Unsted Park School

Inspection of Unsted Park School Munstead Heath Road, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1UW

p.1

Inspection dates: 23 to 25 September 2025

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Sixth-form provision Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at Unsted Park School. They benefit from calm routines and the warm, welcoming approach of staff each morning. All pupils have education, health and care (EHC) plans. Staff work with determination to support every pupil’s development towards achieving their targets. The curriculum is carefully designed to ensure ambition for all, offering academic and vocational courses that lead to recognised qualifications. Older pupils, including those in the sixth form, achieve highly and are well prepared for their next steps.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Behaviour across the school is exemplary. Staff work closely together to provide timely and effective support. A strong pastoral system underpins pupils’ personal and social development, which is prioritised throughout the school. Pupils feel safe and confident to raise concerns, including about bullying, often using the school’s electronic QR code system to communicate their worries.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils take pride in shaping their school community. Leadership roles such as school council, ‘eco leaders’ and ‘lab leaders’ promote responsibility and inclusion. These roles are accessed through a formal application process and help pupils lead initiatives that improve their school. A wide range of clubs enriches the school day, including photography, arts and crafts, and LGBTQ+ well-being.

p.2

better?

Since the previous inspection, the leadership team has taken decisive steps to drive improvement. The school has prioritised curriculum development, ensuring that from key stage 2 onwards, it now closely aligns with the national curriculum. Leaders have precisely identified and sequenced the knowledge pupils are to learn. This enables older pupils to access appropriate academic qualifications. In addition, vocational pathways offer relevant and accessible qualifications for all pupils. While these developments are promising, some aspects of the revised curriculum for younger pupils are still at an early stage of implementation.

p.2

better?

The school’s broad and balanced curriculum is thoughtfully tailored to meet pupils’ individual needs. Teachers effectively use pupils’ EHC plan targets to inform curriculum planning and delivery. In key stage 4 and the sixth form, staff demonstrate expert subject knowledge and use a wide range of effective strategies to identify and address gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills. As a result, learning is highly personalised and pupils achieve very well across their programmes of study. In the younger year groups, the curriculum is well designed and increasingly responsive to pupils’ needs. However, some aspects have been introduced more recently. Staff confidence in delivering newer content is still developing. Teaching in these year groups is generally effective. Nonetheless, explanations are occasionally less precise and ongoing assessment is not yet consistently used to identify gaps in understanding. Consequently, while pupils achieve well, not enough reach the high

p.2

better?

standards seen in the older year groups. 23 to 25 September 2025 Developing pupils’ reading skills is a key focus of the school’s curriculum. Leaders have successfully fostered a love of reading. This is supported by a well-stocked library that pupils use regularly during their free time. Staff deliver structured early reading and catch-up phonics programmes for those pupils who need it. These ensure pupils who struggle with reading receive targeted support. Pupils have access to suitable reading materials throughout the day. These approaches are especially effective in key stage 3. Reading fluency is improving among pupils in this phase. This gives them better access to the wider curriculum and pupils are growing in confidence and achieving greater success.

p.2

better?

The school’s provision for personal development is exceptional. Staff deliver effective programmes that meet pupils’ social and emotional needs precisely. The therapeutic teams provide expert support, building pupils’ resilience and fostering strong, respectful relationships. Individualised plans, co-produced with families, identify triggers and outline clear, proactive strategies to help pupils to reduce their anxieties. Pupils feel safe and trust staff to respond consistently and supportively. Behaviour is managed with care and dignity, promoting self-regulation and emotional security. The school’s values of ‘Respect, Believe, Succeed’ are deeply embedded and consistently modelled. Pupils show excellent character, perseverance and motivation, especially when tackling demanding tasks. They are well prepared for future learning and life.

p.3

better?

Some pupils join with a history of very low attendance. Where concerns persist, leaders take tenacious and well-considered action. Learning programmes are adapted to meet individual needs. As a result, most pupils improve attendance significantly and benefit fully from the school’s provision.

p.3

better?

The school prepares pupils exceptionally well for life in modern Britain. Personal, social and health education (PSHE) lessons are engaging and relevant. Pupils learn to value diversity and develop essential life skills through a well-structured curriculum and enrichment opportunities. This is enhanced by visits to places such as art galleries and places of worship. The pupil-led ‘rights respecting committee’ helps pupils understand their rights and responsibilities. These experiences promote respect, tolerance and active citizenship.

p.3

better?

Pupils and sixth-form students benefit from a well-structured careers programme tailored to their needs and aspirations. They receive clear, relevant information about future pathways, including university, college placements and apprenticeships. Pupils explore a wide range of career options and are supported in researching what suits them best. As a result, they are very well prepared for their next steps.

p.3

better?

The proprietor shares the school’s high expectations for pupils and holds leaders to account effectively. This includes ensuring compliance with Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 as well the independent schools standards. Staff are proud to work at this inclusive school. They are highly positive about their roles and the school’s culture. Staff value the wide range of training opportunities available. They appreciate the support they receive for their well-being and workload. 23 to 25 September 2025

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.4

(Information for the school and proprietor)

 For younger pupils, the quality of implementation of the curriculum is variable due to ongoing enhancements to some subjects. As a result, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could in these areas. The school should continue to prioritise staff development to address these inconsistencies, leading to sustained improvements in both curriculum delivery and pupil outcomes.

p.4

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.

p.4

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

p.4

School details

Unique reference number 135419 DfE registration number 936/6592

p.5

School details

Inspection number 10391744 Type of school Other Independent Special School

p.5

School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

p.5

sixth form

Proprietor Aspris Children’s Services Ltd

p.5

sixth form

Annual fees (day pupils) £81,566 - £124,140

p.5

sixth form

Website www.aspris.com/unsted-park-school

p.5

sixth form

Email address unstedparkschool@aspriscs.co.uk

p.5

sixth form

Date of previous inspection 7 to 9 November 2023 23 to 25 September 2025

p.5

Information about this school

 Unsted Park is an independent special school for pupils with a diagnosis of autism. The school is registered to admit up to 112 pupils between the ages 7 and 20. The school’s address is Munstead Heath Road, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1UW.  The school’s sixth form currently has 15 students on roll.  Many pupils have experienced significant difficulties and disruption to their education prior to starting this school. They all have an EHC plan with their places funded by a local authority.  The school currently uses three unregistered providers.

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation 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 range of meetings with the headteacher and staff in the school. They met with a representative of the proprietor, the proprietor central team and members of the therapeutic team.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: mathematics; English, including early reading, and PSHE and art. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, looked at curriculum plans, visited a sample of lessons, spoke with teachers, spoke with some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. Inspectors also looked at curriculum plans and spoke to leaders about some other subjects.  The lead inspector toured the premises to check the school’s compliance with the

p.6

Information about this inspection

independent school standards.  Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour throughout the inspection.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the 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.  Inspectors reviewed the responses to Ofsted Parent View, including any free-text comments. 23 to 25 September 2025

p.6

Inspection team

Laura James, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

p.7

Inspection team

Toby Martlew 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.

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 .

p.8

Inspection team

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