Ofsted’s accreditation visit to Purple Ruler

Ruler

On 2 and 3 July 2025, Ofsted visited Purple Ruler as part of the Online Education Accreditation Scheme . Through this scheme, providers of full-time online education to school-age children in England can apply to the Department for Education (DfE) for accreditation.

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Ruler

Ofsted visits providers to find out whether they meet the minimum standards for online education set by the DfE. This report sets out what we found during our visit on 2 and 3 July 2025. You can find out whether this provider is accredited by the DfE at Get Information about Schools .

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Key findings

◼ Purple Ruler does not meet all the minimum standards for online education. More information on the standards that Purple Ruler does not meet can be found in the last section of this report. ◼ Leaders have not ensured that the full breadth of curriculum areas required by the Online Education Accreditation Scheme standards (the standards) are in place. Nearly all subjects and aspects of the curriculum are supported by detailed schemes of work that systematically develop children’s knowledge and skills. However, there is no scheme of work in place for the teaching of the aesthetic aspect of the curriculum. ◼ Leaders have not ensured that all aspects of the provider’s complaints procedures adhere to the requirements of the standards. This includes the lack of information regarding timescales and record-keeping relating to any appeal following a formal complaint. Additionally, details of who may access complaint

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Key findings

records are missing. ◼ A significant strength of Purple Ruler is the support staff provide for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Teachers’ subject expertise and their effective use of assessment information ensure that each pupil is provided with carefully tailored, individualised teaching that meets their needs. ◼ Staff help pupils to reignite their spark for learning through positive professional relationships and the provision of a calm and nurturing online environment.

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Who is this online provider?

◼ Purple Ruler is an online education provider, based in Liverpool. It delivers full- time education to pupils from England. The provider’s company also runs a separate online tutoring programme for children from other countries, such as the United States of America. However, this accreditation visit and evaluation were restricted to the company’s provision for Years 10 and 11 children who reside in England. ◼ Purple Ruler operates as a short-stay provision for pupils who find it difficult to attend registered schools. Nearly all pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities, such as extreme anxiety, which prevent them from engaging in education in a physical setting. Purple Ruler aims to support these children to re- engage in learning and return to full-time registered schooling as swiftly as they can. ◼ Purple Ruler’s curriculum is based on the English national curriculum, and leaders have ensured the schemes of work in place are detailed and take account of the

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Who is this online provider?

provider’s online context. They have designed the setting’s curriculum to be inclusive and meet individual pupils’ needs. Most schemes of work are ambitious and take account of national qualifications. However, one key aspect of the curriculum, aesthetic education, is not designed well enough to meet the required standards. Consequently, leaders are unable to demonstrate how teaching will systematically develop pupils’ knowledge and skills in this key element of learning. ◼ Many pupils start their time at Purple Ruler on reduced timetables. However, as they overcome their anxieties and gain in confidence, pupils expand their studies to include more subjects. ◼ Currently, 22 school-age pupils study with Purple Ruler full time. Of these, nine pupils have an education, health and care plan (EHC plan) . Another 424 school- age pupils study with Purple Ruler part time.

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How are pupils taught at Purple Ruler?

◼ Classes and activities at Purple Ruler are undertaken live. Staff are always visible during lessons as their cameras are always on, and pupils are actively encouraged to turn on their cameras whenever appropriate and/or possible. This helps children develop positive relationships with adults. ◼ Staff teach pupils in a mixture of group classes and single-pupil tutor groups. Specialist teachers, who have secure knowledge of the subjects they teach, deliver lessons to groups of no more than six pupils. While most pupils join teaching sessions from their home, some pupils receive additional individualised teaching while attending their registered physical school. ◼ Teaching takes account of pupils’ individual needs and strongly promotes self- motivation and confidence. A core strength of the setting is the way staff meet pupils’ individual needs. Strong professional relationships between staff and pupils, including the effective use of praise and rewards, help to inspire positive

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How are pupils taught at Purple Ruler?

engagement in learning. ◼ Teachers routinely check pupils’ knowledge and understanding through the skilful use of questioning and other assessment strategies. Teachers use the information they gather to amend and individualise their curriculum plans and teaching to meet the needs of pupils. As a result, pupils, irrespective of their needs, receive sequences of lessons that help them build their understanding and confidence to succeed in the subjects they study. ◼ Teachers make effective use of technology to bring learning to life. Through the careful choice of high-quality resources and the implementation of additional training regarding how to teach in an online environment, teachers make their lessons engaging and interesting.

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children safe?

◼ Ofsted’s visits to online providers can give only a limited level of

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inspections of schools and other providers of face-to-face education

and training. However, we found that the arrangements for keeping children safe at Purple Ruler are appropriate. ◼ Safeguarding is a priority in Purple Ruler, and leaders are aware that many of their pupils are some of society’s most vulnerable. The designated safeguarding lead is well trained and demonstrates secure knowledge of safeguarding. The setting’s policy is up to date and pays due regard to the current guidance from the Secretary of State. Leaders have established rigorous and robust recruitment processes. These include completion of all recommended checks to help ensure the suitability of all adults who work with children. Before being allowed to work with pupils, leaders provide new staff with a comprehensive induction procedure that includes additional safeguarding training. Additionally, leaders deliver frequent safeguarding updates to all staff. This maintains their knowledge and vigilance to help protect pupils.

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inspections of schools and other providers of face-to-face education

◼ Leaders ensure that Purple Ruler’s computer systems are well protected from malicious activity. Appropriate filters protect and shield pupils from online threats. Additional software that controls who has access to pupil information prevents the unauthorised exportation of data from Purple Ruler’s systems. ◼ Leaders demonstrate a secure understanding of possible risks to pupils and staff and have implemented effective procedures to promote health and safety. A detailed policy and associated risk assessments are subject to frequent reviews to ensure appropriate mitigations are put into place to help reduce risks.

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Purple Ruler?

◼ Pupils who spoke with the inspector, or who responded to the online questionnaire, paint a positive picture of Purple Ruler. Pupils said they like the way teachers help them. This includes the willingness of teachers to help children securely understand difficult topics by revisiting learning and presenting information in different ways. Pupils say they feel safe and are confident to work online at Purple Ruler because of the online safety training they receive. Some pupils would welcome more opportunities to socialise with their peers who attend Purple Ruler. ◼ Parents who spoke with the inspector, or who responded to the online questionnaire, were typically full of praise, as illustrated by the comment, ‘They are spot on!’ Parents commented on how teaching at Purple Ruler had positively impacted their children. This is exemplified by comments such as ‘We never imagined that our child would take to her lessons like they have’ and ‘[it] has

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Purple Ruler?

been lovely as a parent to see [my child] feel confident enough to build relationships with her tutors and for them to actually enjoy the lessons.’ However, some parents would like to receive more frequent information on their children’s progress. ◼ School leaders who place pupils at Purple Ruler expressed their praise for the effective communication from Purple Ruler, including the opportunity for physical meetings between Purple Ruler leaders and school staff.

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About the visit

◼ This is Purple Ruler’s first accreditation visit. John Nixon, His Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), was the lead inspector.

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education

This section lists the standards for online education set out by the DfE that Purple Ruler does not meet. Where a standard is not listed, this is because Purple Ruler meets the standard. If any of the standards do not apply to Purple Ruler, these will be listed at the end.

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education

The full list of standards can be found in DfE’s guidance on meeting the online education standards .

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Section 1. Quality of education provided (curriculum)

Leaders have not ensured that there is a suitable curriculum and scheme of work in place for the required aesthetic aspect of the curriculum. Some aesthetic activities are contained within the detailed schemes of work that are in place for other subjects. However, these are ad hoc and do not provide a sufficiently structured experience of aesthetic learning to develop children’s knowledge and understanding in this key aspect of learning.

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The following standards in section 1 of the standards are therefore failed:

◼ Standards 1.1 on the curriculum policy, plans and schemes of work ◼ Standards 1.3 on content of the curriculum

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Section 2. Quality of education provided (teaching)

The provider meets all the standards in section 2 of the standards.

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pupils

The provider meets all the standards in section 3 of the standards.

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Section 4. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

The provider meets all the standards in section 4 of the standards.

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Section 5. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

The provider meets all the standards in section 5 of the standards.

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Section 6. Provision of information

The provider meets all the standards in section 6 of the standards.

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Section 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

Leaders have in place a detailed written complaints procedure which is published on the setting’s website. The procedures meet nearly all the required standards. However, two elements are missing from the procedures. The timescales by which an appeal to a formal complaint outcome will be heard by the appointed panel are not included, nor are the details of what records will be kept following an appeal panel hearing. Additionally, the procedures do not make clear that the Secretary of State and/or inspectors conducting visits associated with the Online Education Accreditation Scheme will be given access to complaint records.

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The following standards in section 7 of the standards are therefore failed:

◼ Standards 7.1, 7.4, on maintaining a written complaints policy ◼ Standards 7.10, 7.11 on record keeping and confidentiality in relation to complaints

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service

Leaders have a clear ethos and ambition for pupils’ learning at Purple Ruler and promote children’s well-being effectively. However, they have not applied their knowledge to ensure that Purple Ruler’s curriculum includes appropriate plans relating to teaching aesthetic aspects of learning. Leaders have also not ensured that all standards relating to the complaint procedures are in place and applied consistently.

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The following standards in section 8 of the standards are therefore failed:

◼ Standard 8.1 on those with leadership and management responsibilities at the provider demonstrating skills and knowledge appropriate to their role ◼ Standard 8.2 on those with leadership and management responsibilities at the provider fulfilling their responsibilities effectively so that the standards are met consistently.

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The following standards do not apply to this provider:

◼ Standard 1.8 only applies where the provider has at least one full-time pupil of above compulsory school age ◼ Standards 5.11, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, 5.16, 5.17, 5.18 only apply where the provider uses supply staff ◼ Standard 5.22 only applies if a proprietor lives or has lived outside of the UK ◼ Standard 6.3 only applies where a provider has a governing body ◼ Standards 6.5, 6.10 only apply where a report on the provider has been published under the Online Education Accreditation Scheme at the time of the visit.

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Address

Unit 9 Second Floor Honeycomb Building, Edmund Street Liverpool L3 9NG

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DfE unique reference number

regulates and inspects 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. 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 . 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

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DfE unique reference number

the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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DfE unique reference number

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

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DfE unique reference number

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

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