The Outdoors School

Inspection of The Outdoors School Straw Barn, Barton Lane, Shillingford Abbot, Exeter, Devon EX2 9QQ

p.1

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

p.1

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

The school helps pupils feel a sense of belonging. For instance, each pupil designs and builds a personal ‘safe space’ when they start at the school. This helps pupils to feel safe and happy at school.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

All pupils at the school have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The curriculum is designed and adapted effectively to meet the needs of each pupil. Staff understand how to help pupils to achieve. Pupils make good progress towards the targets set out in their education and health care plans. They are well prepared for their next stages in education, employment and training.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils learn to understand their feelings and to manage their own behaviour. As a result, the school environment is typically calm and welcoming.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Opportunities for wider development are extensive. Pupils take on responsibility for improving the school environment. For example, they design and create new play equipment. Pupils contribute to the life of the school by growing and preparing food to share. Pupils enjoy trying the many sporting and adventurous activities that the school provides.

p.2

better?

The school’s curriculum takes account of pupils’ interests and strengths. This helps to engage and motivate them to learn. Staff support pupils to become resilient. They learn to persist in situations where they have not initially been successful.

p.2

better?

The curriculum includes a strong focus on numeracy and literacy. Staff have the expertise they need to teach reading well. They use reading materials that spark pupils’ interests. As a result, many pupils become avid readers. However, some staff lack subject knowledge. They do not give pupils sufficient opportunities to practise their numeracy and literacy in other aspects of the curriculum. This prevents pupils from learning as well as they could.

p.2

better?

Before joining the school, many pupils had long periods where they did not attend school at all. Staff build strong relationships with pupils so that pupils enjoy learning. Consequently, pupils enjoy coming to school and their attendance improves dramatically.

p.2

better?

The school provides helpful, impartial advice for pupils about careers and further education. This helps them to make informed choices. For example, pupils move on to college places that meet their needs and future aspirations.

p.2

better?

Staff deliver content such as maintaining healthy relationships and understanding consent sensitively. Staff help pupils to understand the importance of tolerance and respect. Pupils show these qualities in the way that they interact with others. However, some staff lack the confidence to deliver the personal, social and health 8 to 10 July 2025 curriculum as the school intends. This means that sometimes pupils do not gain fully the knowledge the curriculum intends.

p.2

better?

The school’s work to support pupils’ understanding of mental health is a particular strength. Pupils learn to identify and manage their feelings. They learn strategies to improve their mental health and how to seek support if they are struggling.

p.3

better?

Pupils develop their sense of citizenship. They contribute to the school’s ‘Pupil Council’ and understand how this helps the school to improve. Pupils take part in events within the local community, such as Remembrance Sunday.

p.3

better?

Pupils develop an understanding of democracy and the rule of law. They have regular opportunities to share their views and to vote on things that matter to them. For instance, pupils choose rewards activities that the majority want to take part in. This involves compromise and coping with decisions that they would not have chosen. Staff support them to respect the views and wishes of others.

p.3

better?

Staff work together to ensure that pupils are well supported, socially and emotionally. The school ensures that staff are well trained to understand and meet the needs of pupils with SEND.

p.3

better?

Regular communication with pupils’ parents and carers helps to support pupils well. Pupils are proud to show their families what they have achieved at events, such as school picnics.

p.3

better?

The proprietors have a thorough understanding of the school. They consider the views of parents, pupils and staff in their decision-making. The proprietors ensure that there is a clear vision for the school. Staff share this vision.

p.3

better?

The school complies with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. Policies are up to date and reflect the latest statutory guidance. The required policies are available on the school’s website. The school sites are well maintained, with effective measures in place to ensure the health of safety of staff and pupils.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

What does the school need to do to improve?

 The school has not ensured that some staff teach aspects of the academic and personal development curriculums confidently and clearly. This means that, at times, pupils do not gain the knowledge they need as rapidly as they could. The school should ensure that staff enable pupils to consistently and promptly gain the knowledge that they need to progress well through the curriculum. 8 to 10 July 2025

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.4

How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 8 to 10 July 2025

p.4

School details

Inspection number 10391786 Type of school Other Independent Special School

p.5

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £56,000 to £120,000

p.5

School details

Email address admin@theoutdoorsschool.co.uk

p.5

School details

Date of previous inspection 18 to 20 October 2022 8 to 10 July 2025

p.5

Information about this school

 All pupils have an education, health and care plan. The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils are placed at the school by their respective local authority.  The school use one unregistered alternative provision for short term interventions.  The school runs a blended provision, the Primrose Group, for a small number of pupils who are not well enough to attend school.  The majority of pupils who are attending part time are doing so as part of their transition to the school before moving to full-time attendance.  The school operates across four sites. These are located at: - William Arthurs Hall, Cowleymoor Road, Cowleymore, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6HH - Portford Lane, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9PF - Western Road, Crediton, EX17 3NH - Shillingford Road, Shillingford St George, Exeter, Devon EX2 9QL

p.6

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.6

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.6

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.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the 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.  An inspector met with the chief executive officer and the chief operating officer of the proprietor body and with members of a stakeholder group that represents parents.  Inspectors considered responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View. No staff or pupils completed Ofsted’s online survey. Inspectors spoke to pupils and staff in meetings and around the school site. 8 to 10 July 2025

p.6

Information about this inspection

 Inspectors carried out deep dives into these subjects: English, design technology, 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 and spoke to some pupils about their learning. The also looked at a selection of the projects completed by pupils.  Inspectors toured all of the school sites to check the suitability of the premises.  An inspector contacted the alternative providers used by the school and a representative from a virtual school that oversees some looked-after children who are placed at the school.

p.7

Inspection team

Sarah Favager-Dalton, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

p.7

Inspection team

Paula Marsh Ofsted Inspector 8 to 10 July 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.7

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.8

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.8

Inspection team

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

p.8

Inspection team

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

p.8