On Track Education Northampton

Inspection of On Track Education On Track Education, Unit 6, Quarry Park Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN3 6QB

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

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What is it like to attend this school?

On Track Education transforms the lives of its pupils. The school places no limits on what pupils can achieve. It has the highest expectations of pupils. Pupils do all they can to rise to the challenge. They learn with success because the school knows pupils’ individual needs so well. Staff expertly support pupils to ‘never give up’, try their best and believe in themselves.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school is calm and orderly because of the clear routines in place that pupils follow extremely well. Pupils have beautiful manners. They feel safe and know that the attentive staff will help them if they have any worries.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils learn a highly ambitious curriculum that reflects their interests and talents. For many 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. Staff care deeply about pupils, including their emotional well-being and academic achievement. This enables pupils to grow in confidence and be fully prepared for the next stages of their education. Pupils are unanimous in their views of the school, stating, ‘This school is one of a kind. It could not be any better.’

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better?

The school is determined to ‘support, inspire, nurture and empower its pupils to be their best selves’. There is a relentless drive to make sure that pupils learn successfully through an impressive curriculum. Pupils’ learning is appropriate to their stage of development. This enables them to achieve success in a range of qualifications, including GCSEs. The vocational offer inspires pupils to have high aspirations for their futures. There are budding civil engineers, plumbers and chefs, to name but a few.

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better?

Staff invest time in understanding pupils’ needs and their barriers to learning. Many pupils have experienced trauma. Expert staff provide effective holistic support to enhance pupils’ well-being. This helps pupils navigate the ambitious curriculum, while maintaining positive mental health. Over time, pupils are able to reflect on their learning, accept feedback and develop a ‘can do’ attitude.

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better?

The school uses information on pupils’ education, health and care (EHC) plans carefully to identify specific strategies that will help pupils be successful. Precise and bespoke teaching ensures that pupils succeed in achieving their targets. Staff explain new learning clearly and use effective questioning to check pupils’ understanding. The work given to pupils consistently meets the aims of the intended curriculum.

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better?

The carefully crafted reading curriculum allows pupils to develop into confident and fluent readers. Pupils benefit from the school’s well-stocked library areas. Staff spot when pupils need extra help and put this in place quickly. Pupils love reading to the 20 to 22 May 2025 school dog, Diego, who is a valued member of the school family. From providing magazines and diverse texts, to creating raps and poems in the inspirational music room, the school leaves no stone unturned in its quest to promote a love of reading. Pupils recognise how reading helps them to be successful across the range of subjects that they study.

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better?

Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. When pupils struggle to manage their emotions, staff competently help them to refocus with the precise support that they need. Pupils are proud of what they achieve. Most pupils join the school with significant barriers to attendance. The school is relentless in its drive to ensure that pupils attend well. This has resulted in a significant increase in the frequency that pupils come to school.

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better?

The school’s work on careers guidance and pupils’ wider development is exceptional. Pupils have multiple enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom. The stunning outdoor area with a calming waterfall was designed by pupils and staff. Pupils develop their knowledge of money management through their enterprise activities. They make a significant contribution to the local community. From car washing to designing, making and selling their own wax melts, pupils enhance their knowledge of the business world. Pupils’ learning is further enriched through trips and visits, which include visits to the theatre, the seaside and a range of places of worship.

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better?

Pupils are adamant that everyone should be treated equally and with respect. The school’s links with a school in Ghana enhances pupils’ understanding of the wider world. Pupils treat staff and each other with utmost respect. The consensus is that ‘everybody is treated equally here, which is the way that it should be’.

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better?

Leaders and staff share and live out the school’s vision for excellence. They consider the school to be an inspirational place to work. Staff feel privileged to work at a school that goes to such great lengths to give every pupil the life chances and choices that they deserve.

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better?

The proprietor provides strong oversight of all areas of its work. It works effectively to ensure that the school complies with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. The proprietor provides substantial support and challenge. This contributes to the high- quality outcomes for pupils in all aspects of their development. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school, typically describing it as a ‘wonderfully brilliant and supportive school’.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 20 to 22 May 2025

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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.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 20 to 22 May 2025

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School details

Unique reference number 136227 DfE registration number 941/6073

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School details

Inspection number 10374816 Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Proprietor On Track Education Services Limited

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School details

Headteacher Pete Davies (Education manager) Sally O’Connor (School manager) Annual fees (day pupils) £49,527 to £69,635

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School details

Email address pdavies@ontrackeducation.com

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 12 to 14 July 2022 20 to 22 May 2025

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Information about this school

 The school provides education for pupils who have social, emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties. All pupils have an EHC plan. Many have not been successful in their previous settings.  The previous standard inspection of the school was in July 2022, when it was judged to be good.  The school operates from Unit 6, Quarry Park Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN3 6QB.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.

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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.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about 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 school manager, the headteacher and other senior leaders, as well as the proprietor.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: reading, mathematics, and personal, social, and health education. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. Inspectors also considered the curriculum in some other subjects.  The lead inspector listened to pupils read to a familiar adult.  Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around the school site. In addition, they met with pupils informally and formally to hear their views.

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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.  To check the school’s compliance with the independent school standards, inspectors reviewed relevant documents and policies, such as the health and 20 to 22 May 2025 safety policy and the risk assessment policy. The lead inspector also completed a tour of the school’s premises.  Inspectors considered the responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View. Inspectors also considered the views shared through Ofsted’s online survey for staff.

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Inspection team

Kirsty Norbury, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection team

Emma Tayler Ofsted Inspector 20 to 22 May 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.

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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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