Burlington House School Tooting

School pre-registration inspection report

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Burlington House School Tooting 3 Garrads Road, London SW16 1JZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  Since the first pre-registration inspection in May 2023, leaders have strengthened their curriculum and assessment policies and plans. Curriculum plans are now consistently detailed in their thoughtful demonstration of what the school wants pupils to learn in each subject from ages 11 to 16.  The proposed school’s curriculum plans cover the full national curriculum and GCSE qualifications in English, mathematics, science, art, geography, music, history, drama, computing, art, and design and technology.  The plans suitably consider the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and education, health and care (EHC) plans. The proposed school is likely to be well resourced to meet pupils’ various needs.  The planned curriculum for weekly lessons in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is likely to be suitable. The programme focuses on developing

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Main inspection findings

pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values, equality and how to live safely, healthily and productively. The proposed curriculum has been thoroughly planned and will be complemented by a taught citizenship programme.  In addition to organising a range of careers visits, events and experiences, leaders have commissioned an external careers service used by other schools in the group. This is likely to ensure that all pupils access the required regular, impartial and up-to- date careers information, advice and guidance.  The draft relationships, sex and health education policy covers all the required areas of statutory guidance. All the required curriculum content has been planned to be covered within PSHE education. Leaders know that they are required to consult with parents and carers about the relationships and sex education programme when the school opens. The policy provides clear guidance to parents about the possibility of

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Main inspection findings

withdrawing their children from sex education should they wish to.  Leaders have recruited a teaching team. They have credible plans to train and develop them in order to ensure and maintain a consistent quality of education.  The standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All paragraphs  Pupils are likely to be well supported to develop their social, physical and communication skills, including through the provision of speech and language, and occupational, therapies.  The programme of PSHE education, assemblies and enrichment sessions will support pupils’ learning about physical and mental well-being, healthy relationships and British values. They will be encouraged to respect differences, including in relation to the protected characteristics. Pupils will be taught about a range of religions, faiths and cultures through a discrete religious education programme.  Leaders have plans to train teachers to ensure that they are clear that balanced points of view must always be presented in the teaching of any political topics. The proposed school’s code of conduct makes it clear that no member of staff may promote partisan

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Main inspection findings

political views at any time.  The standard in this part is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils All paragraphs  The proposed school’s leaders demonstrate clear understanding of the importance of creating and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture when the school opens. The safeguarding policy, available online, reflects the latest statutory guidance, as does the safer recruitment process. All leaders and staff will be suitably trained in advance of the school opening. The school’s online system for tracking concerns and actions taken is likely to be used effectively.  The proposed school’s behaviour and anti-bullying policies have been created with the needs of pupils with SEND in mind. They are suitable and likely to be implemented well. Leaders will use their online system to record incidents of serious misbehaviour and any consequences imposed as a result.  The proposed school’s health and safety policy is likely to be suitable in ensuring the

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Main inspection findings

safe and efficient maintenance of the premises.  Since the previous unsuccessful pre-registration inspection, the proposed school’s arrangements for fire safety have been strengthened. The latest external fire risk assessment report, compliance certificates and internal logs of fire safety checks confirm likely compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  The first-aid policy is likely to be suitable. A number of recently appointed staff are first-aid trained and more training is booked for other members of staff. Leaders have put in place suitable processes for managing pupils’ medication and documenting accidents.  Plans to supervise pupils, in classes of up to 10 pupils, are likely to be appropriate.  The attendance register will be kept using the proposed school’s online system. The proposed admission register is likely to include all the required information.  The risk assessment policy is likely to be suitable. Leaders have thoroughly prepared

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Main inspection findings

written risk assessments of the premises, educational visits and visitors.  The standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  All the required vetting checks on those who will work at and be involved with the running of this proposed school are likely to be carried out and dated on a suitable single central register of pre-employment checks.  The standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The proposed school will occupy its own premises overlooking Tooting Common.  The premises includes seven main classrooms, including specialist spaces for the teaching of science, art, and design and technology.  There are large, suitable outdoor spaces for physical education and recreation.  There are suitable toilet, washing, changing, shower and drinking water facilities. Hot water supplies are safely regulated.  At the previous pre-registration inspection, the proposed medical room facility was not likely to be suitable. This inspection found the school’s proposal for a medical room, pending the installation of the planned washing facility, to be appropriate.  The standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information All paragraphs  The school’s website is likely to include all the required policies, reports and information, including that about the proprietor body, examination performance and complaints.  Templates for reporting progress and attainment to parents, and income and expenditure for pupils with EHC plans to local authorities, are likely to be suitable.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All paragraphs  The suitable complaints policy is likely to be implemented well.  The policy sets out clearly how leaders intend to manage and log both informal and formal complaints.  The standard in this part is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  Proprietors and leaders have acted on feedback from the previous pre-registration inspection and paid significant attention to detail in planning the opening of this proposed special school. Arrangements for leadership, management and governance are likely to ensure that all the independent school standards are met consistently.  The standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proposed school’s accessibility plan is likely to meet this requirement as it includes a range of suitable actions to improve accessibility in the three key areas.

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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.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

Type of school Other independent special school

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Proposed school details

School status Independent special school

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 11 to 16 11 to 16 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 100 50

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Reason for inspector’s recommendations

 The school’s long-term ambition is to build to 100 pupils on roll. For now, the school’s plans for staffing, premises and resources are likely to be suitable for up to 50 pupils during its first year of operation.

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Not applicable Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Not applicable 100

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable None

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable All pupils

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan Not applicable Up to 100

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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 Not applicable Up to 100

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 12

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 8

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable 12

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Information about this proposed school

 Burlington House School, Tooting, is seeking to register as an independent special day school in the London Borough of Lambeth.  The school’s intended opening date for a small number of pupils is 18 April 2024. The intention is then to admit the first full cohort of pupils in September 2024.  Koen Claeys, as principal of the proposed school, will also act as the headteacher until the newly appointed headteacher, Paul Jones, joins in September 2024.  Placements at the proposed school will predominantly be for pupils with EHC plans for a range of SEND.  Leaders do not intend to make any use of alternative provision.  The proposed school’s proprietors run a number of other schools.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to assess whether the proposed school is likely to meet all of the independent school standards if registered as an independent school.  This was the proposed school’s second pre-registration inspection. The first inspection was in May 2023.  The inspection was conducted with two days’ notice.  The inspector met with the proposed school’s principal and the headteacher. He also spoke by phone with the chief executive officer, who is a member of the school’s proprietor body.  The inspector toured the premises and considered a range of evidence to check the likelihood of the proposed school meeting the independent school standards and associated requirements.

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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

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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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