Raise Education and Wellbeing School

School material change inspection report

p.1

Raise Education and Wellbeing School 54-56 Holmeswood Road, Great Lever, Bolton BL3 3HS

p.1

The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school has put in place the necessary arrangements to safeguard pupils and to promote their welfare. There is a suitable and up-to-date safeguarding policy in place. This gives consideration to current statutory guidance. The school provides a copy of the policy to parents and carers on request. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16 to 16(b)  The school’s management of health and safety is robust. The school has a suitable health and safety policy that is implemented effectively. Staff have considered the potential health and safety risks of the new premises and put in place appropriate mitigation measures to minimise risk.  The school commissioned a fire risk assessment from an external company and addressed all risks identified. The school has ensured that the new building has been fitted with appropriate firefighting equipment and signage. The school has considered

p.1

Main inspection findings

evacuation routes and installed fire evacuation units to raise the alarm in the event of a fire.  The school has a suitable risk assessment policy. The school’s risk assessments demonstrate that staff identify risks to pupils and others and take appropriate action to reduce the likelihood of an accident or incident occurring.  The proprietor has ensured all relevant independent school standards (the standards) in part 3 are met by the school if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to approve implementation of the material change.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2) to 29(1)(b)  The proprietor has secured the long-term lease of a new single-storey building. The new building has been refurbished to a very high standard and is used to accommodate pupils from two of the school’s recently vacated former sites. The new space has been configured to provide additional classrooms, therapy rooms and a library. Additionally, there is a sensory room, a kitchen for pupils and a staffroom. The school building is clean, tidy and welcoming for pupils. It is decorated and furnished appropriately throughout.  There are appropriate toilet facilities. These are housed in cubicles which are lockable from the inside. All toilet and washing facilities have an adequate supply of running water. The hot water in the hand basins does not pose a risk of scalding to pupils. Water is set at a safe temperature, and drinking water is available for pupils

p.1

Main inspection findings

throughout the day. Drinking water is clearly labelled.  The medical room is appropriate for the short-term care of sick and injured pupils. The room is close to a toilet and is equipped with suitable washing facilities.  The premises are safe, secure and well maintained. The acoustic features and sound insulation, together with internal and external lighting, are suitable throughout the building.  There is a large asphalt area suitable for pupils to socialise and have outdoor physical education sessions.  Physical education activities are regularly timetabled in accordance with the school’s curriculum requirements. Some of these sessions are conducted at a local sports centre. Leaders have risk assessments in place to ensure pupils’ safety when travelling to and from the sports centre and when using this site.  The proprietor has ensured the standards in this part are met by the school if the DfE

p.2

Main inspection findings

decides to approve implementation of the material change.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  Leaders are vigilant in promoting the welfare, health and safety of pupils.  The school’s plans for the material change are thorough and sensible. The rationale for securing new premises is in response to the school’s need to vacate its previous sites and the need to accommodate all pupils within a single, fit-for-purpose building. Leaders have designed the school premises to ensure sufficient capacity for all pupils previously accommodated across the two vacated sites. It offers a high-quality learning environment suited to the needs of the pupils the school caters for.  The proprietor and senior leaders have an in-depth knowledge of the standards. They make regular checks on compliance in all areas to make sure that the standards will remain met over time and between inspections.  All of the standards in this part are met by the school if the DfE decides to approve

p.2

Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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.

p.3

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 compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

p.4

School details

Type of school Other independent special school

p.4

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £31,200 to £115,834

p.4

School details

Website www.raise-educationandwellbeing.co.uk

p.4

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 25 to 27 February 2025

p.4

recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 25 11 to 19 11 to 19

p.4

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 49 Not applicable Not applicable

p.4

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 49 Not applicable Number of part-time pupils 0 Not applicable

p.4

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 49 Not applicable

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 46 Not applicable

p.5

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 46 Not applicable

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 25 Not applicable

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 2 Not applicable

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

p.5

Information about this school

 The school’s previous standard inspection was on 25 to 27 February 2025.  The school caters for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Most pupils have social, emotional and mental health needs. Most pupils at the school have an education, health and care plan. The school also caters for pupils who have been permanently excluded, or are at risk of exclusion, from their mainstream schools. Pupils are placed at the school by their local authorities.  At the time of this inspection, the school had ceased operating from its main site registered at 54–56 Holmeswood Road, Great Lever, Bolton, BL3 3HS and its second site at Century House, 49–51 George Street, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9RJ. The school is operating from The Quest, Brownlow Way, Bolton, BL1 3UB. There is an additional site that caters for post-16 students. This is the Skills Centre, Unit 9, Dunscar Business Park, Blackburn Road, Edgerton, Bolton, BL7 9PQ.

p.5

Information about this school

 The school is registered to admit up to 60 pupils.  The school is registered to take pupils between the ages of 11 and 25 years.

p.5

Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the DfE to evaluate the school’s application for a material change. The proprietor wishes to operate the main school site from premises at The Quest, Brownlow Way, Bolton, BL1 3UB. In addition, the proprietor requested a change to reduce the age range of pupils admitted to the school from 11 to 25 years to 11 to 19 years. This is the school’s first material change inspection in respect of these particular changes.  The inspection was conducted with two days’ notice.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether standards contained in parts 3, 5 and 8 are met and are likely to continue to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.  The inspector met with the proprietor, who also holds the position of headteacher. Additionally, she met with the chair of governors and other leaders to discuss the proposed material change. The inspector scrutinised a range of policies and

p.6

Information about this inspection

documents relating to this change.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector 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.  The inspector carried out a tour of the school.  At the time of the inspection, the material change had been implemented.

p.6

Inspection team

Kate Bowker, 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 .

p.6

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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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.

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 . 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.7

Inspection team

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

p.7

Inspection team

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

p.7