Progress Schools - Tees Valley

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Progress Schools - Tees Valley 114 Fabian Road, Eston, Middlesbrough TS6 9RQ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1) to 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(h)  At the previous inspection, the school had not identified the knowledge it wanted pupils to know and remember in all subjects. The curriculum was not ambitious enough for what pupils could achieve and it was not organised so that pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), could build their knowledge in a logical and coherent way. Teachers did not have a secure knowledge and understanding of the school’s curriculum intent.  The school proposed to address this by developing a curriculum created by subject leaders using schemes of work from awarding bodies. It intended that this curriculum would include adaptations for pupils with specific needs. It also intended that the curriculum would prepare pupils for levels 1 and 2 qualifications. To support the implementation of this curriculum the school proposed to provide staff with appropriate

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Main inspection findings

training and development.  The school has made progress towards meeting these requirements of the independent school standards (the standards). Significant development of the curriculum, led by the school group’s curriculum team, has been undertaken. Staff have received training to implement the new curriculum. There are new curriculum documents for all subjects that provide an overview of what pupils will learn. The school is now preparing pupils for GCSE examinations in English, mathematics and science. In some subjects such as English, mathematics and personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), appropriate schemes of work are now established. These schemes of work detail the specific knowledge and skills that pupils will learn. They also detail the order in which pupils will learn new knowledge and skills.  In other subjects such as art and design, science and physical education (PE), relevant

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Main inspection findings

schemes of work are not yet fully established. In art and design and in some areas of the science curriculum, the school has not identified the specific knowledge and skills it wants pupils to learn. In PE, the curriculum does not provide for appropriate progression of knowledge and skills for pupils of different ages and aptitudes.  The school continues not to meet these requirements of the standards. These requirements relate to the provision of appropriate schemes of work for all subjects that take into account pupils’ specific needs and that enable all pupils to make progress.  Paragraphs 3 to 3(e)  At the previous inspection, teachers did not have a secure subject knowledge of the subjects that they were teaching. They did not have high enough expectations for what pupils could achieve. Also, teachers did not use assessment effectively enough to identify and address gaps in pupils’ knowledge. They did not adapt their teaching to meet the

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Main inspection findings

needs of pupils with SEND, and they did not have the necessary knowledge and skills to support pupils at an early stage of reading.  The school proposed to address this by providing staff with the training and development they needed to implement the curriculum effectively. The school intended to use weekly staff training sessions, additional training workshops and on-site support from the school group’s curriculum team. It intended that this teacher development programme would include training on how to support pupils at an early stage of reading.  The school has implemented its intentions with regard to teacher training and development. This includes reading. Teachers show secure subject knowledge and deliver well-planned lessons that meet pupils’ needs. They present new information clearly and model answers for pupils. They also use assessment to check what pupils know and remember. Moreover, they provide pupils with opportunities to apply their

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Main inspection findings

knowledge and work independently.  In some subjects, teaching over time does not enable pupils to make good progress in developing their knowledge and skills. This is a result both of weaknesses in curriculum design and of pupils being taught new information without having secured knowledge of what has previously been taught.  The school continues not to meet requirement 3(a) of the standards.  In summary, the school does not meet all of the previously unmet requirements in this part.

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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)(iv)  At the previous inspection, pupils did not understand the importance of fundamental British values. They were not taught about public institutions in England.  The school proposed to address this by developing and implementing a scheme of work on British values and public institutions. It intended to implement this scheme of work from September 2023. It also intended to strengthen pupils’ knowledge and understanding of British values and public institutions through educational visits and visits from external agencies.  The school is now teaching pupils about British values and public institutions in England through the ‘My World’ unit of its PSHE curriculum. It has also organised additional sessions on British values to ensure that pupils understand the importance of those values. The school is enriching the curriculum through visits from public officials such as

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Main inspection findings

the Mayor of Middlesbrough. Pupils are now showing a knowledge and understanding of British values and why they are important.  The school now meets all the previously unmet requirements in this part.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of school Paragraphs 34 to 34(b)  At the previous inspection, the proprietor was not ensuring that school leaders and staff received the training and development they needed to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively. The school was not providing pupils with a good quality of education. Several requirements of the standards were not met.  The school proposed to address this through an ambitious vision of providing a high- quality education. It intended to develop a new curriculum and provide teachers with training in the implementation of that curriculum. It intended to quality assure progress towards provision of a high-quality education through regular reviews and fortnightly leadership meetings.  Since the previous inspection, the proprietor has restructured the group’s central team. The school benefits from oversight and support from three directors who work with the

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Main inspection findings

school on inclusion, curriculum and teaching expertise, and facilities. Additional leadership capacity is provided to the school by a welfare officer with safeguarding responsibilities. There are fortnightly leadership team meetings at which the school is held to account and the three directors meet regularly with the headteacher. In addition, the school is working with two local authorities that provide external monitoring and evaluation. The proprietor has established a quality assurance model that should support the school to meet the standards consistently over time.  The proprietor has also recently appointed a new headteacher with the requisite knowledge and skills for the role. The quality of provision has improved since the headteacher started.  Since the previous inspection, the school has made some significant progress with regard to the quality of education. A new curriculum is being developed and in English,

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Main inspection findings

mathematics and PSHE, there is evidence of positive impact on pupils’ learning. However, the school has not yet completed the curriculum development work needed to meet the relevant requirements in part 1 of the standards.  The school continues not to meet the previously unmet requirements in this part.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £14,000 to £32,000

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School details

Email address middlesboroughps@progress-schools.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 20 to 22 June 2023

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Information about this school

 The current headteacher was appointed in February 2024.  The school uses no alternative provision.  The school operates from 114 Fabian Road, Eston, Middlesbrough, TS6 9RQ.  The school is registered to admit 50 pupils.

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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.  The school’s previous inspection, at which the school was judged not to comply with the independent school standards, was a standard inspection and took place on 20 to 22 June 2023.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection in June 2023.  The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. This was a statutory requirement.  Ofsted evaluated the school’s action plan on 14 December 2023.  The DfE rejected the school’s action plan.  This progress monitoring inspection was conducted without notice.  To check compliance with the standards, the inspector met with the chair of the

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Information about this inspection

proprietor body, the headteacher and other staff. The inspector looked at curriculum plans and schemes of work for all subjects. The inspector also visited lessons, sampled pupils’ work and spoke with pupils.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the standards are met.

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Inspection team

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

 2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(h) that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress.

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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- – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects 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- – 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(b) fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social, cultural development of pupils

 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor- – 5(a) actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs; – 5(b) ensures that principles are actively promoted which- – 5(b)(iv) enable pupils to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England. 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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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social, cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social, cultural development of pupils

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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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social, cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social, cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social, cultural development of pupils

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social, cultural development of pupils

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