Progress Schools - Hamilton Square

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Progress Schools - Hamilton Square 60 Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 5AT

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1) to 2(1)(b)(i)  At the progress monitoring inspection in July 2024, the school was in the process of implementing a new curriculum. This included a broad range of subjects. At that time, however, some staff were not delivering what was intended. This meant that some pupils did not benefit from the school’s new curriculum. Pupils’ access to qualifications was limited to GCSEs in English, mathematics and science. This did not take enough account of the aptitudes and needs of all pupils. Many pupils at that time were unsuccessful in these qualifications.  Subsequently, the school has supported staff to implement the new curriculum more effectively. This includes considering appropriate starting points for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), or whose previous experience of education has left them with gaps in their knowledge.

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Main inspection findings

 The school has broadened the range of recognised qualifications that pupils can work towards. This includes functional skills qualifications and accredited unit awards in a wide variety of subjects. During this inspection, pupils told the inspector that this helps them to feel like their studies are successful. Paragraphs 2(2) and 2(2)(b)  The school has introduced regularly timetabled opportunities for staff to hear pupils read. This time is also used to deliver programmes that support pupils with the aspects of reading that they find the most difficult. Pupils who are furthest behind benefit from this support more often. Paragraphs 3, 3(b) to 3(c) and 3(f)  The previous inspection found that staff had benefited from a greater degree of training and development. This had begun to address previous inconsistencies in how well the curriculum was being taught. However, teachers’ adaptations to enable pupils with SEND

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Main inspection findings

to access the curriculum were still too varied in their effectiveness.  The school has made improvements to how well pupils’ needs, including any SEND, are identified. This information is captured in individual learning plans, which help teachers to provide appropriate support to pupils during lessons.  Teachers’ delivery of a wider range of qualifications helps pupils to explore existing interests and develop new ones. Pupils demonstrate improving attitudes to their learning. They are increasingly motivated at school.  The proprietor has invested in high-quality lesson plans and other new resources that support the delivery of the curriculum. This gives staff greater clarity about what to teach and how to teach it. Along with the training that they receive, this supports them to select more effective teaching strategies.  All of the previously unmet requirements in this part are now met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(b)  The previous progress monitoring inspection found that the actions of the proprietor and leaders had instigated some positive changes in the school. Notably, these actions had successfully ensured that previously unmet standards related to pupils’ behaviour, welfare and safety could be met. Nevertheless, at that time, the proprietor’s actions related to improving the curriculum and teaching had been slower to take effect. They had not had enough impact on pupils’ learning.  Since then, the proprietor has continued at pace to roll out its plans. Most of the actions in the school’s two previous plans have been completed. These have begun to have a positive impact on the quality of education in the school. For instance, additional training and support are now regularly provided to staff by expert practitioners within, and external to, the proprietor’s group of schools. This has bolstered staff’s knowledge and

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Main inspection findings

skills and helps them to deliver the curriculum more effectively than before.  Although the curriculum has not fundamentally changed, the proprietor’s restructuring of the school means that a greater proportion of pupils now experience this curriculum on a regular basis. The school’s previous transition arrangements have ended. This has been further supported by the opening of additional premises for the school, which facilitates previously reluctant attenders to learn the same curriculum as their peers. Additionally, the proprietor has introduced a wider range of recognised qualifications and accreditations for pupils to work towards. This provides pupils with a greater motivation and sense of achievement in their studies.  Leaders have consolidated improvements in the school’s systems for identifying pupils’ needs, including gaps in their reading knowledge. This has led to improvements in pupils’ individual learning plans, which now identify appropriate support for pupils.

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Main inspection findings

 The school’s reading programme, which was new at the time of the previous progress monitoring inspection, has had time to embed. It now helps staff to identify the aspects of reading that pupils struggle with. The school has implemented a range of reading interventions that are matched to pupils’ needs. This helps pupils to build firmer foundations in reading and writing, which will prepare them for their next steps in education.  All of the previously unmet requirements in this part are 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 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; and – 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work- – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan.  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(b) that pupils acquire speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy skills.  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(b) fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

management of class time; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range.

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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

Chair Charlotte Charnley (known as Charlotte Barton) Headteacher Aarron Stafford

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £13,500 to £38,000

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School details

Email address hamiltonsquarePS@progress-schools.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 5 to 7 December 2023

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Information about this school

 The school’s most recent standard inspection took place from 5 to 7 December 2023.  The school’s main site is located at 60 Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 5AT. It also makes use of some facilities in an adjoining building.  Since the previous inspection, the school has also begun operating a second site approximately three miles from its main premises. This is located at Bebington Youth Centre, Cornwell Close, New Ferry, Birkenhead, CH62 1BG. The Department for Education (DfE) approved the school’s use of these premises on 22 July 2024.  All places at this school are commissioned by the local authority for pupils who have been excluded from mainstream schools. Most pupils have social, emotional and mental health needs. Some pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school is registered for up to 60 pupils between 11 and 16 years old. At the time of this inspection, there were 38 pupils on roll. None of the school’s current pupils are in

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Information about this school

Year 7 or Year 8.  The school is part of the Progress Schools group of schools. The chair of the proprietor body is the managing director of Progress Schools Limited.  The school uses three unregistered alternative provisions for a very small number of pupils.

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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 second progress monitoring inspection since the school’s standard inspection in December 2023. It was conducted with no notice. The school received its first progress monitoring inspection in July 2024, at which it was judged that some of the standards that were not met at the 2023 inspection remained unmet.  The DfE required the school to prepare an action plan to address unmet standards following each of the two previous inspections. These plans were statutory. Ofsted evaluated the school’s first plan on 9 April 2024. This action plan was rejected by the DfE. Ofsted subsequently evaluated the school’s second plan on 11 November 2024. This

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Information about this inspection

action plan was also rejected by the DfE.  The inspector met with the head of school, who is also the designated safeguarding lead. He also met with other members of staff and the advanced skills practitioner who works with several of the proprietor’s schools in the north west.  The inspector met remotely with the chair of the proprietor body. He also met remotely with the company’s director of schools, the director of education and the curriculum manager.  The inspector visited some lessons at each of the school’s sites. He spoke to some pupils and teachers, looked at curriculum plans and schemes of work and considered examples of pupils’ work.  The inspector looked at a wide range of documents in relation to the standards checked.  At the request of the DfE, the inspector 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

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Information about this inspection

requirements of the standards are met.  The inspector visited the school’s additional site and considered the suitability of the premises there against the relevant requirements. These requirements of the standards are also met.

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Inspection team

Ben Hill, lead inspector 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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