St Anne's College Grammar School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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St Anne’s College Grammar School 293 Clifton Drive South, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire FY8 1HN

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(h)  This standard was judged to have been met at the school’s standard inspection in October and December 2023. However, at the request of the Department for Education (DfE), this standard was considered at this progress monitoring inspection.  Evidence from this inspection shows that pupils at the school receive a curriculum that is suitably broad and balanced. Since the last inspection, the school has made further refinements to the curriculum. For example, in each subject, the curriculum sets out, in carefully ordered steps, the key knowledge and concepts that pupils need to learn, from the early years to Year 13. This includes the important vocabulary that pupils should know. The additional needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have been duly considered. This improved curriculum helps staff to design a

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Main inspection findings

series of lessons that support pupils’ achievement in the subjects that they study.  At this progress monitoring inspection, it was found that the school has put in place suitable processes for identifying and addressing gaps in pupils’ knowledge in a range of subjects. For instance, pupils routinely receive reading assessments when they first join the school. Pupils’ reading is checked regularly to ensure that they are keeping up with the reading programme. Staff’s consistent use of these processes supports pupils to make progress through the curriculum. Paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(g)  This standard was judged to have been met at the school’s standard inspection in October and December 2023. However, at the request of the DfE, this standard was considered at this progress monitoring inspection.  During this progress monitoring inspection, inspectors found that, since the school was last inspected, the proprietor has taken steps to ensure that the curriculum is delivered

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Main inspection findings

consistently well. For example, staff have received training to improve the way that the phonics curriculum is taught, including for pupils with SEND. The school has introduced improvements to its systems for checking that pupils have learned, understood and remembered key knowledge. These refinements help to ensure that the curriculum is implemented as the school intends.  The independent school standards (‘the standards’) in this part remain met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The proprietor has ensured that there is a suitable safeguarding policy in place and that this is published on the school’s website. This policy has regard to the appropriate statutory guidance.  The proprietor has ensured that the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) is trained to an appropriate level. Staff who deputise for the DSL receive the same level of training. The school ensures that staff, at all levels, receive regular updates to their safeguarding knowledge. This helps them to recognise when a pupil may be at risk of harm. The proprietor demonstrates appropriate diligence when checking the suitability of any new staff.  There are secure procedures in place for staff to report any concerns that they might have about a pupil’s welfare. The school communicates with other professionals, such as the local authority, to assure themselves of pupils’ safety and welfare when not in school.

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Main inspection findings

 During this inspection, pupils told the inspectors that they felt safe in school. They reported that they can talk to members of staff if they have any worries and they trust them to help. Paragraph 10  This standard was considered at this progress monitoring inspection at the request of the DfE. The school has put in place a suitable policy for the prevention of bullying. This is underpinned by clear procedures for staff to follow in order to identify and address any bullying behaviour. Through the curriculum, pupils learn how to treat each other with kindness and respect. They learn about different types of bullying and about the action that they should take if they have any worries. Paragraph 12  This standard was considered at this progress monitoring inspection at the request of the DfE. The proprietor has ensured that the school has a range of measures to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. For example, the fire alarm and

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Main inspection findings

emergency lighting are maintained and tested regularly. The building has been fitted with smoke alarms. The school conducts regular fire drills with staff and pupils. These are appropriately recorded. Signage around the school site identifies fire exits and muster points to facilitate escape in the event of fire. Paragraph 14  This paragraph was considered at the progress monitoring inspection at the request of the DfE. The proprietor ensures that sufficient staff are employed to supervise pupils effectively throughout the school day. This includes supervision when in lessons, at social times such as lunchtime and when pupils play outdoors. Newly recruited staff are suitably qualified and experienced, where necessary, to carry out their roles. Paragraph 15  This standard was judged to have been met at the school’s standard inspection in October and December 2023. However, at the request of the DfE, this standard was

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Main inspection findings

considered at this progress monitoring inspection.  The school’s admissions and attendance registers comply with the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. These documents are maintained electronically. The school has provided staff with training to reflect current guidance in relation to the recording of pupil absences.  The standards in this part remain met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33, 33(a)–33(k)  This standard was judged to have been met at the school’s standard inspection in October and December 2023. However, at the request of the DfE, this standard was considered at this progress monitoring inspection.  The proprietor has put in place a suitable complaints policy. This policy sets out the timescales for responding to complaints and includes information about the storage and sharing of written records. The policy ensures that the procedure for making a complaint is transparent. The policy is published on the school’s website.  The standard in this part remains met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34, 34(1)(a)–(b)  When the school received its standard inspection in October 2023, this standard was found to be unmet. A number of weaknesses were identified. For example, the school’s admissions and attendance arrangements were ineffective. There were shortfalls in the checks to ensure that staff were suitable to work with pupils. By the time that inspectors returned to the school in December 2023, these weaknesses had been addressed. However, this standard remained unmet because the proprietor had not ensured that the standards were met consistently.  When the school’s action plan was evaluated in May 2024, it was found to contain insufficient detail about the actions that the school intended to take to ensure that the standards were met consistently. Furthermore, it was unclear from the plan how the proposed success criteria would enable the school to check the effectiveness of its

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Main inspection findings

actions. This action plan was rejected by the DfE.  At this progress monitoring inspection, it was found that the proprietor has taken a number of steps to ensure that all of the standards are met. For example, further improvements have been made to the curriculum. Staff have received training to enable them to deliver the curriculum effectively. The proprietor has ensured that all necessary checks have been carried out on new staff. The school’s admissions and attendance arrangements have been further developed and reflect the latest legislation. These improvements are likely to ensure that the standards will be met consistently. Paragraph 34(1)(c)  This requirement was found to be met at the school’s standard inspection in October and December 2023. However, it was considered at this progress monitoring inspection at the request of the DfE.  The proprietor has due regard for pupils’ welfare, health and safety. For example, the

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Main inspection findings

proprietor has ensured that staff understand and implement the safeguarding policy consistently. Staff are deployed effectively to ensure that pupils are adequately supervised. The school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The standards relating to welfare, health and safety that were checked during this progress monitoring inspection were found to be met.  The standard in this part is now met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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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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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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) £5,580 to £8,628

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 3 October to 6 December 2023

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Information about this school

 Since the last inspection, the headteacher has been appointed as chair of the proprietor body.  The school is located at 293 Clifton Drive South, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire FY8 1HN.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  The school is registered to admit up to 151 pupils.  At the time of this inspection, there were no students on roll in the sixth form.  The school has provision for two-year-old children.  The previous standard inspection took place on 3 October to 6 December 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.  The previous standard inspection took place on 3 October to 6 December 2023.  The DfE required the school to prepare an action plan. Ofsted evaluated this action plan in April 2024. The DfE rejected the action plan.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection. It was conducted without notice.  The DfE requested that some additional, previously met standards in parts 1, 3, 7 and 8 were also checked in this inspection.  The inspectors met with senior leaders and staff. They also spoke with representatives of the local authority.  The inspectors reviewed schemes of work and pupils’ work and also visited some

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Information about this inspection

lessons.  An inspector spoke with a group of pupils about their learning and wider experiences in school.  The inspectors examined documents, including the safeguarding policy, curriculum documents and documents relating to leadership and management.

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Inspection team

Mavis Smith, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Andy Cunningham 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

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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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