Progress Schools - Stockport

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Progress Schools - Stockport Belgrave House, 211 Chestergate, Stockport SK3 0AN

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3, 3(c), 3(d), 3(e)  At the time of the last inspection in April 2024, the delivery of the curriculum was found to be inconsistent across subjects and classes. Staff’s subject knowledge was insecure and the school did not have effective systems in place to check on the quality of education that pupils receive.  In the action plan, the school’s actions to address these requirements were considered to be appropriate but that they required modification. There was not enough detail and clarity about the specific actions and how they would be implemented to meet the success criteria. For example, it set out that staff would receive subject-specific professional development and training. However, it did not provide any detail about which teaching methods and activities would be used or how teachers would be upskilled to use them consistently.  This inspection confirmed that the school’s actions are not being implemented effectively

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Main inspection findings

to ensure that the requirements are met. During this inspection, it was found that the school has started to take action to address the weaknesses in staff subject knowledge and curriculum delivery. For example, it is providing weekly training sessions for staff related to pedagogical approaches. However, this provision is not coherent enough to ensure that all staff receive the support that they need to deliver the curriculum well. Some staff still lack subject-specific support and training. The delivery of the curriculum remains inconsistent. This negatively impacts how well pupils access the curriculum and build their subject knowledge.  In addition, a number of staffing recruitment and retention challenges have hindered the school in implementing many of its planned actions effectively and within the planned time scales. For example, there are some systems in place to check on the quality of education. However, staff absence and changes to staff roles, has meant that these

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Main inspection findings

checks have been inconsistent and they lack impact. They do not provide leaders with a clear understanding of strengths and weaknesses or how to improve the quality of education.  Overall, the school’s failure to address the weaknesses in staff’s subject knowledge and their capacity to deliver the curriculum well, continues to limit pupils’ learning.  All of the independent school standards (‘the standards’) checked in this part remain unmet. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  At the time of the last inspection, inspectors found that the school had put into place the necessary arrangements to safeguard pupils. These arrangements paid regard to the statutory guidance. The school provided a copy of the school’s safeguarding policy to parents and carers on its website.  During this inspection, it was found that the school has maintained these suitable

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding arrangements over time. There remains a culture of vigilance, where pupils’ welfare and well-being are paramount. Staff have the appropriate training that they need to identify pupils who may be at risk of harm. Staff know to report any concerns that they may have to the designated safeguarding lead. The school keeps appropriate records and responds to concerns in an appropriate and timely way. The school seeks advice and guidance from social care professionals when it is appropriate to do so. The school’s safeguarding policy is compliant with statutory guidance and remains readily available for parents.  These standards remain met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, the school had not ensured that these standards were met.  The actions in the school’s action plan were appropriate but they required modification.

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Main inspection findings

They were too vague throughout. There was a lack of rigour in leaders’ plans to monitor and evaluate the quality of their work.  This inspection found that the school has not modified its action plan effectively to ensure that the actions set out will have the intended impact. The school’s work to address the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection lack coherence and impact. The school is not ensuring that staff are well trained and supported to deliver the curriculum effectively in all subjects, for all pupils.  These standards remain unmet.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £17,500 to £54,000

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School details

Email address admin@progress-schools.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 23 to 25 April 2024

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Information about this school

 The school provides longer-term placements for pupils who are disengaged from education, have been permanently excluded or are at risk of exclusion from education. The school is registered to admit up to 35 pupils.  Most pupils join the school with significant gaps in learning. Many have not engaged in education for a long period of time prior to joining the school.  The school is based at Belgrave House, 211 Chestergate, Stockport SK3 0AN.  The previous standard inspection took place on 23 to 25 April 2024.  The school uses one unregistered alternative provision.

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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 that it was judged to not comply with at its previous standard inspection on 23 to 25 April 2024.  Since the previous inspection, leaders were asked to submit an action plan. The Department for Education accepted the action plan with modifications on 5 August 2024.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since its last standard inspection in April 2024. The inspection was conducted without notice.  The focus of the inspection was to check whether the school complied with particular requirements within Parts 1 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The lead inspector met with the headteacher, other leaders from the Progress Schools group and the chair of the proprietor body.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector reviewed a range of documents, including policies and improvement plans. The lead inspector also visited some lessons and met with some teachers and support staff. They talked to some pupils about their learning during lessons and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  This inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central register of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are met.  There were no recent responses on Ofsted’s Parent View to consider.

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Inspection team

Amanda Downing, lead inspector His Majesty's 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 un-met at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught.

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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. 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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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