Compass Community School Coastal Park

School material change inspection report

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Compass Community School Coastal Park Heather Lodge, 2 Radnor Park West, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5HH

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  Designated safeguarding leads are knowledgeable and well skilled. They take effective action to keep pupils safe. They understand the complex safeguarding needs of pupils who attend the school.  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on the website. The policy is regularly reviewed and reflects the most recent statutory guidance. The policy contains detailed information about the school’s approach to protecting pupils from harm. Those responsible for leading and maintaining the culture of safeguarding have the additional training that they need to ensure that this is effective.  The proprietor ensures that all staff are trained to identify safeguarding concerns. Clear processes and procedures help to keep pupils safe. Safeguarding is embedded across all aspects of school life and is treated as everyone’s responsibility.

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Main inspection findings

 Staff are vigilant and work with external agencies, such as the therapeutic services or the police, to ensure pupils are kept safe. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14 and 16(a) to 16(b)  The school has implemented an appropriate health and safety policy. The proprietor understands the health and safety checks that need to be carried out on both sites and these are logged well. Regular checks ensure that the school’s facilities and equipment are safe and in a good state of repair.  The school ensures that fire safety checks are routinely undertaken.  The proprietor intends to adopt the same high staff-to-pupil ratios should the material change be granted by the Department for Education (DFE).  The school has a thorough approach to assessing risk in line with their policy. Individual risk assessments are produced for all activities, including those carried out off site, such as visits to either local venues or London.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor ensures that the school continues to comply with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.  The proprietor has ensured that the independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met if the material change request 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 21(3)(b), 21(5) to 21(6)  All checks on the suitability of staff are recorded accurately in the school’s single central record as required. The proprietary board and the headteacher monitor this regularly to ensure it is up to date and accurate.  The school follows appropriate procedures when employing supply staff to ensure that these staff are suitable to work with pupils.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change request is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 23(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2) to 29(1)(b)  The proprietor has fully refurbished the first floor of the Earls Avenue site to a high standard. This is now equitable to the quality of the current premises on both sites.  Classrooms are light and spacious learning environments, including specialist areas for science, music and food technology. All classrooms are clean and well equipped with resources for age-appropriate learning. Although some classrooms are smaller than others, there is adequate space to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers should the material change be granted by the DfE.  Both sites have a good sized outdoor area for pupils to play in and for physical education lessons. This includes suitable changing and shower facilities for pupils to use if required.  The acoustics, internal and external lighting are suitable.  Pupils have access to safe drinking water throughout the day. The supply of hot water

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Main inspection findings

is maintained at an appropriate temperature.  There is a separate medical room on each site that provides a space to care for pupils who are injured or unwell. There are toilet and washing facilities nearby and the rooms are equipped with their own sink. There are also facilities for the secure storage of medicines. The school does not currently have any pupils with complex needs.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change request is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor, headteacher and leaders hold a clear vision for the school. They have a clear rationale for making the material change. The proprietor maintains integrity with their strong oversight of the school’s work. They are committed to providing a high quality of education and pastoral care to vulnerable pupils with a range of needs.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor’s arrangements to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers has been carefully considered. They have ensured that the well-being and welfare of the pupils currently at the school are maintained while new pupils enrol. This will be done gradually over time, ensuring that new staff are well trained before additional pupils start. This will ensure that the school has sufficient staffing capacity to maintain the quality of the provision at the school.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change request is approved.

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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

Proprietor Compass Community Schools Limited

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School details

Email address coastal.park@compass-schools.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 23 to 25 September 2025

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 17 5 to 17 5 to 17

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 38 60 60

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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 38 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 38 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 38 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 38 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 11 14

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this school

 The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils at the school have an education, health and care plan. Pupils usually join with significant gaps in attendance and previous learning. Many have suffered traumatic experiences, and older pupils have usually faced multiple previous school moves.  Pupils join the school from five different local authorities.  There have been significant changes to leadership since the last inspection in September 2025, including the recent appointments of the deputy headteacher and assistant headteacher.  The school currently uses one unregistered alternative provision.  The school is based across two sites. The main site is 18 Wiltie Gardens, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5AX. The second site is 66 Earls Avenue, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2HA.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to evaluate the school’s application for a material change. The proprietor wishes to increase the maximum number of pupils on roll from 38 to 60.  This was the school’s first material change inspection in respect of this particular change that the school has applied to make.  The inspectors held discussions with the chair of the proprietary board, the chair of governors, headteacher, other senior leaders and members of staff.  The inspectors toured both school sites.  The inspectors met with leaders to discuss a range of the school’s work, particularly with a focus on increasing the number of pupils who attend the school.  The inspectors checked a wide range of policies, records and documentation in relation to the specific independent school standards that were checked at this inspection.

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Inspection team

Chris Parker, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Ian Howie 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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