Strive for Education

School material change inspection report

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Strive for Education 21 North Park Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 5PD

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7 to 7(b)  The school ensures that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school. Such arrangements are informed by relevant statutory guidance. The school has established a strong, open and honest culture of safeguarding. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and updates. This ensures that they remain alert to the risks for pupils.  The school works effectively with external agencies to secure the help pupils need. It also ensures that pupils are safe when travelling between school sites. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe from harm, including with regard to criminal exploitation. Paragraph 11, 12, 16(a), 16(b)  The school takes a rigorous and systematic approach to health and safety. It ensures that the relevant health and safety laws are met through its policy and practice. It also ensures that any risk to pupils is rigorously assessed. The school ensures compliance

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Main inspection findings

with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  The school has received its final certificate to confirm that the new premises (Unit 2, Thirkill Park, Thirkill Drive, Pannal, Harrogate HG3 1GQ) meet building regulations. The school intends to use the new premises for the teaching of construction. Relevant risk assessments are established for the new premises. Paragraph 14  The school ensures that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff. Pupils are currently taught in classes of six pupils, with two members of staff per class. There are additional support staff that include a full- time pastoral support worker, a part-time counsellor and a part-time attendance officer. There is also a non-teaching assistant headteacher who is the designated safeguarding lead and a non-teaching special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO).  The school intends to maintain the same staff to pupil ratio if the material changes

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Main inspection findings

are approved. To maintain this ratio and to staff a new course in construction, the school has appointed three new teaching staff. These staff comprise two construction teachers and one mathematics teacher. These staff will start work at the school in September 2024.  In addition, the school has appointed an outreach worker and a safeguarding officer. The safeguarding officer will be based at the new premises. These staff will also start work at the school in September 2024. The proprietor has ensured that ‘the standards’ in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2) to 18(3)  The school carries out all necessary pre-employment checks on staff. It takes a rigorous approach to these checks. No member of staff starts work at the school prior to these checks having been completed. Paragraph 19(2) to 19(3)  The school rarely employs supply staff. However, when the school does employ supply staff it ensures that the relevant supply agency has carried out all necessary pre- employment checks. The school receives written confirmation of these checks from the supply agency and is provided with a copy of the member of supply staff’s enhanced criminal record check. In addition, the school checks the identity of the member of supply staff. No member of supply staff starts work at the school prior to these checks having been completed. Paragraph 20(6) to 20(6)(c)  All necessary checks on members of the proprietor body are undertaken with

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Main inspection findings

appropriate rigour. No member of the proprietor body takes up their role prior to these checks having been completed. Paragraph 21(1) to 21(7)(b)  The proprietor keeps a single central record of all the pre-employment checks on staff and members of the proprietor body. The school’s single central record records all relevant checks and the dates on which those checks were made. The proprietor has ensured that ‘the standards’ in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 28(2)(b)  The proprietor ensures that the school’s premises and accommodation are maintained to a high standard. The school’s premises and accommodation provide a safe and healthy environment for pupils and staff. The school has appropriate toilet, washing, medical care and therapy facilities. These meet the needs of the pupils at the school. These facilities are sufficient to meet the needs of the additional number of pupils proposed by the school.  The new premises has been signed off by building regulations. It will provide pupils with a high-quality, safe and healthy learning environment. Within the new premises, the majority of the space is designed for practical construction work. However, there is also a classroom area, toilets and washing facilities, and a kitchen and recreational area. The new premises are ready for use in September 2024.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 29(1)  The proprietor ensures that there is suitable outside space for pupils to play outside. This space is on the main school site and contains fixed gym equipment. It is sufficient to accommodate the increase in pupil numbers proposed by the school. The school uses external venues for the teaching of physical education. Paragraph 30  The school does not provide boarding accommodation for pupils. The proprietor has ensured that ‘the standards’ in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school publishes its safeguarding policy on the school website. The school’s safeguarding policy is informed by the relevant statutory guidance. The proprietor has ensured that ‘the standards’ in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor ensures that ‘the standards’ are met consistently. They have established rigorous quality assurance systems and processes. Leaders possess the knowledge and skills they require to perform their respective roles.  Moreover, they fulfil their responsibilities effectively and actively promote pupils’ well- being. Leaders have both the capacity and capability to ensure that ‘the standards’ will continue to be consistently met. The proprietor has ensured that ‘the standards’ in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) From £45,000 for a full-time place

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School details

Email address andy@striveforeducation.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 7 to 9 November 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 14 to 19 14 to 19 14 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 24 36 36

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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 18 24

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 24 36

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School's current position School's proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 18 26

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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 17 24

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 9 12

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 6 8

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Information about this school

 The school’s previous standard inspection took place on 7 to 9 November 2023.  The school uses no alternative provision.  The school operates from 19 and 21 North Park Road, Harrogate HG1 5PD. It also has a workshop at another site, Spa Terrace, Harrogate HG2 7JH. The school has another workshop that it intends to use from September 2024. The address of this site is Unit 2 Thirkill Park, Thirkill Drive, Pannal, Harrogate HG3 1GQ.  The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and pupils with speech, language and communication needs.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE). It was commissioned to consider material changes to the school’s registration agreement with the DfE. The inspection focused on the independent school standards with regard to the welfare, health and safety of pupils, the suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors, premises and accommodation, provision of information regarding safeguarding, and the quality of leadership in and management of the school.  The material changes sought by the school related to pupil numbers and premises. The school proposed an increase in the school roll to accommodate up to 36 pupils. The school also proposed to use new premises for the teaching of construction. This proposal did not fundamentally affect the nature of the school’s educational provision.  This was the second material change inspection in respect of changes in pupil numbers and premises that the school has applied to make. The first material change

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Information about this inspection

inspection took place in November 2023 at the same time as the school’s first standard inspection. At this time, the school proposed to increase its capacity from 18 pupils to 24 pupils and make use of new premises at 19 North Park Road, Harrogate HG1 5PD.  The inspector met with the two members of the proprietor body. The two members of the proprietor body are the school’s headteacher and the school’s operations director.  The inspector met with the school’s designated safeguarding lead. They looked at safeguarding documentation and record keeping, including the single central record. The inspector also spoke with staff and pupils about safeguarding.  The inspector toured all of the school’s sites, included the new workshop that the school intends to use from September 2024.  The inspector scrutinised a range of documentary evidence to check on the statutory requirements of the independent school standards.

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Inspection team

Ian Rawstorne, 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child's school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

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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Inspection team

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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