Greek Secondary School of London

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Greek Secondary School of London 22 Trinity Road, Wood Green, London N22 8LB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2A(1), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d), 2A(1)(e), 2A(1)(f), 2A(1)(g), 2A(2), 5, 5(b) and 5(b)(iv)  At the previous graded inspection in November 2023, the school’s personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme was at the early stages of being planned. It did not cover sex education or provide enough opportunities for pupils to learn about public institutions in England. It was taught only in Years 8 and 9. Pupils’ general knowledge suffered as a result. The relationships and sex education (RSE) statutory guidance had not been implemented.  The school’s action plan lacked clarity, and the actions were judged as unlikely to result in compliance with these independent school standards.  This inspection found that the school has made almost no progress in this area. The PSHE education curriculum plans have been revised, but the sequence in which content

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Main inspection findings

is taught lacks coherence. The subject is still not taught to all pupils of compulsory school age. The curriculum continues to provide not enough opportunities for pupils to learn about public institutions in England. The RSE guidance has still not been implemented. Sex education continues to not be taught, and parents and carers have not been consulted. The school’s revised RSE policy lacks clarity.  These independent school standards continue to be not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(b)  At the previous inspection, though independent school standard 7(a) was judged to be met, the overall arrangements for safeguarding were not effective. This was because leaders did not have sufficient knowledge to meet the safeguarding requirements consistently. Safeguarding training for staff was not up to date.  This inspection found that leaders have realised the proposed actions in their action plan.  Safeguarding leaders have completed an appropriate level of training, and now ensure that all staff receive suitable annual, refresher and induction training, as appropriate. Training content reflects the school’s policy, which has been designed to reflect the latest statutory guidance. Leaders now demonstrate sufficient safeguarding knowledge.  This independent school standard is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(d), 18(3), 20(6), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 21(1), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi) and 21(4)  At the previous inspection, leaders had not completed enhanced criminal record checks on all staff. The single central record was incomplete. School leaders lacked understanding of all the necessary vetting checks required for staff.  This inspection found that leaders have completed all the proposed actions. All the required checks have now been completed and are dated on a compliant single central record. Leaders are now clear about the necessary vetting checks required for staff.  These independent school standards are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  At the previous inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that leaders understood fully the requirements of the independent school standards in England.  The school’s action plan was weak overall. However, in line with one of the proposed actions, the school has forged a positive link with the local authority, who have provided some helpful support.  However, leaders continue to have a limited understanding of the statutory requirements for independent schools in England. There are no arrangements for any form of governance. This, coupled with the lack of consistency relating to frequent staff changes, means there remains a lack of leadership capacity to coordinate the school’s work effectively and ensure that all the independent school standards are met consistently.

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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, as set out in the annex of this report. 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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 14

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School details

Proprietor The Greek Ministry of Education

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School details

Website greekschool-london.wixsite.com/mysite

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 7 to 9 November 2023

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Information about this school

 The Greek Secondary School is an independent secondary day school for pupils aged 12 to 18 in the London Borough of Haringey.  The school was established in 1983 by the Greek Embassy, for Greek children living in London. The Greek government provides free education at the school for Greek speaking pupils.  The school is managed by a deputy headteacher who fulfils the role of headteacher.  Some staff are appointed on secondment from Greece by the Greek Ministry of Education. The school also employs teachers from England who have a knowledge of the Greek curriculum.  The deputy headteacher is responsible for ensuring that Greek legislation, alongside English statutory requirements, is implemented in all aspects of the school’s work. The school is accountable to the education office of the Greek Embassy in London.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.  The school’s most recent inspection was its last graded inspection in November 2023.

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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 was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since its last graded inspection in November 2023. The inspection was conducted without notice.  Since the previous inspection, leaders were asked to submit an action plan. This was judged by Ofsted to be not acceptable and was subsequently rejected by the Department for Education on 29 April 2024.  The focus of the inspection was to check whether the school complies with particular requirements in Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspection took place during the summer holidays, as the school operates in line

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Information about this inspection

with the Greek school calendar. There were, therefore, no pupils on site.  The inspector met with several staff, including the deputy headteacher (who fulfils the role of the headteacher) and the designated safeguarding leader. He toured the premises and reviewed a range of documents, including policies, curriculum plans and the single central record.  In addition to inspecting the requirements of the independent school standards that were judged to be unmet at the previous inspection, the inspector also considered the school’s wider safeguarding arrangements, including the availability of a published safeguarding policy and how the school manages safeguarding concerns. The requirements in Parts 3 (7, 7(a)) and 6 (32(1), 32(1)(c)) of the independent school standards are met.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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 unmet 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.  2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor- – 2A(1)(b) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with secondary education at the school is provided with relationships and sex education, except in so far as the pupil is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), – 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools, – 2A(1)(e) makes and keeps up to date a separate written statement of its policy with regard to the provision of education as required by each of paragraphs (a) and (b),

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2A(1)(f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e), and – 2A(1)(g) publishes a copy of the statement on a website and provides a copy of the statement free of charge to anyone who asks for one.  2A(2) Arrangements made by the proprietor for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) must ensure that where a pupil’s parent requests that the pupil is wholly or partly excused from sex education provided as part of relationships and sex education, the pupil is so excused until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the head teacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and 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(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.

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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; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 18(2) The standard in this paragraph is met if- – 18(2)(d) the proprietor ensures that, where relevant to any such person, an enhanced criminal record check is made in respect of that person and an enhanced criminal record certificate is obtained before or as soon as practicable after that person’s appointment;  18(3) The checks referred to in sub-paragraphs (2)(c) and (except where sub-paragraph (4) applies) (2)(e) must be completed before a person’s appointment.  20(6) The standard in this paragraph is met in relation to an individual ("MB"), not being the Chair of the school, who is a member of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate named as the proprietor of the school in the register or in an application to enter the school in the register, if- – 20(6)(b) subject to sub-paragraphs (7) to (8), the Chair of the school makes the following checks relating to MB- – 20(6)(b)(i) where relevant to the individual, an enhanced criminal record check;

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 21(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor keeps a register which shows such of the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (3) to (7) as is applicable to the school in question.  21(3) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is- – 21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff ("S") appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether- – 21(3)(a)(v) an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained in respect of S; – 21(3)(a)(vi) checks were made pursuant to paragraph 18(2)(d);  21(4) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation to each member of staff in post on 1st August 2007 who was appointed at any time before 1st May 2007, whether each check referred to in sub-paragraph (3) was made and whether an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained, together with the date on which any check was completed or certificate obtained. guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website:

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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