Clannad Education Centre

Inspection of Clannad Education Centre 112 Chislehurst Rd, Bromley BR6 0DW

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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?

Pupils describe Clannad school as a ‘special and safe place’ to learn. They feel happy and secure in school. Pupils benefit enormously from kind, compassionate and highly skilled staff. They know that staff care for them deeply and are there for them when needed. Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe at school and in the wider community.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff help pupils to behave exceptionally well. Pupils learn to self-regulate and understand that some individuals may need additional support to conduct themselves appropriately. Pupils quickly settle into the school. They attend regularly following extended periods of absence, for some pupils, at previous settings. Pupils collect rewards and convert them into coins to claim prizes for meeting their targets. They do not want to miss their learning or other experiences that the school provides.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff have high expectations of every pupil. The carefully structured curriculum and the additional support pupils receive help them to achieve very well. Pupils participate in clubs, regulated play, many trips, and visits. All these activities purposefully broaden their knowledge and skills. Pupils are prepared thoroughly for life beyond Clannad. They move on to appropriate destinations when they leave the school.

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better?

The school offers a broad and flexible curriculum. Staff identify pupils’ individual needs promptly. Information from pupils’ education, health and care (EHC) plans is integrated within their highly personalised curriculum. The curriculum is carefully designed to enable pupils to build on their prior knowledge. This is because the staff know the pupils and their learning needs well. Older pupils study a diverse range of qualifications that prepare them successfully for their next steps. Pupils are proud of the work they produce in lessons. For example, they confidently describe science experiments completed and fraction problems they have solved in mathematics.

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better?

Staff use their strong subject knowledge to explain new ideas clearly and help pupils become confident learners. Staff regularly check pupils’ understanding of key concepts to address any misconceptions. They receive training tailored to pupils’ needs. This ensures their support for pupils is highly effective. Colourful guides and resources also help pupils access the high-quality curriculum. For example, using well-crafted slides of information and physical resources enables pupils to share their understanding of healthy food.

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better?

The school has a successful approach to ensuring all pupils are readers. Pupils learn to communicate exceptionally well. The school prioritises reading when pupils start at the school. Reading materials are well matched to pupils’ reading levels. Regular phonics sessions enable pupils who struggle with reading to catch up quickly. Pupils who need help with reading get daily support from skilled staff. This enables pupils 8 to 10 July 2025 to quickly gain the knowledge and skills they need to become confident, fluent readers.

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better?

The school works closely with families, where possible, and residential staff to embed school routines in their daily lives. For example, staff celebrate good behaviour with pupils at school and in shared assemblies. Teachers manage the behaviour of pupils in school exceptionally well. Pupils listen to staff and respond positively. This helps pupils manage their emotions and re-engage with their learning quickly.

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better?

Personal development opportunities make a significant contribution to prepare pupils for life beyond school. Pupils access a rich set of coherently planned experiences. Trips and visits and outdoor education are planned carefully to support classroom learning. Enriching visits and trips, including to theatres, museums and a rare breed’s farm enhance pupils’ cultural and community awareness. Careers education, information, advice, and guidance is available to pupils. Pupils are offered meaningful experiences of work and at college. This reinforces the school’s belief that there are no limits to what pupils can achieve.

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better?

Pupils learn vital life skills, including about healthy relationships, staying healthy and cooking. They enjoy a curriculum that explores beliefs and different faiths. This helps pupils appreciate the diverse society in which they live. The pupils know the importance of being safe online and can explain how to keep personal details private when accessing the internet.

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better?

Leaders, including trustees, have strong shared values and practice. Leaders make decisions in the best interests of the pupils. They have taken effective action to meet the needs of pupils and enhance performance across the school and fulfil its statutory duties. They use their considerable experience to both challenge and support the school in equal measure. The school meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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better?

Staff are proud to work at the school. They feel valued and encouraged to continue their professional development. Most staff feel that the school is considerate of their workload and well-being. The school is taking proactive steps to further reduce staff’s workload.

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better?

The Board of Directors and governors thoroughly understand the school’s unique nature. They use their considerable experience to both challenge and support the school in equal measure.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 8 to 10 July 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. 8 to 10 July 2025

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School details

Unique reference number 138378 DfE registration number 305/6005

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School category

Annual fees (day pupils) £44,200 to £52,780

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School category

Email address Utibe-Abasi.Umoren@five-rivers.org

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School category

Date of previous inspection 29 November–1 December 2022 8 to 10 July 2025

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Information about this school

 Clannad Education Centre is part of the Five Rivers Child Care group.  The school specialises in providing an education for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.  The school is registered for boys and girls aged from eight to seventeen.  All pupils are placed by local authorities.  Leaders do not use alternative provision for pupils.  The school’s last full inspection took place in December 2022, when it was judged as good overall.

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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

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was conducted with one day’s notice.  The inspector conducted deep dives in these subjects: English and reading, mathematics, computing, and personal, social, health and economic education. He met with leaders and staff to discuss the curriculum. Other subjects were also considered as part of this inspection.  The inspector met with the pupils to talk about their work and discuss their views about the school, including behaviour and safety.  Meetings were held with the headteacher, the leaders responsible for safeguarding and therapist.  The inspector met with senior leaders from the Five Rivers Child Care group, which is the proprietor body. He also held telephone discussions with the chair and chief executive officer of the group.  The inspector toured the premises and reviewed additional information in relation to the independent school standards.  A range of policies and documents, including curriculum plans, policies relating to

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Information about this inspection

safeguarding and the school’s staff vetting checks and procedures, were reviewed by the inspector. 8 to 10 July 2025

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Inspection team

Phil Garnham, lead inspector His Majesty’s 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.

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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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