Ellen House Secondary

Ellen House Secondary Ellen House, Waddington Street, Oldham OL9 6QH

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inspection report:

Overall outcome The school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the material change relating to the school provision is implemented

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inspection report:

This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), which is the registration authority for independent schools. The school has applied to the DfE to make a material change to its registration. The school proposes to change the maximum number of pupils attending.

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inspection report:

The purpose of the inspection is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out material change inspections of independent schools, we report on the school’s likely compliance with part 8 of the independent school standards first. Under part 8, the proprietor is required to ensure that the school meets all of the independent school standards consistently. The standard in part 8 is intended to ensure that the quality of leadership and management at the school is sufficient for that purpose.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has an appropriate knowledge of the independent school standards (the standards). It has carefully planned for the proposed further increase to the number of pupils that the school will admit. For example, a sufficient number of additional classrooms have been furnished to a high standard. These are within the current building. The proprietor has also considered the staffing arrangements required to ensure that an adequate number of teachers will be in post, should the number of pupils increase. It is committed to providing a high quality of education and actively promotes the wellbeing of pupils. The proprietor has ensured that all the standards checked during this inspection are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has followed current statutory guidance in the development of its arrangements to keep pupils safe. There is a suitable and up-to-date safeguarding policy in place, which is published on the school’s website. It is supported by effective arrangements to keep pupils safe and to promote their welfare. For example, members of staff receive appropriate safeguarding training that supports them in being able to identify potential safeguarding concerns for pupils. Staff have a secure understanding of localised safeguarding risks and provide pupils with additional support in managing these.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has ensured that those staff responsible for leading safeguarding have been trained to the required level. The designated safeguarding lead is supported well by the deputy safeguarding lead. Timely action is taken to record and respond to any safeguarding concerns. This includes working effectively with external partners. This helps to ensure that pupils are kept safe.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

There is an up-to-date health and safety policy in place. The policy is adhered to and is suitable should the proposed material change be granted. The proprietor has ensured that the school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Regular fire safety checks of the premises are conducted, and these are appropriately logged. The additional classrooms that the proprietor has established have the same required fire safety features as the rest of the school. This includes clear fire evacuation signage, emergency lighting and access to fire extinguishers.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

There is a suitable first-aid policy in place. An appropriate number of staff have relevant first-aid qualifications, including paediatric first aid. Furthermore, there is safe storage of medication, coupled with effective record-keeping for the administration of first aid and/or medication.

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Risk assessment

The proprietor has prioritised the welfare of pupils. It takes necessary steps to reduce risks to pupils and staff. For example, there is an appropriate risk assessment policy in place. Appropriate risk assessments are in place for different aspects of learning that pupils experience. These include risk assessments for the science laboratory and for external trips and visits. The proprietor has ensured that the standards in part 3 that were checked during the inspection are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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The recruitment checks made on staff, supply staff and the proprietor

The proprietor has a detailed understanding of the standards in relation to the suitability of staff. It has ensured that all necessary checks are made on staff prior to their employment at the school. Since the school opened in September 2024, no supply staff have been used.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

A single central record is in place and contains an up-to-date log of all the necessary pre-employment checks and information. This is stored electronically. The single central record includes records relating to the proprietor. All the suitability checks, including those related to the leadership and management of the school, have been carried out. This includes those checks required under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The proprietor has completed appropriate safer recruitment training to support the appointment of suitable staff to work in the school.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in part 4 that were checked during the inspection are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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and showers

The proprietor has ensured that there are an appropriate number of toilets, washing facilities, changing accommodation and showers available to meet the proposed increase in pupil numbers. These facilities are decorated to a high standard and include disabled access. There is an adequate supply of hot and cold water. The temperature of hot water is suitable and does not pose a scalding risk to users. Appropriate checks are routinely carried out to monitor the quality of the water.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

There is a suitable dedicated medical room in the school. It contains a bed, washing facilities and appropriately stocked first-aid kits. There is a toilet immediately next door to this room. The proprietor has established a sensory room within the building. At the time of the inspection, there were no pupils attending the school who had therapeutic needs.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The premises are clean, tidy and maintained to a high standard. They do not pose a risk to the health of pupils and staff.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Throughout the building, there are appropriate acoustics, lighting and heating. This helps pupils to be able to focus on their learning. There is external lighting to ensure that pupils, staff, parents and carers can enter and leave the site safely in the hours of darkness.

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Outdoor space

The proprietor has ensured that there is a suitable and secure outdoor space for pupils to play in when they are not in lessons. Playtimes are sufficiently well staffed to oversee the safety and wellbeing of pupils. The proprietor has ensured that the use of this space will be timetabled to include staggered breaktimes and lunchtimes to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers. This outdoor space is also used for aspects of physical education.

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Outdoor space

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in part 5 that were checked during the inspection are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The school has an appropriate accessibility plan in place which ensures that schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 is met.

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. Inspectors checked the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014. Following our renewed inspection framework, all inspections are now led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs) or by Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) who have previously served as HMIs.

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About this inspection

The focus of the inspection was to explore whether the school would meet the required independent school standards for increasing the maximum number of pupils on roll from 80 to 180.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with both proprietors and the headteacher during the inspection, as well as pupils and staff.

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About this inspection

The inspector confirmed the following information about the school:

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About this inspection

The school is located at Ellen House, Waddington Street, Oldham OL9 6QH.

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About this inspection

The school does not currently use any alternative provision.

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About this school

Proprietors Mohammed Iqbal Ali and Ejazur Rahman Headteacher Ammar Sheikh Type of school Other independent school Capacity 80 Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Number of part-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Age range of pupils 11 to 16 Gender of pupils Boys Annual fees for day pupils £3360 Email address admin@ellenhousesecondary.org inspects services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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About this school

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About this school

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About this school

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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