Woodbury School

School material change inspection report

p.1

Woodbury School Hellier Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 8ED

p.1

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 school has an appropriate safeguarding policy. This policy is up to date and reflects the latest guidance from the Secretary of State. It is specific to the school and is published on the school’s website.  The proprietor has ensured that there are effective safeguarding systems in the school. Staff receive up-to-date, appropriate training on safeguarding. This means that staff are vigilant and well equipped to recognise pupils who are at risk. There are some more highly trained staff responsible for safeguarding. The school acts swiftly when pupils are at risk. Leaders work collaboratively with other agencies and share information to keep pupils safe.  The curriculum is designed so that pupils learn age-appropriate and contextually important knowledge to help them keep themselves safe.

p.1

Main inspection findings

 The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved and implemented. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14, 16(a) and 16(b)  The school has an appropriate health and safety policy. It also has well-implemented risk assessments, so that any risks on the site and activities pupils undertake are minimised.  The proprietor has ensured that supervision of pupils is appropriate and would be if the material change were granted. There is no necessary change to the levels of supervision in the school for the extra pupils the proprietor would like to admit as levels of supervision and adult support are already very high.  The school has suitable arrangements in place in the event of a fire. Fire exits are accessible. The appropriate staff have fire marshal training. There is appropriate provision of firefighting equipment, and the site is maintained and organised in such a way that the risk of fire is minimised.

p.1

Main inspection findings

 The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved and implemented.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(7)(b)  The school has an appropriate single central record. It contains all the require pre- employment checks. The proprietor ensures that all the relevant checks are completed before, or as soon as is reasonable after, a member of staff takes up post. The system for checking the single central record is robust. Appropriate risk assessments are in place, where checks do not arrive in time for a member of staff’s start date.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved and implemented.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 29(1)(b)  The school building can accommodate the number of pupils the proprietor proposes in the material change. There is ample space, an appropriate number of separate classrooms, social spaces and appropriate outdoor space.  Classrooms are fit for the purpose intended. The building is adequately maintained, lit and has acoustic qualities suitable for teaching lessons.  The outdoor spaces are attractive, safe and appropriate to accommodate the material change sought by the proprietor. There are green garden spaces, a multi-use games area and a playground.  The school has appropriate toilets, changing facilities and a shower for pupils who undertake physical education lessons. There is an appropriate medical room with handwashing facilities and it is next to a toilet.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  Leaders have considered the material change carefully. The needs of the extra pupils the proprietor wishes to admit are very similar to those of existing pupils. The school is already well staffed, and supervision levels are high. There is ample space for the extra pupils should the material change be approved.  The proprietor and school leaders demonstrate a secure understanding of the independent school standards. They have the systems and processes in place to ensure that the standards continue to be met consistently if the material change is approved.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved and implemented. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor has ensured that arrangements are in place to meet the requirements of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

p.2

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.

p.4

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.

p.5

School details

Type of school Other independent special school

p.5

School details

School status Independent special school

p.5

School details

Proprietor Horizon Care and Education Group Ltd

p.5

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £74,356 to £112,283

p.5

School details

Email address enquiries@horizoncare.co.uk

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 18 to 20 March 2025

p.5

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 42 50 50

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 42 50 Number of part-time pupils 0 0

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 42 50

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 42 50

p.6

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 42 50

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 9 10

p.6

Information about this school

 Woodbury School operates from Hellier Road, Wolverhampton WV10 8ED.  Woodbury school is an independent special school. It caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Local authorities commission places from the school.  Most pupils in the school have had a history of disrupted education.  The school uses three registered alternative provisions.  The school’s last full inspection was in March 2025 when it was judged to be good.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education because the proprietor proposed that they should be approved to have more pupils on the school roll. The inspection focused on the suitability of the site for more pupils, the welfare, health and safety of pupils, the arrangements to ensure the suitability of the staff, supply staff and proprietors, the provision of safeguarding information to parents and leadership and management of the school.  The material change will affect the number of pupils in the provision. It seeks to increase its capacity from 42 to 65 on roll. It does not seek for the school to cater for any different or additional types of special educational needs.  This was the first material change inspection in respect of an increase in the number on the school roll.  The inspector evaluated the whole of the school site, health and safety documentation and documentation around safeguarding. The inspector held discussions with the

p.7

Information about this inspection

managing director, a representative of the proprietor body, the headteacher, the designated safeguarding leader and staff responsible for safety on the site.

p.7

Inspection team

Dan Owen, 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.7

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.8

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.8

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.8

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.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