New Level Academy

School progress monitoring inspection report

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New Level Academy Wyke Gardens, London, Middlesex W7 2BB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(2), 2(2)(e) to 2(2)(e)(iii)  The inspection found that pupils continue to receive regular personal, social and health education weekly. Pupils find this information age-appropriate and useful. This education includes impartial careers guidance and visits to further educational establishments. Pupils use this information to help them to make decisions about their futures.  These standards continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7 to 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  The arrangements for safeguarding were effective at the school’s previous inspection.  This inspection found that pupils continue to be safe at the school. They trust staff to listen to them if they have any concerns. Staff know how to report concerns about pupils’ safety and welfare.  Following the previous inspection, the school has increased the proportion of staff who hold safeguarding leadership responsibilities. This means that the school has more time and expertise to address any safeguarding concerns that may arise. The school provides frequent training for staff on how best to safeguard pupils. The school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers on the school’s website.  This inspection found that the school has streamlined the policies that it has in place to manage allegations against staff and for reporting low-level concerns about staff. As a

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Main inspection findings

result, policies and processes for reporting low-level concerns are now clearer than in the past.  The school’s attendance procedures are effective. The school uses systems to track pupils’ attendance and the actions that it takes to keep pupils safe. The school regularly speaks with and meets parents to support their child’s school attendance.  This inspection found that some of the school’s procedures for recording safeguarding actions lack robustness. Sometimes, important information is recorded in several different places. These minor weaknesses do not put pupils at risk of harm. However, as the school expands safeguarding leadership across the school, it is important that all key safeguarding information is stored in a central, secure location available for all staff who need to access it. Paragraph 9 to 9(b), and 16 to 16(b)  This inspection found that the school continues to implement its written behaviour policy

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Main inspection findings

effectively. Pupils are focused and calm around the school and during classes. Leaders record the actions that they take to maintain discipline and follow up incidents of inappropriate behaviour. Where appropriate, leaders put in place a risk assessment to ensure that pupils are kept safe and ready to learn. Paragraph 15  This inspection found that the school uses attendance codes and absence codes correctly and pays regards to statutory guidance. Where pupils are dual registered at this school and another school, the school communicates frequently with the other schools to ensure pupils’ attendance is clearly recorded. The school continues to carefully track pupils’ attendance, follows up absences swiftly and communicates with parents and other professionals regularly.  The previously unmet standards in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34 to 34(1)(c)  This standard was not met at the previous inspection because the proprietor had not ensured that all of the standards were met. There were weaknesses in the recording of pupils’ attendance and some shortcomings in the school’s policies and procedures.  When the school’s action plan was evaluated, it was judged that the proposed actions, once complete, would ensure that the independent school standards would likely be met. However, the actions that leaders set out have not been completed within the timeframe that the school proposed. For example, the school set out to recruit board members with specialist expertise, to organise training for senior leaders and to draw on external expertise from a trust. These actions were designed to strengthen further leaders’ understanding of the standards, the school’s capacity for improvement and to sharpen

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Main inspection findings

the board’s oversight of the school’s work. While the school has taken some steps to complete these actions, they have not been completed in full. This limits the school’s capacity to improve and to ensure that all standards are met securely and consistently.  This inspection found that the strengths in the school’s safeguarding culture are still in place. Staff prioritise pupils’ well-being effectively. However, the inspection identified some inconsistencies in the way that the school records the actions that it takes safeguard pupils. Some key information is not stored securely and is not easily accessible to relevant staff. This limits the school’s ability to track the actions that it has taken to safeguard pupils.  This standard remains unmet.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection, as set out in the annex of this report. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which 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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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 5

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School details

Proprietor London Rangers Football Charity

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 23 to 25 April 2024

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Information about this school

 New Level Academy is an independent school and alternative provision. It is registered to cater for up to 50 pupils aged 11 to 19. Pupils typically have social, emotional and mental health needs. Some pupils are placed by their schools and are admitted on a dual registration arrangement.  The school does not use alternative provision.  All pupils study core subjects in English, mathematics and science and complete functional skills qualifications in these subjects. Some pupils also study GCSE courses. Students in the sixth form study courses leading to level 1 and 2 qualifications.  The school’s most recent standard inspection took place in April 2024.  The school operates from: Evershed Sports Ground, Wyke Gardens, London W7 2BB.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The school’s most recent inspection was a progress monitoring inspection in December 2024. Following the inspection, the Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. The action plan was reviewed in March 2025. The DfE accepted the school’s action plan.  This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection. It was conducted without notice.  The inspector held meetings with the chair of the proprietor body, the headteacher and other members of staff. The inspector met with pupils and visited classes. They reviewed policies and other documentation related to safeguarding, behaviour and attendance.

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Information about this inspection

The inspector reviewed the single central record of staff suitability checks.

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Inspection team

Guy Forbat, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school- – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006[13]. 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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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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