Blackwater Academy

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Blackwater Academy 14 Riverside Drive, Stechford, Birmingham, B33 9BF

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Inspection dates 15 October and 11 November 2025

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(h), 3(b), 3(c), 3(e)  At the last standard inspection in February 2025, the school did not ensure that pupils learned enough. Lessons were not adapted to meet pupils’ additional needs. Learning gaps were not accurately identified or addressed. When this happened, pupils often disengaged and missed key information needed to complete tasks. As a result, they produced little or no work and had poor recall of previous learning. The subsequent school action plan set out clear steps and timescales to address these issues, focusing on curriculum implementation and adaptation.  Since the last standard inspection, leaders have shown a strong commitment to engaging pupils in their learning and building a curriculum that reflects pupils’ complex experiences. Leaders’ ambition is clear, and their progress towards meeting standards demonstrates this dedication. The school has a strong ethos, focused on supporting

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Main inspection findings

pupils who faced disruption in mainstream education. Leaders have introduced a broad, flexible curriculum and aligned it with pupils’ home schools to ensure continuity of learning. Lesson planning has improved, and staff are gaining confidence in their subject knowledge. Pupils report positive experiences and growing motivation in lessons.  These standards are now met. Paragraphs 3, 3(a), 3(d), 3(g)  At the last standard inspection, the school did not use formative or summative assessment effectively. Leaders lacked an accurate view of how well pupils were learning or what their next steps should be. This limited pupils’ progress through the curriculum. The subsequent school action plans set out clear actions and timescales to address these issues and identify gaps in knowledge and progress linked to the curriculum.  Since the last standard inspection, leaders have made encouraging developments. However, understanding pupils’ prior knowledge gaps and assessing progress remain

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Main inspection findings

inconsistent. Foundational gaps in literacy, especially phonics, sentence construction and syntax, persist and limit pupils’ access to the wider curriculum. Assessment is not systematic or diagnostic enough to inform teaching effectively. The provision for pupils with special educational needs/and or disabilities (SEND), though well intentioned, is not consistently tailored to individual needs. As a result, pupils do not consistently make secure progress from their starting points.  These standards are not met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  Safeguarding remains effective. The policy aligns with statutory requirements and is embedded in practice. At Blackwater Academy, safeguarding is a culture, not just a policy. Staff show vigilance and professionalism to ensure pupils feel safe and supported. Systems are robust. For example, concerns are reported in real time via a QR code, and

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Main inspection findings

records are kept electronically and on paper. Attendance is monitored weekly with the local authority, and welfare checks are prompt. Pupils say they feel safe, and staff understand their safeguarding duties.  These standards continue to be met. Paragraph 32(1)(c)  The school continues to publish its arrangements for safeguarding pupils on its website. This document is in line with statutory guidance.  This standard continues to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3) to 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(c) to 21(7)(b)  Since the last standard inspection, additional staff have joined class teams. The school’s safer recruitment practices are thorough and responsive. Leaders ensure every adult on site is suitable and safe. All required checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service, Section 128 and prohibition from teaching, are completed and documented. Risk

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Main inspection findings

assessments are carried out for staff with disclosures, as necessary, and the single central record is well maintained. Leaders act quickly to address minor administrative gaps and remain open to feedback.  These standards continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the last standard inspection, leaders’ checks on curriculum delivery were ineffective. They did not identify when staff needed extra support or training. As a result, the proprietor lacked an accurate view of how well pupils were learning. This oversight meant that the school did not meet all independent school standards for the quality of education.  Since the last inspection, leaders submitted an action plan to the Department for Education (DfE) to address unmet standards. The plan was reviewed on 11 July 2025 and judged unsuitable. Leaders have since revised it. The new plan clearly sets out

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Main inspection findings

actions and timescales to ensure all remaining standards are met.  Leaders at Blackwater Academy are committed to doing what is right for pupils. They are reflective, responsive, and focused on meeting the needs of a complex cohort. Their openness to feedback and drive for improvement are clear. Leaders have a strong vision for improvement, and staff feel supported. Professional development is ongoing. There is a shared understanding of strengths and areas for development, and leaders remain receptive to feedback.  Leaders know further work is needed to secure consistently high-quality education. They understand the actions required to improve assessment, monitor progress, and ensure the curriculum is implemented and adapted effectively. Their plans are realistic and well considered. However, these actions are not yet fully in place. This means some standards in part 1 remain unmet. As leaders have not ensured compliance with all standards,

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Main inspection findings

those in part 8 relating to leadership and management are also not met.  These standards are not met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. 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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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £16,000 to £45,000

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School details

Email address info@blackwateracademy.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 11 February, 25 and 26 February 2025

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Information about this school

 Blackwater Academy offers places for pupils aged 11 to 20 years.  The school operates from 14 Riverside Drive, Stechford, Birmingham B33 9BF.  The previous standard inspection took place on 11 February, 25 and 26 February 2025.  The school provides education for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.  Many pupils only attend the school for a short period of time and sometimes for specific days as part of an alternative provision made by their school and local authority. Pupils are admitted to the school through several local authorities, including Stoke-on-Trent and Solihull.  Since the last standard inspection, there have been several changes to the teaching staff group, including the appointment of a number of subject specialist teachers.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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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 school’s progress in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged not to comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspection started on 15 October 2025. Inspectors returned on 11 November 2025 to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: Deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy . The evidence gathered from both visits was used to inform the final judgments.  At the school’s last inspection, which took place on 11 February, 25 and 26 February 2025, the school did not comply with all the independent school standards.  The Department for Education required the school to prepare an action plan.  Ofsted evaluated this action plan on 11 July 2025. The action plan was rejected by the

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Information about this inspection

department for education.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since the previous standard inspection.  The leaders were not given any prior notice of this progress monitoring inspection. The inspectors arrived at the start of the school day.  The inspectors met with the proprietor, the headteacher, the deputy headteacher and a group of staff members. An inspector also met with the proprietor’s representative and the school’s quality improvement officer.  The inspectors examined several policies, schemes of work and plans, visited classrooms, spoke to pupils, and looked at work in pupils’ books.  The inspectors met with the designated safeguarding leaders to discuss safeguarding procedures and review relevant documentation.  The inspectors examined the school’s most recent action plan and considered evidence of progress against planned actions. The inspector discussed the progress against the

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Information about this inspection

previously unmet independent school standards with the proprietor, the headteacher, deputy headteacher, and the chair of governors.

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Inspection team

Mel Ford, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Chris Pollitt, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain unmet at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress;

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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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(2)For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(h) that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress; and

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(b) fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves; – 3(c) involves well-planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught; 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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