenix Independent School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Phoenix U16 Independent School Unit E, Metro Business Park, Clough Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST1 4AF

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  At the time of the inspection in June 2023, the school’s processes for carrying out risk assessments were not detailed enough. For example, off-site risk assessments were not taking account of all the actual risks associated with the pupils or the activity. As a result, the school was not taking the appropriate action to manage and reduce levels of risk for pupils.  Since the previous inspection, leaders have worked with a range of professionals to ensure that systems for assessing risks are robust. Leaders have a detailed risk assessment policy in place.  The school’s risk assessments are appropriate and identify the risk associated with individual activities and visits. Leaders have ensured that all staff are well trained in identifying risks.  These standards are 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) and 34(1)(b)  At the time of the inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that all the standards were being met consistently and continually. There were weaknesses in the risk assessment processes and the school was not taking appropriate action to manage and reduce levels of risk for pupils.  It is clear that since the previous inspection, leaders acted quickly to rectify the issues raised. The proprietor has maintained oversight of the improvements and has brought in additional expertise to ensure that the improvements are being sustained.  These 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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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 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 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

Annual fees (day pupils) £18,050 to £25,650

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School details

Email address finance@phoenixlearning.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 27 to 29 June 2023

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Information about this school

 Phoenix U16 Independent School provides full-time education for pupils between the ages of 14 and 16.  Pupils are referred to the school by local secondary schools and local authorities.  Pupils attending Phoenix U16 typically have a range of social, emotional and mental health difficulties, and have either been excluded or were at risk of exclusion from their previous setting.  The school does not use any 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 progress monitoring inspection was carried out without notice and lasted one day.  This was the school’s first monitoring inspection since its last standard inspection in June 2023, at which it was judged requires improvement.  The school was required to prepare an action plan as a result of non-compliance with the independent school standards following the previous standard inspection. The proposed action plan was judged to be acceptable by the Department for Education (DfE) in November 2023.  The inspector met with the headteacher, who is also the proprietor, to discuss the progress since the last inspection.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector spoke with a range of staff and pupils.  The inspector scrutinised a range of documents and records relating to risk assessments.  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 independent school standards are met.

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Inspection team

Eve Morris, 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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