Phoenix Academy

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Phoenix Academy 85 Bounces Road, Edmonton, London N9 8LD

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 3, 3(d) and 3(e)  The previous standard inspection in March 2025 found the school’s curriculum lacked ambition. The phonics curriculum did not include the full range of letter sounds that pupils need to learn. Sometimes secondary-age pupils accessed subject matter that was unnecessarily repeated or unsuitable for their age or ability. The school did not consistently use its checks on how well pupils learn to suitably inform future teaching.  The school’s post-inspection action plan outlined a range of appropriate actions, including to commission support from external consultants and to provide high-quality training to staff. However, the criteria for successful outcomes were unclear.  This inspection found the school to be making positive progress towards meeting the unmet standards. Leaders have, as planned, commissioned external support and a range

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Main inspection findings

of appropriate training for staff, including in relation to teaching reading and supporting pupils with additional needs. A new phonics scheme is in the process of being introduced and the thematic-unit curriculum plans are being rewritten to ensure that content is suitably sequenced and more readily adapted to meet secondary-age pupils’ needs. The revised plans more appropriately consider how checks on pupils’ learning will inform teaching. As the implementation of these various improvements is at an early stage, the full impact on improving the school’s quality of education is yet to be seen.  These independent school standards (the standards) continue to be not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  The previous inspection found that the proprietor and governing body did not have strategic oversight of key aspects of the school’s work. The governing body did not include members with appropriate skills and experience, and did not hold leaders to account effectively.  This inspection found the school has begun implementing a number of suitable actions, as outlined in their action plan. The proprietor body has organised ongoing training for governors and are expanding the governing body to ensure all members have the knowledge and skills required to hold leaders to account effectively. An external organisation has also recently started some positive work to support the proprietor and governing bodies to improve the school. Though this work is relatively new, things are moving in the right direction.

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Main inspection findings

 This standard continues to be not met.

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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

Headteacher Deborah Chambers (acting headteacher)

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 11 to 13 March 2025

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Information about this school

 The school has a Christian ethos. Pupils follow the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum blended with thematic-unit studies.  The school operates from one site, located at 85 Bounces Road, Edmonton, London N9 8LD. The school is registered to admit 45 pupils from ages 5 to 18 years. At the time of the inspection, there were 19 pupils on the school roll whose ages were 7 to 15 years.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  The school’s most recent standard inspection was in March 2025.  Since the previous inspection, the headteacher has left the post. The proprietors are in the process of recruiting a substantive headteacher.

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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.  This inspection was the first progress monitoring inspection that has taken place since the last standard inspection which took place in March 2025. The inspection was conducted without notice.  The school’s action plan submitted following the last inspection was evaluated in June 2025 and found to be not acceptable. It was subsequently rejected by the Department for Education.  The inspector held meetings with the acting headteacher and a member of the governing body. He reviewed a range of documentation, including curriculum plans and policies. He toured the premises, observed pupils learning, and met with a group of

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Information about this inspection

pupils.  The inspector also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards continue to be met.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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 unmet at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and – 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work- – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught.

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 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. 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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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