Prestwich Preparatory School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Prestwich Preparatory School 400 Bury Old Road, Prestwich, Manchester, Lancashire M25 1PZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i)  At the school’s last standard inspection in February 2023, inspectors found that the curriculums for many subjects were not well designed. In these subjects, leaders had not defined what pupils needed to know or the order that learning should take place. Pupils did not build a deep body of knowledge across a range of subjects.  In their action plan, leaders proposed to set out the key knowledge that pupils needed to learn within the curriculum plans and schemes of work.  At this progress monitoring inspection, leaders had made progress in setting out the overall content that they want pupils to learn. For example, leaders have identified broad topic headings such as ‘the Tudors’. However, for most subjects, the finer details of the curriculum had not been finalised. Leaders had not identified the subject-specific

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Main inspection findings

knowledge that pupils should learn and remember. This also meant that leaders had not carefully considered the sequence of learning.  This independent school standard (the standard) remains unmet. Paragraphs 3, 3(e)  At the school’s standard inspection in February 2023, inspectors found that teachers did not have the knowledge or confidence to teach some subjects effectively. In part, this was because the school’s curriculum did not offer them sufficient guidance. However, some teachers also lacked the subject-specific expertise to explain new learning confidently and clearly.  In their action plan, leaders proposed to provide professional development for staff. They also planned to develop their quality assurance procedures to gain a clearer understanding of the effectiveness of the curriculum. Alongside these actions, leaders stated that they would work with external specialists to develop the subject leader roles.

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Main inspection findings

 At this progress monitoring inspection, leaders had worked with external consultants to improve teachers’ subject knowledge and subject leadership. However, this work was at an early stage.  This standard remains unmet.  The previously unmet standards in this part remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 9, 9(b), 9(c)  At the school’s previous standard inspection in February 2023, leaders did not consistently record behaviour incidents as accurately as they should to allow them to spot any patterns or trends in pupils’ behaviour.  In their action plan, leaders proposed to implement an electronic system to record incidents of poor behaviour and related sanctions.  At this progress monitoring inspection, leaders had put in place a system for staff to record incidents of poor behaviour and related sanctions. Leaders use this to evaluate patterns of behaviour.  The school meets all of the previously unmet requirements in this part.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the school’s last standard inspection in February 2023, this standard was unmet. Inspectors found that the proprietor had failed to ensure that all the standards were met. The proprietor did not have strategic oversight of the work of the school.  In their action plan, leaders proposed to seek additional training and external support to strengthen their ability to ensure compliance with the standards. However, they did not make it clear how leadership capacity would be increased to enable the headteacher to maintain a strategic overview of the school.  At the time of the progress monitoring inspection, the headteacher had more time allocated to maintain a strategic overview of the school. However, leaders had failed to comply with all of the previously unmet standards. They had taken positive action

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Main inspection findings

towards meeting the standards, but some remained unmet.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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

Email address friesner@prestwichprepschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 21 to 23 February 2023

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Information about this school

 The previous standard inspection took place on 21 to 23 February 2023.  The school operates from premises at 400 Bury Old Road, Prestwich, Manchester, Lancashire, M25 1PZ.  The school does not make use of 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 is the school’s first progress monitoring inspection following the standard inspection in February 2023.  The Department for Education required the school to prepare an action plan. This action plan was accepted with modifications.  This inspection was carried out without notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher and the deputy headteacher. The headteacher is also the proprietor.  The inspector met with some of the teachers and looked at examples of pupils’ work.  The inspector reviewed a wide range of documentation. This included information relating to the standards, the school’s curriculum, leaders’ improvement priorities,

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Information about this inspection

leaders’ approach to safeguarding pupils and the checks that leaders carry out on newly appointed staff, including supply staff.

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Inspection team

Jane Dennis, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught.

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that-

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

– 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively; and

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

– 9(c) a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon schools for serious misbehaviour. 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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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