Great Howarth School

Great Howarth School Great Howarth Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 9HJ

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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 (the standards) first. Under part 8, the proprietor is required to ensure that the school meets all of the 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 a secure and thorough understanding of the standards and monitors compliance with these standards regularly.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Leaders demonstrate the knowledge required to run this independent school successfully and accommodate the material change request. They have experience of, and a commitment to, providing an effective school provision for pupils. They are likely to fulfil their responsibilities to promote the wellbeing of pupils. Should the material change applied for be agreed, the proprietor plans to recruit additional teachers and support staff as the school’s pupil numbers grow. The induction documentation for new staff makes it clear that they will undergo a full suite of safeguarding and other appropriate training on appointment.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has ensured that the standard in this part is likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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Safeguarding and provision of information

The proprietor has continued to ensure that there is a suitable safeguarding policy in place and that this is published on the school’s website. This policy has due regard to current statutory guidance.

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Safeguarding and provision of information

There are robust procedures in place for staff to report any concerns that they might have about a pupil’s welfare. Staff know and understand what these safeguarding procedures are. The school communicates effectively with other professionals to ensure that pupils are safe and well when they are not in school.

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Safeguarding and provision of information

Staff receive regular safeguarding training. This helps them to recognise when pupils may be at risk of harm. The proprietor knows that the school must carry out the required checks on the suitability of staff whenever it appoints new ones.

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Health and safety, fire safety, supervision of pupils and risk assessment

The proprietor has a health and safety policy that has been suitably adapted to take account of the whole-school refurbishments and the additional new school building. It complies with all relevant laws. Regular fire-safety checks of the existing and new building are, and will be, regularly completed. The proprietor has put checks and record-keeping in place to ensure the existing refurbished school building and the new school extension comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Health and safety, fire safety, supervision of pupils and risk assessment

Pupils are supervised by the deployment of sufficient staff, including at breaktimes, when arriving at school and on leaving the school premises. The proposed increase in staffing numbers is appropriate for the proprietor’s requested increase in pupil numbers, should this material change be approved.

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Health and safety, fire safety, supervision of pupils and risk assessment

A written risk assessment policy is in place. The existing risk assessments show that leaders take appropriate actions to minimise risks to pupils. This includes risk assessments for the new school building and grounds, staff, events, and individual pupils. The school has made appropriate arrangements to ensure that its computer network has appropriate monitoring and filtering systems in place. This is to ensure pupils’ safety when they are working online.

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Health and safety, fire safety, supervision of pupils and risk assessment

The proprietor has ensured that the relevant standards in this part and the requirements in paragraph 32(1)(c) are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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staff, and proprietors

A single central record is in place and meets the statutory requirements. The proprietor understands the need to complete all the required checks on the suitability of staff before they take up an appointment.

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staff, and proprietors

Records relating to the proprietor are included on the school’s single central record. All of the suitability checks, including those relating to the leadership and management of a school, have been carried out.

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staff, and proprietors

The proprietor and senior leaders have completed appropriate training to support the appointment of suitable staff to work in the school. Leaders are aware of the procedures that they should follow in the event of employing supply staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with pupils.

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staff, and proprietors

The school does not engage volunteers. However, staff are clear about their responsibility for checking the suitability of volunteers who may work with pupils if this does occur.

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staff, and proprietors

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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and showers

The whole-school refurbishment and additional new school building, subject to this material change, have been completed to a high standard.

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and showers

There are appropriate toilets and washing facilities. All the toilet cubicles can be secured from the inside. There is hot and cold running water. The hot water is set at an appropriate temperature. There are signs indicating if the water is not suitable for drinking. Pupils will have access to drinking water throughout the day.

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and showers

There are separate changing and shower facilities for boys and girls. They are clean and well-appointed.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

A medical room has been set aside. It has a sink within the room and easy access to a toilet. A bed and a first-aid kit were in the medical room at the time of the inspection, as was a lockable medicine cupboard.

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acoustic conditions

The accommodation throughout has been well considered and is of a high standard. It meets all requirements for the health, safety, and welfare of pupils. This includes suitable acoustics and lighting. Teaching rooms have a suitable source of natural light. The exterior and interior lighting is of an appropriate standard. Access through main doorways and gates is via keypads.

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Outdoor space

Pupils will have access to an outdoor area that is safe. It will be an appropriate space in which pupils can play when not in lessons and for them to engage in physical education (PE) activities. These PE activities will be regularly timetabled in accordance with the school’s curriculum requirements.

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Outdoor space

The proprietor has ensured that the relevant standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The school’s accessibility plan has been revised to take account of the material change request and fully reflects statutory requirements.

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About this inspection

The inspector carried out this inspection under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The inspector 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.

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About this inspection

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 DfE commissioned this inspection in response to the school’s material change application to increase the number of pupils they would like to attend the school from 35 to 90. However, at the time of the inspection, the proprietor had reconsidered this number. In the light of the completion of the building and refurbishment works, the proprietor feels a more suitable maximum capacity would be 75 pupils. The inspector agrees, and therefore recommends a maximum capacity of 75 pupils.

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About this inspection

This was the first material change inspection since the standard inspection in May 2024.

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About this inspection

The inspector met with the headteacher, who is also the designated safeguarding lead, and other senior staff.

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About this inspection

The inspector met remotely with representatives of the proprietor body, including the chief operating officer, the managing director of education and the head of governance. She also met with the regional director who has educational oversight of this school and others within the company.

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About this inspection

The inspector made a tour of the school including the refurbished site and the new school building to check the suitability of the premises against the relevant standards.

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About this inspection

The inspectors looked at a wide variety of documentation in relation to the standards checked.

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About this inspection

The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are met.

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About this inspection

The inspector confirmed the following information about the school:

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About this inspection

To accommodate this material change, the proprietor has undertaken whole-school refurbishments to the existing building. This comprises several new teaching rooms, including for specialist teaching, revamped communal spaces and freshly appointed kitchens. It is intended that this provision will accommodate the proposed increased numbers of secondary and post-16 pupils. The proprietor has additionally developed a large, one-storey, purpose-built building on the school site. This building is intended to accommodate the proposed increased numbers of key stage 2 pupils. It comprises 5 classrooms, a reception area, staff room, and offices.

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About this inspection

All pupils who attend this school have special educational needs and/or disabilities. All have an education, health, and care plan. Pupils’ needs include social, emotional, and mental health needs and autism.

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About this inspection

The school uses one unregistered alternative provision.

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About this inspection

The school operates from premises at Great Howarth Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 9HJ

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About this inspection

The school currently has an agreed capacity with the DfE for 35 pupils.

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About this inspection

The proprietor is Horizon Care and Education Group Limited. The proprietor acts as the governing body for the school.

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About this school

Proprietor Horizon Care and Education Group Limited Headteacher Gavin Hosford Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 35 Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Age range of pupils 7 to 18 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £75,356 to £113,430 Email address gavin.hosford@horizoncare.co.uk 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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