London Vocational Ballet School

School material change inspection report

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London Vocational Ballet School 58 Bulwer Street, Shepherds Bush, London W12 8AP

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 11, 12, 14, 16 to 16(b), 32(1)(c)  There is a strong culture of safeguarding at this school. Staff are vigilant and pupils spoken to said that they feel safe. All have trusted adults they can approach if they have any worries. Staff recruitment procedures are robust. The school’s safeguarding policy is up to date with the latest statutory guidance, including ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2023). The policy is published on the school’s website.  The school’s health and safety and risk assessment policies are suitable. Leaders commissioned an external health and safety audit in the autumn term 2023. They quickly implemented all the recommendations made. They have recently carried out a thorough updated risk assessment of the premises to include the additional spaces they are renting from the building’s landlords. Leaders routinely carry out a range of

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Main inspection findings

health and safety checks.  In addition to the landlord’s fire risk assessments and routine checks, the proprietor body commissioned its own recent fire risk assessment. The few areas identified for improvement were addressed promptly. The school also commissions regular checks and servicing of firefighting equipment, emergency lighting and fire alarms. Leaders carry out and record the required fire safety checks and evacuation practices.  The school has produced a supervision policy which it applies effectively. There is a high staff-to-pupil ratio and throughout the day, including during social times, adults are always present.  The independent school standards (the standards) checked in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  The school’s single central record of pre-employment checks is compliant and records all the required background checks for adults responsible for and working at the school.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  Since the middle of the autumn term 2023, the school ceased to use two classrooms and a small dance studio at 25 Bulwer Street, Shepherds Bush, London, W12 8AR opposite their main site at number 58 Bulwer Street. It has rented and refurbished extra facilities at the main site. The additions to the main site include three new classrooms and one large- and one medium-size specialist dance studio with extra changing facilities, showers and toilets. These refurbishments have been carried out to a high specification. The school wishes to increase its registered number on roll from 55 to 65. The increased spaces and specialist facilities that are available mean that the premises are likely to be suitable for the proposed increase in the number of pupils on roll.  Lighting, acoustics and medical room facilities are all suitable. Labelled drinking-water

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Main inspection findings

supplies are available. The hot-water supply is safely regulated. There is an outdoor space for recreation.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraph  The proprietor body has given careful thought as to how it can extend the school’s capacity to offer more pupils the opportunity to be educated in this specialist dance school. It has made a significant investment in renting and refurbishing more space in its premises to accommodate its request for a material change.  The proprietor body and school leaders have established thorough systems for regularly checking and ensuring that they consistently meet the standards.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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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 that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Proprietor London Vocational Ballet School

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School details

Website www.londonvocationalballetschool.com

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School details

Email address hello@londonvocationalballetschool.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 27 to 29 June 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 10 to 16 10 to 16 10 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 52 65 65

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 52 65

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 8 As required

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 As required

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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 0 As required

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 3 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 13 14

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 19 22

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Information about this school

 From September 2023, the school changed its name from Young Dancers Academy to London Vocational Ballet School. The school provides specialist teaching in classical ballet. Pupils are admitted to the school according to their performance at a ballet audition.  The previous standard inspection was in June 2023.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this inspection to consider the school’s application to increase the number of pupils it admits from 55 to 65.  This was the first inspection to consider the school’s material change application.  The inspection was announced with four days’ notice.  The inspector considered whether the relevant requirements in parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 of the standards are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.  The inspector met with a range of senior leaders, including the academic director, director of operations and the leader with responsibility for safeguarding. He spoke online with the chair of the proprietor body. He toured the premises and met with three groups of pupils and a group of staff. He considered a range of evidence, including documents related to health and safety, risk assessment and fire safety. The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including pre-

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Information about this inspection

employment checks recorded on the school’s single central record.

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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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Inspection team

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