Park School

School material change inspection report

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Park School Southcombe, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5QH

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7 to 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  Safeguarding is a priority at this school. All staff receive regular, timely training to enable them to understand and fulfil their responsibilities. Weekly meetings, daily briefings and monthly bulletins ensure that everyone is kept up to date.  Staff and leaders understand pupils’ increased vulnerability because of their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They are alert and responsive to the increased risks pupils may encounter because of their needs. Additionally, the personal, social and health education programme gives priority to issues, such as healthy relationships and consent.  Any concerns, including any ‘nagging doubts’, are recorded systematically and followed up as they should be. When needed, leaders seek advice and make referrals to appropriate external agencies.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders maintain careful oversight of any ongoing concerns, including through formal weekly safeguarding meetings. This enables leaders to check that agreed actions have been completed and, when needed, escalate concerns further with external agencies.  The safeguarding policy is comprehensive and well considered. It reflects the latest statutory guidance and is published, as required, on the school’s website. Paragraphs 11, 12 and 16 to 16(b)  The school’s health and safety policy and arrangements are well considered. The premises are clean and well maintained. The school carries out regular routine maintenance and health and safety checks. This enables leaders and staff to address any issues in a timely manner. The school employs specialist companies to carry out some checks and maintenance, such as those for portable electrical appliances, fire risk assessments and firefighting equipment.  The school has a risk assessment policy and multiple appropriate risk assessments,

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Main inspection findings

including for every pupil. These are reviewed regularly and amended to reflect any changes. For example, the fire risk assessment has been updated to reflect that the kitchen is now operational.  The school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Arrangements and checks on fire safety are rigorous and recorded systematically. This includes the testing of the fire alarm, routine evacuations and the maintenance of the fire alarm and extinguishers. Fire doors and exits are unobstructed and clearly signed. Paragraph 14  Staff to pupil ratios are high with each small class having a teacher and at least one teaching assistant. Current arrangements ensure that pupils are supervised throughout the school day, including during social times. This reflects the school’s understanding of pupils’ significant needs and vulnerabilities and ensures their safe supervision.  The relevant independent school standards (the standards) in part 3 are likely to be

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Main inspection findings

met if the request for a material change is approved. 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), 19(3), 20(6) to 20(6(c) and 21(1) to 21(7)(b)  The school’s arrangements for safer recruitment are rigorous and systematic. The proprietor’s management system enables leaders to keep track of the progress of checks for any newly appointed staff. New staff are only permitted to take up their posts once all the necessary pre-employment checks are completed. In some respects the school goes beyond statutory requirements. For example, the school routinely repeats Disclosure and Barring Service checks every three years.  The school uses a limited number of agency staff, and only staff that have been approved by the proprietor. The school ensures that written confirmation of the necessary checks has been received and noted on the single central record (SCR). The

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Main inspection findings

school also ensures that appropriate safeguarding checks have been completed for the alternative provisions that it uses.  The school’s SCR is complete. It includes all the required statutory information and checks. Information is recorded clearly and systematically.  The standards in part 4 are likely to be met if the request for a material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 24(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2) and 25 to 29(1)(b)  The school’s accommodation is located at two different sites. Some rooms are currently not in use as the school is not yet operating at its capacity. Additionally, the school has recently built two new modular buildings on the main site. These buildings provide four classrooms, two group spaces and toilets with washing facilities. Both buildings have access to a spacious outside area. The new buildings, together with existing capacity, provide ample additional space to accommodate the school’s

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Main inspection findings

proposed increase in the number on roll.  Across both sites, the accommodation is well appointed and fit for purpose. Internal fittings and furniture are suitable and of good quality. Classrooms have adequate lighting and ventilation, including opening windows. Both sites have external lighting to ensure the safe entry and exit when it is dark.  There is secure entry to the school, and the boundary is suitably fenced and secure. At the main site, there is a turning circle and drop off and collection point to ensure the safety of pupils on arrival. As the school roll increases, leaders intend to introduce a staggered start and finish time for different classes. This is in consideration of pupil safety and the safe management of traffic on site, given that most pupils travel by car or minibus.  Toilet and washing facilities are adequate. Pupil facilities are individual cubicles that can be secured from the inside and intended for use by one pupil at a time. In

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Main inspection findings

addition, the school has shower facilities and there are separate toilet facilities for staff. The temperature of the water is regulated so that it does not present a scalding risk. There is a suitably equipped medical room on both school sites, each of which have washing facilities and are located close to a toilet. Drinking water is located at various points around the buildings and is labelled as such.  At both sites, there is suitable outside space for pupils to use during social times of the day. The main school site has a large multi-use sports court that can be used for physical education. In addition, the school makes use of facilities in the local area, such as a community centre.  The standards in part 5 are likely to be met if the request for a material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor has a clear rationale for the proposal to increase the maximum number

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Main inspection findings

of pupils on roll. This is to support the proprietor’s long-term strategic plan to increase capacity to reflect the growing demand for specialist provision. The proprietor plans to increase the number on roll very gradually, to ensure that this is manageable and is not detrimental to the quality of education and care. This approach is evident in the small increase in the number on roll since the school’s request to increase its capacity to 88 was approved.  The proprietor plans to ensure that staffing levels reflect the number of pupils on roll, and that staff are appointed in advance of any growth in pupil numbers. The proprietor articulates a clear intention to appoint the right staff with the right skillset to work in this specialist setting.  The proprietor and school leaders are knowledgeable about the standards. They maintain close oversight to ensure that the school continues to meet these standards

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Main inspection findings

consistently and securely. The proprietor has a strong understanding of statutory safeguarding guidance and ensures that the school fully meets its safeguarding duties.  Systems for accountability and oversight are well established. This includes a minimum of half-termly visits from the regional director and regular visits from an external partner to check on different aspects of the school’s provision, including safeguarding. The proprietor’s information management system enables it to gather and review weekly data and information about the school. For example, safeguarding referrals, behaviour incidents and attendance patterns.  The standard in part 8 is likely to be met if the request for a material change is approved. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school has an appropriate and up to date accessibility plan in place. It 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) £59,698 to £89,698

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School details

Email address office@parkschooloxfordshire.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 25 to 27 February 2025

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 18 7 to 18 7 to 18

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 61 108 108

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 61 108

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 61 108

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 61 108

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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 61 108

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 15 37

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Information about this school

 The school’s most recent standard inspection was in February 2025. This inspection also considered the proprietor’s request for a material change to increase the maximum number of pupils from 64 to 88. The Department for Education (DfE) subsequently approved this request.  The school is currently registered to admit up to 88 pupils between the ages of 7 to 18. However, at the time of this inspection there were only 61 pupils on roll. This reflects the proprietor’s decision to incrementally increase the number on roll. Currently, the youngest pupils are in Year 4 and there are no post-16 students on roll.  The school caters for pupils with SEND. Pupils’ prime needs are social, emotional and mental health needs. Many pupils have needs associated with a diagnosis of autism, attentional deficit hyperactivity disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. All pupils have an education, health and care plan and their places are funded by their local

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Information about this school

authority.  The school operates from two sites located approximately eight miles apart. The main site is located at Southcombe, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. The other site is known as Cotswold Lodge. It is located at Unit 2, Wychwood Business Centre, Milton Road, Shipton-Under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire OX7 6XU. At the time of the inspection, the majority of pupils were based at the main school site.  The school’s proprietor is P Bloom Ltd. The school is owned by the Outcomes First Group, which is a subsidiary of P Bloom Ltd. The Outcomes First Group runs many schools across the country though the company’s brands of Acorn Education, Options Autism, Momenta Connect and Blenheim Schools.  The school has a governing body chaired by the regional director, who is also the chair of governors. Other members of the governing body include the headteachers from a cluster of schools within the Outcomes First Group, including Park School.

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Information about this school

 The school currently uses two registered alternative provisions and one unregistered alternative provision.  The headteacher took up post in September 2025.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the DfE because the proprietor has applied for a material change to increase the maximum permitted number of pupils on roll by 20 to 108. This was the first material change inspection in respect of this change that the school has applied to make. Osted has previously carried out material change inspections in April 2017 and July 2024. Additionally, a material change was considered at the standard inspection that took place in February 2025.  Inspectors met with the regional director and the operations director from the proprietor’s executive team. They also met with the headteacher and other leaders at the school.  An inspector toured each of the two school sites and talked with pupils and staff. They also considered a wide range of documents to evaluate if the school is likely to meet the standards if the material change is implemented.  The lead inspector reviewed the single central record and met with the school’s

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Information about this inspection

designated safeguarding lead. Inspectors also considered documents and policies related to pupils’ welfare, health and safety.  An inspector held telephone discussions with staff at two of the alternative provisions.

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Inspection team

Sue Cox, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Simon Woodbridge 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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