The Anchor Sendfriendly Centre

School progress monitoring inspection report

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The Anchor Sendfriendly Centre 3 North Road, Block E, Plumstead, London SE18 1BS

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(d)(ii), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii), 2(2)(e)(iii)  At the school’s previous standard inspection in March 2025, the inspectors found that pupils did not receive the support they needed to make important decisions about their next steps in education or employment. As a result, pupils did not routinely receive independent advice and guidance about a broad range of careers.  This inspection finds that the school now has a clear careers policy and programme. The programme includes pupils learning about important work-related knowledge and skills. The programme shows how careers guidance and topics are sequenced for different learning pathways.  The school has utilised external partners to provide impartial careers advice and guidance. Pupils have had the opportunity to attend work experience, for example at local car washes or school-based internships, which include catering and administration.

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Main inspection findings

The school is working to extend this offer further by building partnerships with local libraries and cafes.  All pupils have a personal development provision plan, which details personalised goals aligned to key themes such as relationships, employment and preparing for independent living. The school has also established a classroom dedicated to teaching pupils a range of employment skills such as hospitality and housekeeping.  The independent school standards in these paragraphs are met. Paragraphs 2A(1), 2A(1)(a), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d)  The previous standard inspection found that the school was not following the statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on relationships and sex education (RSE). As a result, pupils did not learn enough about important topics such as sexual consent, harassment or abuse.  This inspection finds that the school has ensured that all pupils receive a comprehensive

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Main inspection findings

RSE programme that meets statutory requirements. The programme includes discussing the importance of consent, personal boundaries and puberty.  The school has consulted with parents about the RSE policy. The school has shared information with parents about what their children will be taught. The policy makes clear that parents may withdraw their children from the sex education component of the programme. The policy is available on the school’s website. The staff have also received training on the RSE curriculum.  The independent school standards in this paragraph are met.  The school now meets all the previously unmet independent school standards in this part.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(b), 5(b)(ii), 5(b)(vi)  At the time of the last standard inspection in March 2025, inspectors found that the school did not teach all the protected characteristics. Pupils were not routinely taught what these characteristics were. As a result, pupils were not well prepared for life in modern Britain.  On this visit, inspectors found that there is now appropriate curriculum coverage of the protected characteristics. For example, the school has reviewed the personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum and made explicit when pupils will be taught about each of the protected characteristics. A coherent and extensive assembly schedule, which celebrates each of the protected characteristics, is now in place. The school has delivered a workshop on this aspect of the planned PSHE and economic education curriculum to parents and carers. Staff have received training on the protected

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Main inspection findings

characteristics and the revisions to the PSHE curriculum.  Inspectors reviewed pupils’ work in books, which showed that the PSHE curriculum is being taught in the intended sequence and includes coverage of the protected characteristics.  The independent school standard in this part is now met.

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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 previous standard inspection found that the school did not have a comprehensive understanding of all the independent school standards. As a result, inspectors found weaknesses in the school’s work to prepare pupils for their future lives and next steps in education or employment.  The school’s leaders and the proprietor have addressed the failures identified by the last inspection. The proprietor and other leaders have ensured that policies, curriculums and provision have been reviewed and updated in line with government guidance and the independent school standards.  Leaders have taken time to assess the strengths of the school and the areas for development. They have established action plans to address concerns raised at the standard inspection in March 2025. These action plans are being worked through methodically and with clear lines of accountability. For example, all staff have action

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Main inspection findings

plans aligned to the independent school standards. This is to ensure that staff have a thorough understanding of the independent school standards and are clear on the roles they play in maintaining them.  This work shows that the school’s leaders better understand their role in relation to the independent school standards. They carry out their responsibilities effectively and have taken steps to ensure that they assure themselves that the independent school standards will continue to be met in the future.  The school now meets all the previously unmet independent school standards.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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. 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

◼ 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if- – 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(2) For the purposes of paragraph 2(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(d)(ii) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act[9]; – 2(2)(e) for pupils receiving secondary education, access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that- – 2(2)(e)(i) is presented in an impartial manner; – 2(2)(e)(ii) enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options; and – 2(2)(e)(iii) helps to encourage them to fulfil their potential. ◼ 2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor- – 2A(1)(a) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with primary education at

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

the school is provided with relationships education, – 2A(1)(b) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with secondary education at the school is provided with relationships and sex education, except in so far as the pupil is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), – 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

◼ 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor- – 5(b) ensures that principles are actively promoted which- – 5(b)(vi) encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act.

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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- – 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; and – 34(1)(c) actively promotes the well-being of pupils.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £55,000 to £75,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 18 to 20 March 2025

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Information about this school

 The school opened in January 2024.  This is an independent school for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities between the ages of four and 25 years old. All the pupils have an education, health and care plan. Many pupils have communication difficulties or a diagnosis of autism.  The school is based at 3 North Road, Block E, Plumstead, London, SE18 1BS.  The school does not make use of alternative provision. ◼ The current headteacher took up their post in September 2025.

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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.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place in March 2025. Since then, the DfE required the school to submit a statutory action plan. This was evaluated in August 2025 and was rejected by the DfE.  This is the school’s first progress monitoring inspection. This inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation, including that relating to the independent school standards, the curriculum and leadership and management.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding

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Information about this inspection

policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are met.

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Inspection team

Kieran Bird, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Una Buckley 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

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.

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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 .

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Inspection team

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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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