Copper Fields School

School material change inspection report

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Copper Fields School Delaware Road, Drake Walls, Gunnislake, Cornwall PL18 9EH

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b)  The school’s safeguarding policy reflects the latest guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). The school publishes the policy on its website, so it is accessible to parents and carers. Staff receive clear, comprehensive guidance through the policy on their safeguarding responsibilities.  The proprietor ensures that safeguarding pupils is prioritised. There is a culture of ‘it could happen here’. Designated safeguarding leads show expert knowledge of statutory guidance. They ensure that staff receive targeted training on important contextual issues, such as the county lines and online safety.  Staff receive a comprehensive induction programme. This provides them with the safeguarding knowledge to carry out their roles effectively to keep pupils safe from harm. The school keeps detailed records of any safeguarding concerns. Records show

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Main inspection findings

that leaders act with tenacity and work with outside agencies well.  Within the school, weekly designated safeguarding lead meetings highlight any potential and ongoing cases. The headteacher keeps the proprietor frequently informed about safeguarding matters. The school has rigorous procedures in place to deal with the proposed increase in pupil numbers. Paragraphs 11, 12,14  The school has comprehensive health and safety procedures in place. It has thorough processes to record weekly and monthly checks, such as testing the temperature of water. Staff work together diligently to ensure the school is a safe place to be.  The school has an internal fire risk assessment for the new accommodation. It identifies fire marshals and evacuation routes. Documentation indicates that an external expert is due to complete a further fire risk assessment on 6 October 2025. If the material change is approved for the new building, the proprietor will ensure that

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Main inspection findings

the fire risk assessment complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 before admitting pupils to the new spaces. A scrutiny of the existing external risk assessment for the current accommodation shows that escape routes are clear, emergency lighting is compliant, fire extinguishers in date, and a high standard of record keeping is maintained.  The school has effective supervision routines on the current site. The proprietor will adopt the same high staff-to-pupil ratios if pupil numbers grow beyond the current 24 the school is registered for. When pupils arrive in the morning and leave at the end of the school day, staff facilitate a system that enables pupils to come and leave the school in a calm and orderly manner. The proprietor plans to use a similar system in the rear car park to manage the proposed increase in numbers.  The proprietor intends to increase pupil numbers gradually to ensure that appropriate

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Main inspection findings

staffing is in place. The proposals for staff deployment and supervision are likely to be appropriate should the material change be approved. Paragraphs 16 to 16(b)  Detailed risk assessments are in place for the premises, pupils and staff. They outline associated risks and controls that mitigate these. The proprietor reviews and updates these accordingly. The proprietor has written a site risk assessment for the new accommodation. It has already considered the additional risks of having extra adults and pupils in the school.  The proprietor has ensured that independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met if the material change requests are approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3)(b), 21(6)  The proprietor ensures that all pre-employment checks are completed for staff before they start at the school. These include identity verification, Disclosure and Barring Service checks and other required checks for staff who have worked or lived overseas.  Members of the proprietor body, P Bloom Ltd, have all had the statutory checks, including section 128 checks, to determine their suitability in their roles.  The proprietor has sufficient oversight of important operational systems, for example the school’s single central record. It is maintained in line with guidance from ‘Keeping children safe in education 2025’. The systems in place will allow the proprietor to increase the number of staff and pupils on roll without compromising safety.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change requests are approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 24(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25 to 29(1)(b)  The new accommodation has been built on the existing site and consists of a renovated prefabricated building and a new build. Both are single-storey buildings. The accommodation includes six dedicated classrooms for different age groups and specialist rooms, such as a teaching classroom for food technology. There are also offices for staff and covered outside spaces for pupils to play and socialise.

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Main inspection findings

 The site is surrounded by residential housing. The proprietor has erected an anti-climb perimeter fence to ensure secure access from the main entrance only. The proprietor intends to provide a staff car park in front of the school and a turning circle for pupils’ transport at the rear of the school, which is currently a staff car park.  At the time of the inspection, work had been completed on the new accommodation. The outside spaces were being turfed and landscaped with plans for additional spaces for outside play and recreation. Once this work is complete, it will be sufficient to allow for the proposed increase in pupil numbers, if approved by the DfE. The school has carefully considered how the new spaces will meet the needs of the pupils.  The new accommodation has toilets, showers and changing spaces. These are available exclusively to pupils and intended to be used by one pupil at a time. The

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Main inspection findings

number of toilets and showers on the new site is sufficient for the proposed increase in pupil numbers.  All the new rooms have suitable lighting, acoustics and ventilation. Windows are suitably fitted with locks to ensure pupil safety. Outside, external lighting helps maintain a safe entry and exit to the school site for staff, pupils and visitors.  Hot water in the washbasins is set at an appropriate temperature, so that it does not scald. Drinking water is labelled accordingly and available across the site.  The existing site medical room is near a toilet and has washing facilities. It is sufficient for the proposed increase in pupil numbers.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change requests are approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to (34)(1)(c)  The proprietor has identified a need in the local area and works with three local authorities who place pupils in the school. The proprietor wishes to increase capacity to meet this need. The proposed pupil growth model is sustainable and appropriate. The proprietor intends to recruit additional staff and increase pupil numbers gradually.  The proprietor and headteacher have extensive experience of running successful independent special schools. They have demonstrated that they can cater for the increase in pupil numbers within the setting.  Clear lines of accountability are in place. Leaders at all levels demonstrate a secure understanding of the independent school standards. They conduct/carry out regular checks to make sure the standards will remain met over time.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the

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Main inspection findings

material change requests are granted. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The accessibility plan meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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.

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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.

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £67,890 to £97,890

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School details

Email address infocopperfieldsschool@ofgl.co.uk

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 4 to 16 4 to16 4 to16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 17 60 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 17 60 Number of part-time pupils 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 17 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 17 60

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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 17 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 4 12

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Information about this school

 Copper Fields School is an independent special school located in Cornwall, close to the border with Devon.  The school is located near the town of Gunnislake. The school operates from premises located on Delaware Road, Drakewalls, Gunnislake PL18 9EH. The buildings are made up of Victorian school buildings and an adjacent residential area, which has been converted into offices. The site was formerly used as an outdoor education centre. It benefits from a range of outdoor learning spaces.  The school has not received a standard inspection since opening.  The school caters for pupils with autism and similar conditions. All pupils have an education, health and care plan and are funded by three local authorities.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The DfE commissioned the inspection following the proprietor’s material change request to increase the maximum number of pupils from 24 to 60.  The purpose of the inspection was to check whether the school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the DfE approves the requested material changes.  This was the first material change inspection since the school’s pre-registration inspection in December 2024  The inspector met with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the designated safeguarding lead and an executive officer of P Bloom Ltd, including a representative of the proprietor body, to discuss the proposed material changes.  During the visit, the inspector reviewed the new accommodation that the school has developed and the feasibility of permitting an increase in pupil numbers.  The inspector reviewed and evaluated documents provided by the school, including risk assessments, policies, the single central record and safeguarding information.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector visited lessons and spoke to some staff and pupils informally.

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Inspection team

Gavin Summerfield, 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 .

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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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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