Compass Community School Hemsworth

Inspection of Compass Community School Hemsworth 58 Highfield Road, Hemsworth, Pontefract WF9 4EA

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Inspection dates: 24 and 25 September 2024

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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Overall effectiveness Good

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school provides pupils with a safe, nurturing environment in which to learn. Staff build positive relationships with pupils. When pupils find it difficult to focus on their learning, staff are adept at choosing effective strategies to help them engage. This prevents behaviour from escalating and is helping to improve pupils’ attitudes towards learning. Pupils’ attendance is high. They value the education that the school provides.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Since the last inspection, the school has worked to review its approach to managing behaviour. The current points system is well understood and appreciated by pupils. It helps them to take responsibility for their behaviour. Pupils recognise that their behaviour has improved since joining the school. Records show that incidents of serious behaviour have decreased over time.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders are ambitious for pupils. There is a determination to prepare them well for life beyond the school. Carefully planned activities help to achieve this. For example, pupils participate in community events and learn life skills, such as cooking and swimming. Many pupils start at this school having had significant time out of education, and all have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school equips pupils with careers advice and support to gain qualifications to help them achieve their high aspirations.

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better?

The curriculum is divided into different parts to ensure that pupils receive a well- rounded education. These different parts link to both academic and non-academic development. In the ‘core curriculum’, subjects are coherently planned and sequenced. Pupils have opportunities to revisit prior learning and to build on their existing knowledge. In some ‘broader curriculum’ subjects though, the curriculum design is not as well thought out. Here, curriculum aims are too vague and do not set out precisely what pupils should know and remember.

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better?

The school has reviewed its approach to the teaching of reading. It has recently introduced a new English curriculum. This sets out challenging texts that pupils will study in each year group. For example, pupils read classic novels such as ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ and some of the works of Shakespeare. Staff select texts that motivate and engage pupils. As a result, pupils’ attitudes towards reading are improving. Pupils read confidently and fluently. However, checks on gaps in pupils’ knowledge are not used effectively to make sure that they are filled quickly.

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better?

Since the last inspection, the school has worked to improve pupils’ attendance and punctuality. Where these are a concern, the school identifies barriers and works with pupils and external agencies to remove them. Consequently, whole school attendance has been on an upward trajectory in recent years. Attendance and admissions registers are maintained correctly. 24 and 25 September 2024 New pupils have an induction period which gives them time to settle into the school and build relationships successfully. It also provides staff with an opportunity to assess pupils and identify the support that will best meet their needs. The school is using an increasing range of external agencies to better support pupils. For example, an occupational therapist has recently been appointed to work with pupils and support staff. The school reports its income and expenditure to the local authorities from which pupils are referred. It holds local authorities to account when it is

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better?

dissatisfied with the outcomes of education, health and care plan (EHC plan) reviews.

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better?

Through the ‘parallel core curriculum’, pupils benefit from a wide range of experiences to develop their knowledge of the world around them and prepare them for life in modern Britain. The school employs a ‘50 things’ approach whereby pupils participate in certain experiences before they leave. These include visiting different places of worship, theatres and art galleries. Some experiences are tailored to individual pupils. This helps to inspire and motivate them to work towards a particular career path.

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better?

The chair of the proprietor board and the governing body have an accurate view of the school’s current position. They receive information about the school through reports from the headteacher and regional director. The proprietor regularly checks that the independent school standards (the standards) are met and that the school complies with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. Staff are positive about working at the school. They appreciate leaders’ efforts in ensuring that their workload is manageable.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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(Information for the school and proprietor)

 There is inconsistency in how well subjects are designed and sequenced. Consequently, pupils receive a better quality of education in some subjects than others. The school should ensure that all subjects are coherently planned and sequenced to enable pupils to achieve the best possible outcomes across both the ‘core’ and ‘broader’ curriculums.  In some subjects, the checks made on pupils’ learning are not used well to inform teaching and plan targeted support. As a result, gaps in pupils’ knowledge are not always filled before they move on to new learning. The school should ensure that staff are supported to check pupils’ learning effectively so that gaps in pupils’ knowledge are addressed more precisely.

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How can I feed back my views?

24 and 25 September 2024 or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 24 and 25 September 2024

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Email address hannah.williams@compass-schools.org

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School details

Date of previous inspection 14 and 15 July 2021 24 and 25 September 2024

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Information about this school

 The school is part of the Compass group of schools. It is registered to admit eight pupils aged 11 to 17 years who have been referred by their local authority.  All pupils have SEND. Most pupils have social, emotional and mental health needs and some have an EHC plan.  The school is located in the town of Hemsworth, West Yorkshire.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  Since the last inspection, a new headteacher has been appointed.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The purpose of the inspection 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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Information about this inspection

Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.

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Information about this inspection

The school meets the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors held meetings with the executive headteacher and headteacher. In addition, they met with the chair of the proprietor board and those responsible for governance. They also met with subject leaders.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics and personal, social and health education (PSHE). Inspectors discussed the curriculum with subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. Aspects of the curriculum in other subjects were considered as part of the inspection.  The inspectors considered how the school caters for pupils’ personal development, including reviewing the curriculum for PSHE.  Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around school.

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Information about this inspection

 The lead inspector toured the school site and reviewed the various policies in place, and the actions taken by leaders, to ensure compliance with the standards.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive 24 and 25 September 2024 culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first .  Too few pupils are registered at the school to generate responses to Ofsted’s online survey for parents and carers, Ofsted Parent View. However, the responses to the staff and pupil surveys were considered.

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Inspection team

Philippa Kermotschuk, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Marian Thomas Ofsted Inspector 24 and 25 September 2024 to 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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Inspection team

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