New Barn School

Inspection of New Barn School Guildford Road, Broadbridge Heath, West Sussex RH12 3PQ

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Inspection dates: 23 to 25 September 2025

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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Overall effectiveness Good

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

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What is it like to attend this school?

Many pupils who attend New Barn School have previously had negative experiences of coming to school. Some have been out of education for several years. Leaders and staff help pupils to re-engage in learning. The carefully managed induction process helps pupils to settle quickly. Pupils gain a sense of belonging and soon enjoy attending school regularly. They know they will be listened to, understood and helped by their trusted adults. Many pupils, as well as their parents and carers, recognise the positive difference this school has made to them. One parent represented the views of others, stating that the school has been ‘a life changer’.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school is ambitious for pupils’ behaviour and academic achievement. Consequently, pupils are polite and respectful, both to their classmates and to staff. Over time pupils grow in confidence and gain qualifications so that by the end of Year 11, many are ready to progress to further education or training. For those who need a bit more time, the school currently provides additional effective support into Year 12.

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What is it like to attend this school?

A comprehensive enrichment programme ignites new interests in pupils. These include exploring nature in the school’s forest area and visiting the Science Museum in London. Pupils engage exceptionally well with what the school provides for them. They talk with pride about their personal achievements and hopes for their futures.

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better?

The school has established a well-sequenced curriculum for its pupils. The knowledge, skills and vocabulary that pupils will learn across a broad range of subjects is clear. The school seeks to consolidate and extend what pupils have learned before.

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better?

Since the last inspection, the school has developed its culture of reading. For example, it has introduced dedicated reading time. The school’s two libraries provide pupils with a range of books from different genres. Pupils who struggle with reading in the primary phase get tailored phonics support. This helps these pupils to read more fluently and accurately over time. Many pupils across the whole school read with enthusiasm and contribute insightfully when discussing reading in lessons.

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better?

In lessons, teachers typically demonstrate strong subject knowledge, present new information clearly and ask pupils questions to check their understanding. This helps pupils to build their knowledge and skills over time. The school places increasing focus on identifying and addressing gaps in pupils’ learning. This is effective in the primary phase, as well as in some subjects in the secondary phase. This leads to strong outcomes for pupils in the subjects where gaps in learning are dealt with rapidly. However, in some other subjects the school could fill the gaps in pupils’ learning that they know about more quickly. For example, in reading, a few secondary pupils are not getting the support they need to learn to read while others 23 to 25 September 2025 are not developing their depth of comprehension quickly enough. This means that some pupils in some subject areas are not learning all that they could.

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better?

The provision for pupils’ personal development is exemplary. The school prioritises highly effective support for pupils’ mental health and well-being. Pupils benefit from a very well-developed personal development programme. They receive age- appropriate sex and relationships education. Pupils learn about equality and diversity, as well as keeping safe online. A strong array of extra-curricular clubs, such as music, languages and sport, provides pupils with additional development opportunities. Pupils are supported to have a strong and effective voice through the purposeful school council. Careers education is very well structured throughout the school, helping pupils to explore future pathways and further develop their ambition.

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better?

The school has developed its premises very effectively since the last inspection. Classrooms and communal areas, as well as outdoor spaces, are set up to be calm and purposeful environments. This leads to excellent behaviour throughout the school day. Pupils feel comfortable and have the resources to support them to learn effectively. Pupils demonstrate a real keenness to learn and contribute during lessons. When pupils are less confident to offer answers in class, staff maintain pupils’ interest exceptionally well and encourage and support pupils to contribute.

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better?

Many pupils feel their experience of attending school has been transformed. Given many pupils’ low attendance at their previous schools, their attendance now is very strong. The school works very closely with families to build strong relationships between home and school. This means pupils want to come to school as they feel safe, secure and understood when they are at school.

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better?

The proprietor has ensured that the independent school standards (the standards) are maintained and met, including the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. All the required information is easily accessible on the school’s website for parents.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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(Information for the school and proprietor)

 At times, the school’s checks on pupils’ learning, including in reading, do not fully identify where some pupils have gaps in their knowledge. This prevents some pupils from achieving as highly as they could. The school should ensure that gaps in pupils’ subject knowledge are identified and addressed effectively so that pupils learn as well as they could across the curriculum. 23 to 25 September 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. 23 to 25 September 2025

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School details

Unique reference number 143400 DfE registration number 938/6002

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School details

Inspection number 10375004 Type of school Other Independent Special School

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £62,000 to £78,000

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School details

Email address info@treehouseeducare.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 18 to 20 October 2022 23 to 25 September 2025

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Information about this school

 New Barn School is an independent special school for girls and boys with special educational needs and/or disabilities between seven and 19 years of age. All pupils are placed by local authorities and have education, health and care plans related to autism spectrum disorder and associated difficulties. Many have been out of education for long periods before joining the school.  The school operates from one site located at Guildford Road, Broadbridge Heath, West Sussex, RH12 3PQ.  The current headteacher took up her post in January 2023.  Following the last inspection, the Department for Education (DfE) agreed for the school’s roll to increase capacity from 68 to 80 pupils. A further material change inspection took place in November 2024 where the DfE approved a further increase in capacity to 120 pupils.  The school currently uses three unregistered alternative providers.

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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 2014.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors held a wide range of meetings with the headteacher, other leaders and teaching and support staff.  The lead inspector held an online meeting with the chair of the proprietor body and also met members of the local governing body, including the chair. He also held an online meeting with the local authority that places the majority of the pupils at the school.  The inspectors talked informally and formally to different groups and individual pupils to gather their views about the school.  The inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: English, mathematics, art and design and personal, social and health education. Deep dives included visiting lessons, looking at pupils’ work, and talking to leaders, teachers and pupils about

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Information about this inspection

how teaching in these subjects builds on pupils’ knowledge over time. 23 to 25 September 2025  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors: 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 lead inspector had a tour of the school’s premises. He checked a range of policies and documents, including the school’s single central record. He also reviewed the school’s website and other records regarding the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff linked to the standards.  The inspectors gathered evidence to explore the impact of pupils’ behaviour, the school’s wider curriculum offer and how leaders support staff with their workload. They also considered the views of parents submitted through Ofsted’s online

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Information about this inspection

survey, Ofsted Parent View. Ofsted’s surveys for staff and for pupils were also considered.

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Inspection team

Chris Parker, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection team

Gavin Thomas His Majesty's Inspector 23 to 25 September 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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