Cambian Whinfell School

Inspection of Cambian Whinfell School 110 Windermere Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 5EZ

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Cambian Whinfell School places no limit on what pupils can achieve. The school has the highest expectations for pupils. Pupils do all they can to rise to the challenge. They learn with success because the school knows their individual needs so well. Staff expertly support pupils to feel able to ‘have a go’, take risks and believe in themselves.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils learn a highly ambitious curriculum that reflects their talents and interests. For most pupils, this is their first successful experience of education. Pupils who previously found it difficult to engage with education now show very impressive attitudes to their learning. They know that staff care deeply about them, including their emotional well-being and academic achievement. This helps them to grow in confidence and develop highly respectful attitudes towards others.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Parents and carers, and other professionals, consider the school to be transformational. Pupils develop the essential life skills that they need to leave the school as resilient and independent young people. The school goes above and beyond to help pupils to see a positive future for themselves. Alongside this, pupils benefit from an extraordinary range of experiences that prepare them very well for life after school.

p.2

better?

The school recognises that most pupils have had a turbulent education before joining this school. Staff use their in-depth knowledge of each pupil to design a curriculum that precisely matches their needs. This close match enables pupils to learn with success and build trust in the staff team. As a result, pupils achieve impressive outcomes. The school provides intensive therapeutic support. This helps pupils to navigate the ambitious curriculum while promoting positive mental health. Over time pupils learn to reflect on their mistakes, accept feedback and develop a ‘can do’ attitude.

p.2

better?

The curriculum is meticulously set out for pupils. Staff are experts in their field and know exactly what pupils need to know and remember. They expertly adapt learning based on what pupils already know. Pupils have many opportunities to revisit key learning. This helps them to deepen their understanding and remember their learning over time. Teachers skilfully support pupils to learn new knowledge while embedding previous learning. They explain new learning clearly and use questioning to check pupils’ understanding. Pupils produce work of an exceptionally high quality.

p.2

better?

The carefully crafted reading curriculum enables pupils to develop into confident and fluent readers. Pupils benefit from regular visits to the library as well as staff recommending inspiring books for pupils to read. Staff spot when pupils need extra help and quicky put this in place. Over time pupils learn to love reading. They recognise how it helps them to be successful across the range of subjects that they study. 25 to 27 March 2025 Improving pupils’ emotional resilience is at the heart of the school’s work. The overall offer for pupils’ personal development is extremely well-thought-out. The school has long-standing established links with the local community. Pupils take part in a wide range of work experience opportunities that help to shape their hopes for the future. In addition, pupils participate in a range of voluntary projects, such as helping local residents with home improvements and neighbourhood safety

p.2

better?

measures. Through these, pupils learn to be active community citizens as well as developing essential communication and teamwork skills.

p.3

better?

The school is typically calm and orderly. Through the high expectations that staff have of their behaviour and conduct, pupils’ behaviour improves notably the longer they attend the school. Warm and supportive relationships feature throughout the school. At first, many pupils find it hard to trust adults. Staff quickly gain pupils’ respect and mutually respectful relationships help pupils to feel safe and secure. Pupils learn the skills that they need to resolve conflict and to deal with unpredictable situations. This is just one of the ways that pupils are very well prepared to live independently when they leave the school.

p.3

better?

Staff share and live out the school’s vision for excellence. They consider the school to be an inspirational place to work. Staff benefit from extensive professional development opportunities. These are carefully planned to enhance their subject knowledge and teaching approaches. Staff feel privileged to work at a school that goes to such great lengths to give every child the life chances and choices that they deserve.

p.3

better?

The proprietor has accurate knowledge of every aspect of the school. It provides substantial support and challenge that contributes to the high-quality outcomes for pupils in all aspects of their development. It ensures that the school complies with the independent school standards and other statutory requirements consistently, including schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 25 to 27 March 2025

p.3

School details

Unique reference number 134781 DfE registration number 943/6054

p.4

School details

Inspection number 10342048 Type of school Other independent special school

p.4

School details

School category Independent boarding school

p.4

School details

Proprietor Cambian Whinfell School Limited

p.4

School details

Email address whinfell.admin@cambiangroup.com

p.4

School details

Date of previous inspection 2 to 4 November 2021 25 to 27 March 2025

p.4

Information about this school

 The last standard inspection took place on 2 to 4 November 2021. Since this inspection, there has been a material change inspection. This took place on 5 February 2024. The Department for Education approved the proprietor’s request to increase the age range and the number of pupils on roll.  The school operates from premises at 110 Windermere Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 5EZ.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.  The inspectors only inspected the education provision at this school.  The school is registered to admit up to 18 pupils. There are currently 11 pupils on roll.  Pupils’ places at the school are commissioned by local authorities from across the country.  The school caters for pupils with a range of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), predominantly autism spectrum disorder. All pupils at the school have an education, health and care plan.  There is boarding provision at the school for 11 pupils.

p.5

Information about this school

 The school is part of the Cambian Group. The proprietor is Cambian Whinfell School Limited.

p.5

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.5

Information about this inspection

The school meets the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

p.5

Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation of the quality of a school’s education provision.  Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, deputy headteacher, SEND co-ordinator and representatives of the proprietor.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: English, mathematics, personal, social, health and economic education and art and design. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, looked at curriculum plans, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. 25 to 27 March 2025  Inspectors also looked at curriculum plans and spoke to leaders about some other subjects.  Inspectors considered the responses to the staff survey. They met with staff to

p.5

Information about this inspection

find out about their experiences of working at the school.  Inspectors considered the responses to Ofsted Parent View, including the free- text comments. They also spoke to some parents by telephone to gather their views of the school.  Inspectors spoke with pupils about their experiences of school life. They observed pupils’ behaviour during lessons and at social times.  An inspector made a tour of the premises with the headteacher.  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.

p.6

Inspection team

Jane Dennis, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

p.6

Inspection team

Lindy Griffiths Ofsted Inspector 25 to 27 March 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.6

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.7

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.7

Inspection team

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

p.7

Inspection team

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

p.7