Lakeside School

School material change inspection report

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Lakeside School Naylors Road, Liverpool, Merseyside L27 2YA

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1) to 2(1)(b)(ii), 2(2) to 2(2)(b), 2(2)(d) to 2(2)(e)(iii), 2(2)g to 2(2)(i)  There is an appropriate curriculum policy in place. The policy shows leaders’ consideration for the promotion of fundamental British values and what it means to live in modern Britain.  The school has a broad curriculum. There are plans and schemes of work in place for each subject. These have been carefully considered to make sure that they are appropriate for students in Year 12. The school has thought carefully about the sequence of learning to help pupils to build new knowledge securely over time. There is additional consideration for the needs of pupils who may attend the school and how the curriculum delivery may be adapted. The school’s intention is that students in Year 12 will have additional time to complete the qualifications they have started in key stage 4.  Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is taught through timetabled

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Main inspection findings

lessons. As well as this, pupils follow a personal development programme, which further supports their understanding of important issues, such as appreciating difference and learning how to keep themselves safe. This curriculum is appropriate for students in Year 12.  There is a well-thought-out offer in place for pupils’ careers education. The school has thought carefully about how to best prepare pupils for when they come to leave the school. The offer for students in Year 12 has been planned with students’ next steps in mind. For example, students will learn independent living skills, such as planning a journey. Paragraphs 2A(1) to 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d) to 2A(1)(g), 2A(2), 2A(3)  The PSHE curriculum takes into account the statutory guidance for relationships, sex and health education. There is enough information about the content of the curriculum within the policy for parents and carers to make an informed decision

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Main inspection findings

about withdrawing pupils from any non-statutory elements. Parents are encouraged to speak to the school should they have any concerns about this part of the school’s curriculum. The school has allowed for flexibility within the programme to target pupils’ gaps in knowledge or any areas that arise in the school community. Paragraph 3 to 3(j)  There is already a staff team in place with the relevant knowledge and expertise to teach the Year 12 programme of study to a high standard. The school will not need to recruit any additional staff should the material change be approved. Paragraph 4  There is a suitable assessment policy in place. The established routines and procedures for assessment that are already in place across the school will be suitable for the additional year group. The school shares regular information about how pupils progress through the curriculum with parents as well as those responsible for

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Main inspection findings

governance. Teachers are skilled at using the information they gain from assessments to plan new learning.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5 to 5(d)(iii)  The school has carefully planned the offer for pupils’ wider development. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is central to the school’s aims, policies and enrichment activities.  The PSHE education scheme of work shows where pupils will learn about the range of ways that people can be different. It sets out the amount of detail that pupils will learn to enable them to know how to show respect, regardless of difference. The PSHE curriculum shows clear consideration for preparing pupils for their next steps so that they understand what it means to live in modern Britain. Students in Year 12 will be given opportunities to revisit key aspects of the PSHE curriculum to support them to be well prepared for their next stage of learning, training or employment.  Pupils at the school are active members of the local community. They engage in

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Main inspection findings

fundraising activities and through the school council they have a voice to make changes within the school.  The school’s policies show due regard for all of the protected characteristics.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 32(1)(c)  The proprietor has put a safeguarding policy in place that reflects the most up-to-date statutory guidance. The policy is published on the school’s website and is also available on request from the school.  Leaders have a robust oversight of the school’s safeguarding arrangements. They provide safeguarding training for staff that specifically focuses on the needs of pupils who attend the school.  The designated safeguarding leads make sure that there are consistent approaches for identifying, reporting and recording concerns. This includes if there were concerns about any adults who work in the school. Staff are familiar with the whistle-blowing policy.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  Leaders have made sure that the requirements of the standards would continue to be met if the age range extends to 17 years. They have put plans and schemes of work in place to support the curriculum delivery for the increase in age range. In addition, there are staff in place with a background knowledge and understanding of supporting students to learn in the sixth form.  Leaders demonstrate secure knowledge of the standards and there are robust procedures in place to check ongoing compliance. For example, the proprietor makes regular checks on how the curriculum is being taught as well as how pupils are protected from harm.  Leaders are vigilant in promoting the well-being of pupils.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Website www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/lakeside- school Email address lakeside@witherslackgroup.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 25 to 27 June 2024

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 16 5 to 17 5 to 17

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 114 114 114

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 114 114

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 114 114

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 114 114

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 114 114

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 68 68

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 12 12

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Information about this school

 The school’s previous standard inspection was 25 to 27 June 2024.  The school is located at Naylors Road, Liverpool, Merseyside L27 2YA.  Pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan. The school caters for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder. The school is registered to admit up to 114 pupils.  The school makes use of one unregistered alternative provision for a small number of pupils.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned this material change inspection to evaluate the school’s likely compliance with the relevant standards if the DfE approves the proprietor’s request to increase the age range from five to 16, to five to 17.  This was the first material change inspection in respect of an increase in the school’s age range since the school’s standard inspection in June 2024.  The inspector checked those aspects of safeguarding that directly linked to the material change application.  The inspector met with the headteacher, both deputy headteachers and other staff. This included the school’s safeguarding lead. The inspector scrutinised documentation that showed how the proprietor monitors the school’s ongoing compliance with the standards.  The inspector spoke with a representative of the proprietor body on the telephone.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation and policies relevant to the material

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Information about this inspection

change request. These included plans and schemes of work for the additional year group as well as documentation related to safeguarding.

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Inspection team

Jane Dennis, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector 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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Inspection team

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

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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Inspection team

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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