Sandwell Valley School

School progress monitoring inspection report SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Sandwell Valley School 150 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, West Bromwich B70 6QT

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 3, 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(g)  The proprietor has ensured that a well-designed curriculum is in place. This is supported by long- and medium-term plans that set out what is to be learned and when. These are underpinned by the individual learning plans in place for every pupil, which support adaptations based on the identified needs of pupils. Leaders continuously review and improve the curriculum, pre-empting emerging needs. As a result, they continue to work on improving resources, including the knowledge organisers which are now in place. These improvements have had a significant impact on pupils’ motivation and ability to work more independently when appropriate.  Assessment is frequent, detailed and accurate. This ensures that teachers know precisely what all pupils need, including those with an education, health and care (EHC) plan.

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Main inspection findings

Teachers draw on their knowledge of each pupil to employ the most effective strategies, teaching lessons that take pupils’ individual gaps and barriers into account, addressing these effectively.  Reading is a clear priority across the school. Pupils increasingly enjoy the opportunity to read new and challenging texts. There is now a suitable phonics scheme in place for those who are still at an early stage of reading. All teaching staff have received training. Those pupils who accessed this support make clear progress and are proud of the improvement they have made. They are increasingly able to access the wider curriculum more effectively.  The established learning pathways of Nurture, Venture and Aspire are carefully designed to meet the different needs and abilities of pupils. However, flexibility is built in so that those who may benefit from other pathways for some parts of their education can do so.

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Main inspection findings

As a result, pupils access learning that is matched to their needs across the curriculum.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 16, 16(a), 16(b)  Leaders have established a strong culture of safeguarding that goes well beyond effective implementation of the policy published on the school’s website. In line with SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Main inspection findings

statutory guidance, they have ensured that staff are alert to signs of risk, recognise potential eventualities and take the right action. This translates to pupils who feel safe because they trust staff to do what is right for them. In the very rare cases when placements break down, leaders go to great lengths to meet the needs of pupils and their families. Only when all options have been exhausted do they take the step of removing a child from the school roll. They follow both national guidance and their own ethical drive so that support continues to be provided, where necessary, even where the child has moved on to another provider. For instance, providing risk assessments for subsequent placements that are detailed and based on in-depth knowledge of the individual’s needs, abilities and trigger points as well as tried and tested strategies for support.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor has implemented the action plan accepted by the Department for Education (DfE). This has ensured that the unmet standards of the previous inspection have now been met. All evidence suggests that they will continue to be so. This is because the curriculum review and renewal has been undertaken with a clear vision of what the pupils in this school require to succeed in education and future life. In doing so, leaders have demonstrated the good skills and knowledge required. Specialist advice has been sought and applied throughout the review process. As a result, leaders have achieved their vision of a curriculum that recognises need in and out of the classroom but also encourages aspiration. Pupils recognise this and appreciate it. They feel cared for and supported to take their place in society. They actively contribute to their

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Main inspection findings

community through well-considered activities, including visiting the elderly in care homes. These activities give them a real sense of pride and belonging, fostering their sense of themselves as valuable and valued.

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Main inspection findings

 The school meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 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(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those With an EHC plan; 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 skills in the subjects taught; 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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;  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 promote the well-being of pupils. SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 4

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £23,000 to £66,000

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 17 to 19 June 2025

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Information about this school

 The school offers places to pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. It also offers places to pupils who have other special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those with an EHC plan.  The school’s most recent standard inspection was in June 2025. At this inspection, the school received a grade of requires improvement for its overall effectiveness. SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Information about this school

 The school makes use of two unregistered alternative provisions.  The school is located at 150 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich B70 6QT.  The school is registered to admit 175 pupils. SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring visit since its standard inspection in June 2025. The inspection was carried out with no notice.  Following the standard inspection, the DfE required the school to prepare an action plan. Ofsted evaluated the plan on 15 January 2025. The DfE judged this plan to be acceptable on 8 October 2025.  The lead inspector held discussions with the chair of the proprietor body, the principal and other senior leaders about the leadership and management of the school, their work to review and renew the curriculum, the assessment framework and professional

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Information about this inspection

development opportunities for staff. The lead inspector visited lessons, spoke with students and reviewed their work.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements. The lead inspector reviewed the school’s single central record and arrangements for recording and monitoring safeguarding concerns.

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Inspection team

Mel Ford, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection team

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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