Stannard School

Inspection of Stannard School Ridgeway Avenue, Dunstable LU5 4QL

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth-form provision Insufficient evidence Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at Stannard School have previously had negative experiences of school, which can make it hard for them to adjust to a new school setting. Staff show kindness and compassion. They build respectful and trusting relationships, which means pupils feel safe and secure. As a result, many are now settled and learning successfully every day.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Staff create engaging lessons that capture pupils’ interests. This motivates them to want to learn more. Many pupils have significant gaps in their knowledge. Knowing this, staff design tasks that build on pupils’ existing understanding. As a result, pupils achieve well, which in turn boosts their self-confidence.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Teachers have high expectations, and generally pupils are well mannered. Many are clear on the school rules and boundaries. When some pupils find this challenging, teachers offer extra support and guidance. Pupils know this and they trust the adults to help them.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils learn important skills to help them stay safe at home, in the community and online. They learn to express themselves and to understand that their thoughts and opinions matter. Staff listen to pupils’ points of view at every opportunity. This growing school is a positive learning environment where pupils thrive.

p.2

better?

The school has developed a sequential curriculum that outlines the knowledge and skills pupils need to learn for each subject. Teachers adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of the pupils. For example, teachers can revisit earlier materials or introduce more complex concepts. Teachers show good subject knowledge. This means pupils understand the curriculum content well. They also use imaginative ways to teach pupils new ideas. Additionally, staff use every opportunity to help pupils learn more and strengthen their understanding, such as teaching important mathematical skills when cooking with the pupils.

p.2

better?

All pupils at the school have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Often, pupils have significant barriers to learning when they arrive. These can include low self-esteem or a lack of resilience. Staff gradually develop these skills through well-chosen learning activities. Pupils achieve well from their varied starting points.

p.2

better?

The school has new leaders. As a result, in some subjects, they have not yet checked how well the staff’s teaching methods help pupils retain knowledge. Sometimes, the adjustments that staff make use are inconsistent. This affects pupils’ knowledge retention, which is not as strong as it could be.

p.2

better?

The school places a high priority on pupils learning to read. Teachers check all pupils’ reading ability. Where there are gaps, individual teaching closes these. For 4 to 6 February 2025 younger pupils, phonics sessions help them learn the sounds that make up words. All pupils practise reading often. They develop key reading skills. This helps them access learning in all other subjects.

p.2

better?

Each pupil has individual targets that all staff know. This means staff can support them in a way they find reassuring. All pupils receive help to recognise, understand, and express emotions. This support is essential as it develops healthy coping strategies. Additionally, the school offers more specialist therapies. These therapies help pupils to enjoy learning and develop the key identified needs they have.

p.3

better?

The way that the school develops pupils personally is a strong part of the curriculum. Pupils who are of secondary age learn about jobs they could do. All pupils learn to be independent, for example making food for themselves and dressing independently. As with other aspects of the curriculum, pupils have gaps in their understanding. Targeted teaching fills these gaps to ensure pupils are ready for their next steps.

p.3

better?

The school has a new leadership team. Many parents and carers would recommend this school to others. The proprietor body provides strong support to the new leaders. Their robust quality assurance ensures that the school meets the independent school standards (the standards), including Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. Staff are optimistic about the changes and appreciate the support they receive for their well-being and workload.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

(Information for the school and proprietor)

 In some subjects, the school has not fully evaluated how teachers adjust the curriculum to meet the needs of the pupils. As a result, teaching methods can sometimes be inconsistent and not the most effective way to help pupils remember new concepts. This slows down pupils’ knowledge development. The school needs to evaluate how teachers adapt the curriculum to ensure it has the most positive impact on pupils’ retention of knowledge.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

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. 4 to 6 February 2025 The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 4 to 6 February 2025

p.3

School details

Unique reference number 150413 DfE registration number 823/6001

p.5

School details

Inspection number 10342224 Type of school Other independent special school

p.5

School details

Email address schooloffice@stannardschool.co.uk

p.5

School details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected 4 to 6 February 2025

p.5

Information about this school

 The school is registered to admit 36 pupils between the ages of five and 18 years. Currently no pupils are over 16.  The school operates from one site located at Ridgeway Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4QL.  The proprietor body is Polaris Children’s Services.  All pupils have education, health and care plans with social, emotional and mental health and autism as their main area of need.  Most pupils have had significant periods of disruption to their formal education prior to joining the school.  There have been changes to the leadership team since the pre-registration. The headteacher and deputy headteacher joined the school in January 2025.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  Pupils are referred to the school by their local authority.

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspector carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics, personal, social and health education, history and geography.  For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, looked at curriculum plans, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of work.  Inspectors met with the executive headteacher and other leaders and staff. The lead inspector also met with representatives from the proprietor body, including the managing director for education and the proprietor.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, 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 culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first. 4 to 6 February 2025  As part of checking compliance with the independent school standards, and evaluating other areas of provision, inspectors scrutinised a range of policies and documents. They checked the safety and appropriateness of the school site.  Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and during social times. They spoke with pupils to seek their views and experiences of the school.  The lead inspectors reviewed leaders’ records of behaviour.  Inspectors considered responses to Ofsted Parent View, including free-text responses. They also considered the responses to Ofsted’s online staff and pupil

p.6

Inspection team

Jessie Linsley, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

p.7

Inspection team

Fiona Webb Ofsted Inspector 4 to 6 February 2025 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.

p.7

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection team

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection team

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

p.8