Greek Secondary School of London

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Greek Secondary School of London 22 Trinity Road, Wood Green, London N22 8LB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d) to 2A(1)(g), 2A(2)  At the previous graded inspection in November 2023, the school’s personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme was at the early stages of being planned. It did not cover sex education and was only taught in Years 8 and 9. In addition to this, the school had not implemented the relationships and sex education (RSE) statutory guidance.  The school submitted an action plan to address these issues, but the actions were judged as unacceptable and unlikely to result in compliance with these independent school standards (the standards). During an additional inspection in June 2024, little progress had been made in this area. The PSHE education plans had been revised, but the sequence in which content was to be taught lacked coherence. Furthermore, the plans did not cover all year groups in the school. A further action plan was submitted by

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Main inspection findings

the school to address these issues. This was also judged unacceptable.  The school, working with the support of a consultant, has made significant progress to improve the PSHE curriculum and ensure that it meets the RSE statutory guidance. New staff have worked with the consultant to develop and implement a new PSHE programme of study for all year groups. This was implemented from September 2024. All pupils now study PSHE for at least one hour per week. Pupils in Years 9 and 10 have an additional hour per week as the school has identified these as key transition years. Pupils learn about relationships, consent and sex education in an age-appropriate way.  The school has an RSE policy that meets statutory guidance and is available on the school’s website. This policy includes reference to all protected characteristics. These are included in the PSHE curriculum. Leaders invited parents and carers into school to

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Main inspection findings

discuss the proposed RSE policy and its content. The policy makes clear parents’ right to withdraw their children from the sex education component of relationships education.  The standards in this part are now met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(b), 5(b)(iv)  At the previous inspections in November 2023 and June 2024, the PSHE curriculum did not provide pupils with enough opportunities to learn about public institutions and services in England. As a result, pupils’ general knowledge suffered.  The PSHE curriculum now includes opportunities for pupils to learn about these public institutions and services. Pupils learn about fundamental British values. This includes learning about democracy and those bodies involved in democratic processes. For example, pupils could talk about the role of Parliament and their local councils in this system. The PSHE curriculum includes topics on healthy eating, keeping mentally and

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Main inspection findings

physically fit and the role of the NHS in this.  The standards in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy is appropriate and reflects the most up-to-date statutory guidance. Processes to identify, track and manage safeguarding concerns are effective. The safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website.  Leaders who hold responsibility for safeguarding have completed appropriate training and demonstrate secure knowledge of their role and statutory responsibilities. There is a clear management structure in place to oversee the work of the safeguarding team by the proprietor body.  Staff have a clear understanding of their responsibilities to keep pupils safe. They receive safeguarding training at the start of each academic year, and this is enhanced with online training modules through the year. Staff know how to report concerns, including potential allegations made about staff. Pupils say they feel safe in school and know who

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Main inspection findings

to speak to if they have any concerns. Pupils trust staff to deal swiftly with any concerns that they have.  The standards in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17 to 18(2)(e), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(4), 21(6) to 21(7)(b)  Leaders understand the importance of the safe recruitment of staff. Leaders make sure that checks for new staff are carried out in accordance with statutory guidance. These checks are made in addition to those that are made by the Greek Ministry of Education. The headteacher has completed training in safer recruitment.  The school’s single central record of pre-employment checks accurately records all the required checks on leaders, staff and the proprietor body. The school maintains suitable oversight of the school’s single central record. For example, it is audited by the chair of the proprietor body to ensure that all checks are completed.  The standards in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  At the previous inspections in November 2023 and June 2024, the proprietor had not ensured that leaders fully understood the requirements of the standards. This was compounded due to frequent staff changes and there being no arrangements for any form of governance.  As identified at the last additional inspection, the school has forged a positive link with the local authority that has provided some helpful support. This work has been strengthened with the reappointment of a former headteacher and a new chair of the proprietor body. The school also sought the support of a consultant to improve the PSHE curriculum. The new leaders in the school are now working to create a governing body that will provide an extra layer of support and challenge to leaders in the school.  Since new leadership arrangements were introduced in September 2024, significant

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Main inspection findings

progress has been made to ensure that all the standards are met consistently. New policies are in place, and all pupils now access a PSHE curriculum that is well sequenced and prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain and beyond.  The school actively promotes the well-being of pupils. The school is considerate of the fact that pupils join the school at different times and from different countries and backgrounds. The school aims to support pupils to achieve their personal goals for their lives beyond school wherever that may be.  The standards 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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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Website greekschool-london.wixsite.com/mysite

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 7 to 9 November 2023

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Information about this school

 The Greek Secondary School is an independent secondary day school for pupils aged 12 to 18 in the London Borough of Haringey. It is located on one site at 22 Trinity Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8LB.  The school was established in 1983 by the Greek Embassy for Greek children living in London. The Greek government provides free education at the school for Greek-speaking pupils.  The headteacher was reappointed to her post in September 2024.  Some staff are appointed on secondment from Greece by the Greek Ministry of Education. The school also employs teachers from England who have a knowledge of the Greek curriculum.  The headteacher holds responsibility for ensuring that Greek legislation, alongside English statutory requirements, are implemented in all aspects of the school’s work. The school is accountable to the education office of the Greek Embassy London, the proprietor body.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.

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Information about this school

 The school’s most recent standard inspection was in November 2023. The school also received an additional inspection in June 2024.  The school is registered to admit 98 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 school’s second progress monitoring inspection since its last graded inspection in November 2023. The previous progress monitoring inspection was conducted in June 2024.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  The school was required by the Department for Education (DfE) to prepare two statutory action plans. Ofsted evaluated the first action plan on 11 April 2024 and the second action plan on 8 November 2024. The DfE rejected both these action plans.  The focus of the inspection was to check whether the school complies with particular requirements in parts 1, 2 and 8 of the standards. The inspector also considered those

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Information about this inspection

parts of the standards that relate to safeguarding in Parts 3 and 4.  The inspector met with the headteacher who is also the designated safeguarding lead for the school. He also spoke to staff involved in the planning and delivery of the PSHE and RSE programmes of study. The inspector reviewed a range of school documents, including policies, curriculum plans and the single central record. He also met with a group of pupils and a group of teaching staff.

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Inspection team

Mark Smith, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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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.  2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor- – 2A(1)(b) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with secondary education at the school is provided with relationships and sex education, except in so far as the pupil is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), – 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools, – 2A(1)(e) makes and keeps up to date a separate written statement of its policy with regard to the provision of education as required by each of paragraphs (a) and (b),

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2A(1)(f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e), and – 2A(1)(g) publishes a copy of the statement on a website and provides a copy of the statement free of charge to anyone who asks for one.  2A(2) Arrangements made by the proprietor for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) must ensure that where a pupil’s parent requests that the pupil is wholly or partly excused from sex education provided as part of relationships and sex education, the pupil is so excused until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the head teacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor- – 5(b) ensures that principles are actively promoted which- – 5(b)(iv) enable pupils to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England.

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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; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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

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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

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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

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