Lord Gowthorpe's Independent School

School material change inspection report

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Lord Gowthorpe’s Independent School 45 Common Road, Dunnington, North Yorkshire YO19 5PA

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 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 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. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe, both online and in the communities in which they live. The school also ensures that pupils are safe when travelling between school sites. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16 to 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. This includes travel between the

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Main inspection findings

school’s two sites. Designated members of staff transport pupils in school vehicles between the two sites which are several miles apart. There is also an additional member of staff present in the vehicles with pupils. The school’s risk assessments have been considered with regard to the proposed increase in pupil numbers and relevant amendments made. The school ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Paragraph 14  The school ensures that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff. Pupils are in classes of no more than six pupils. Each class has one teacher and at least one learning support member of staff. In addition, there are other support staff who work with pupils individually.  The school intends to increase its staff to ensure that it can meet the needs of additional pupils, while continuing to meet the needs of pupils attending the school

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Main inspection findings

now. It intends to recruit at least one new teacher and two learning support assistants.  The proprietor has ensured that the independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to approve implementation of the material change. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e),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. Paragraphs 19(2) to 19(3), 21(5) to 21(5)(c)  The school does not employ supply staff to work at the school. However, it is aware of its responsibilities with regard to pre-employment checks on supply staff should it decide to employ supply staff in the future. Paragraphs 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(6)  All necessary checks on the two co-chairs of the proprietor body have been

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Main inspection findings

undertaken with appropriate rigour. There are no other members of the proprietor body. Paragraphs 21(1) to 21(3)(b)  The proprietor keeps a single central record of all pre-employment checks on staff. 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 approves implementation of the material change. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 24 (1)(b), 24(2) to 28(2)(b)  The proprietor ensures that the school’s premises and accommodation on both sites 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 and medical care facilities on both sites. These facilities are sufficient to meet the needs of the additional number of pupils proposed by the school. The facilities are

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Main inspection findings

also appropriate in supporting pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For example, there is a sensory room and break out spaces for pupils. The main site’s acoustics contribute to a calm and quiet environment in which sound does not travel between different spaces.  In preparation for admitting more pupils, the proprietor has repurposed space on the main school site to create an additional classroom. There is also a large space that the school intends to develop as a teaching and learning area. There are also other smaller spaces on the main school site that the school intends to develop to provide additional and appropriate support for pupils with regard to their special educational needs. Paragraph 29(1)  The proprietor ensures that there is suitable outside space for pupils to play outside. This space is located at the school’s main site where pupils spend most of their time.

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Main inspection findings

This space is sufficient to accommodate the increase in pupil numbers proposed by the school.  The school uses its second site for the delivery of the physical education curriculum and for other outdoor activities. There is ample outdoor space at this site to accommodate the increase in pupil numbers proposed by the school. 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 approves implementation of the material change. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 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 school has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE approves implementation of the material change. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 34 to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor ensures that the standards are met consistently. The school has rigorous quality assurance systems and processes. The two headteachers possess the knowledge and skills they require to perform their respective roles. They fulfil their responsibilities effectively.  The proprietor is developing leadership capacity at the school. This will enable the two headteachers to adopt more strategic roles as the school grows and develops. In recruiting to new leadership posts, the proprietor is ensuring that the selection process identifies leaders with appropriate knowledge and skills.  The school actively promotes pupils’ well-being. Indeed, pupils’ well-being is central to all that the school does. In planning for an increase in pupil numbers, the school intends to increase numbers gradually, potentially reaching a roll of 25 pupils by September 2025. It is determined to ensure that it only admits additional pupils

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Main inspection findings

whose needs it can meet.  Leaders have both the capacity and capability to ensure that the standards will continue to be consistently met.  The school has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE approves implementation of the material change. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor has an accessibility policy that states the reasonable adjustments that the school will make to ensure that the curriculum is accessible for all pupils. The policy explains clearly that accessibility for pupils with physical disabilities is limited at the main school site because the school is located on the second floor of a two-storey building and is accessible only by stairs. The policy takes appropriate account of the proposed increase in the number of pupils.

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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

Chair Georgina Gowthorpe and Adele Lord- Laverick Headteachers Georgina Gowthorpe and Adele Lord- Laverick Annual fees (day pupils) £48,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 11 to 16 11 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 15 25 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 15 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 15 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 15 25

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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 15 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 5.5 6.5

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 4 6

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Information about this school

 The school uses no alternative provision.  The school operates from two sites. The school’s main site is located at 45 Common Road, Dunnington, North Yorkshire YO19 5PA. Its second site is located at Field House Farm, Harlthorpe, Bubwith, Selby, East Riding YO8 6DW.  The school caters for pupils with autism, speech, communication and language needs and pupils with moderate and specific learning difficulties. All pupils attending the school have education, health and care (EHC) plans.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE). It was commissioned to consider a material change 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 change sought by the school related to pupil numbers. The school proposed an increase in the school roll to accommodate up to 25 pupils. This proposal did not affect the nature of the school’s educational provision.  This was the first material change inspection in respect of this particular change that the school has applied to make.  The inspectors met with the two headteachers who are also co-chairs of the

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Information about this inspection

proprietor body. The inspectors also spoke with the chair of the governing body.  The inspectors met with the school’s designated safeguarding lead. They looked at safeguarding documentation and record-keeping, including the single central record. The inspectors also spoke with staff and pupils about safeguarding.  The inspectors toured the school’s two sites and 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

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Inspection team

Marcus Newby 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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