Educ8 Leicestershire

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Educ8 Leicestershire Allexton Youth and Community Centre, Frolesworth Road, New Parks, Leicester, Leicestershire LE3 6LP

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1) and 2(1)(a)  At the time of its standard inspection in June 2025, the school did not have an appropriate phonics programme in place. Pupils had negative attitudes towards reading. Pupils at the early stages of learning to read did not receive the support that they needed to read fluently and accurately.  The school has begun to put actions in place to improve the teaching of reading. For example, it has chosen a phonics programme and has ensured that some staff have received training to deliver this. However, the school has not yet implemented the programme. Therefore, pupils who have gaps in their phonics knowledge do not receive the support that they need to read fluently.  Leaders have ensured that the school environment promotes a love of reading through a new inviting library area and a range of new texts. Pupils understand the importance of

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Main inspection findings

learning to read. However, it is too soon to see the impact of this work on pupils’ achievement and attitudes to reading.  The school has ensured that curriculum plans and schemes of work are suitably well sequenced. These support the school’s curriculum policy in providing staff with clear expectations of teaching and learning. However, the school’s curriculum policy is not implemented consistently well. Leaders are taking appropriate actions to address this.  Paragraphs 3, 3(a), 3(c), 3(e), 3(h)  The recommendation from the last Ofsted inspection to strengthen pupils’ achievement is in the early stages of being addressed. Some learning tasks do not support pupils to make secure progress from their starting points, as they are not matched well to their needs. A lack of effective teaching means that pupils are supervised rather than taught in some subjects.  Some pupils join the school with significant gaps in their knowledge. While leaders have

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Main inspection findings

ensured that plans identify the important knowledge that pupils should learn and are sequenced well, teaching does not consistently follow these plans. The lack of effective phonics teaching hinders pupils’ progress and achievement in reading and writing.  The school has implemented a new programme for teaching personal, social and health education. There is a clear link to the promotion of fundamental British values within the programme. However, it is too soon to see the impact on pupils’ knowledge and understanding of these values, as the programme is in its infancy.  The school has recently implemented a new strategy for managing pupils’ behaviour. However, pupils do not understand fully the intent behind the new system. The strategies for managing pupils’ behaviour are used inconsistently by staff. Consequently, standards of behaviour remain variable.  The previously unmet independent school standards (the standards) in this part remain

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Main inspection findings

unmet. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 9 and 9(b)  At the last standard inspection, inspectors found that the school’s behaviour policy was not implemented consistently well. This remains the case. The school does not follow its behaviour policy sufficiently closely or consistently, including when managing incidents of poor behaviour. There is inconsistency in the way these incidents are dealt with and recorded by staff.  Pupils feel safe in school and can identify who they would go to if they had a concern. Relationships between members of staff and pupils are highly positive. Staff know pupils well and care deeply about them.  The previously unmet standards in this part remain unmet. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy reflects the most up-to-date guidance. It is made available to parents and carers on request. The safeguarding policy is also on the

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Main inspection findings

school’s website.  The proprietor has ensured that the requirements of this standard continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  At the time of the school’s last standard inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that all of the independent school standards were met. There were inconsistencies in how well the school’s behaviour policy was implemented and how effectively the curriculum was taught.  The proprietor has strengthened leadership in the school, including at governance level. They have identified the right priorities for improvement and made progress towards addressing the unmet standards. They recognise that there remains further work to do to improve the quality of teaching and the use of appropriate strategies for managing pupils’ behaviour.  There is now a strengthened executive board. Its members are supporting one another

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Main inspection findings

to bring about positive change in school. The proprietor has recently engaged external support to provide professional challenge, coaching for the senior leadership team and advice to the school. This includes advising on the processes necessary to comply with the standards. However, it is too early to measure the impact of the new initiatives.  The school has commissioned appropriate external support to develop staff expertise. New members of staff feel welcomed into the school. They experience a well-considered induction process.  The school has made positive changes to the behaviour policy and the curriculum plans. However, inconsistencies remain in the quality of teaching. The phonics programme is yet to be implemented, thus hindering pupils’ progress through the curriculum and their achievement.  The school does not follow its behaviour policy consistently well. This impacts on the wellbeing of pupils and their understanding of the behaviour policy. As a result of this,

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Main inspection findings

the school is not promoting the wellbeing of pupils effectively as outlined in paragraphs 34(1)(c) and 34(2). This requirement was previously met but is now unmet.  The requirements of the standards in this part are unmet.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £19,500 to £25,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 24 to 26 June 2025

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Information about this school

 The school’s most recent inspection was a standard inspection that took place in June 2025.  The school is located at Allexton Youth and Community Centre, Frolesworth Road, New Parks, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE3 6LP.  The school caters for pupils with moderate learning and behavioural difficulties, including social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils who attend the school have special educational needs and/or disabilities. A number of pupils have education, health and care plans.  The proprietor body has a limited company called Educ8 Leicestershire Limited. The governance of the school is overseen by an executive board.  The school is registered to admit up to 16 pupils, aged between 13 and 16 years old. At the time of the inspection, there were 15 pupils on the school’s roll.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  The acting headteacher has been in post since November 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.  The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. Ofsted evaluated the action plan in December 2025. The DfE rejected the action plan.  The school’s most recent standard inspection took place on 24 to 26 June 2025. At this inspection, the school was judged not to comply with the standards.  This was the school’s first monitoring inspection.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector spoke with the acting headteacher and other senior leaders. They also met with the proprietor.  The inspector considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks for staff 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.  The inspector spoke with pupils about their experience of school life, including their learning.

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Inspection team

Kirsty Norbury, 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 un-met at 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  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(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; – 3(h) utilises effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging pupils to act responsibly.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that– – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively.

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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. Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection

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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)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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