Beacon Independent School

Beacon Independent School 15 Market Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6JX

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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 its premises.

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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 of the setting is also the headteacher. He has an appropriate understanding of his responsibilities with respect to the independent school standards (the standards). The proprietor has clear oversight of the work of the school, for example, through regular checks on the quality of education pupils receive, through liaison with local authority commissioners and parents. This ensures that there is clear oversight of the standards. The proprietor has due regard for safeguarding practices. There are an extensive set of school policies that are regularly reviewed. This shows proven evidence of the proprietor’s ability to run a school with the relevant accountability structures in place to consistently meet the standards.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has needed to move the school to temporary premises. The school has sole use of this building. It is suitable for use as interim premises. The proposed new premises are a modern two-storey building on an industrial estate. The proprietor has already completed necessary building works to ensure its suitability.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The school is likely to meet the independent school standards in this part if the material change relating to the school are implemented.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor takes his responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils seriously. Recruitment practices and records reflect current guidance. There are staff who have been appointed since the previous inspection. The school understands its duty to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service, under section 35 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. There are appropriate designated safeguarding leaders in the school. They are knowledgeable about their roles and the pupils. Logs of concerns are detailed and allow leaders to have a clear overview of individual pupils. There is appropriate liaison with parents and carers. Pupils feel safe in the school and know they would be believed if they approached adults with a worry. They can articulate how they stay safe, including online. The school’s safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website.

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Safeguarding

Health and safety, fire and first aid, risk assessment.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has a detailed health and safety policy, and there are appropriate assessments of risks to pupils. These take into account pupils’ needs. There is due provision for pupils’ first aid and a log kept of incidents. The proprietor has due regard for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The fire equipment at the new building has had external review. There are smoke alarms, extinguishers and fire doors present, and the proprietor has conducted a fire risk assessment. There is appropriate regard for pupil health and safety at the temporary accommodation, which the school is currently using.

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Safeguarding

Risk assessments are in place for the proposed new building, which were reviewed. Appropriate actions are noted to reduce the risks that are identified. Again, these take into account pupils’ needs. The school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards in this part if the material change relating to the school are implemented.

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needs

The proposed new building was previously used as an office. It has undergone building work to meet the needs of the school. There are modern toilet facilities in the new building designated for pupil use only. These come with wash basins. Drinking water is marked as such and is separate from the toilet facilities. Water temperature is appropriately regulated. The proprietor is proposing to continue with the arrangement of using a nearby sports centre for physical education. This will provide shower facilities as needed.

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needs

The proprietor has designated a medical room suitable for the examination and treatment of pupils. The medical room has a washing facility. There is a toilet nearby.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils, lighting and acoustic

The school takes its responsibilities with respect to health and safety seriously. There is a comprehensive health and safety policy in place. This is implemented with care. There are appropriate checks in place for the new building, including checks for the water supply. Risk assessments are in place for the new building. These take into account pupils’ needs.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils, lighting and acoustic

The proposed new building is modern with ample natural light supplemented by electric lights. The acoustic conditions are suitable for the purposes of a school. There is appropriate external lighting for pupils and staff to enter and leave the building safely.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils, lighting and acoustic

The new building has enclosed outdoor space to the rear of the building suitable for pupils to play.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils, lighting and acoustic

The school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards in this part if the material change relating to the school are implemented.

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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.

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About this inspection

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.

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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 school intends to move to new premises located at Security House, Littleton, Drive, Cannock WS12 4TS. The inspection was commissioned by the DfE to determine if these premises are suitable to meet the independent school standards.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with the proprietor and headteacher as well as a number of other staff during the inspection. He spoke to parents, pupils and 2 representatives of the local authority. The inspector toured the school’s proposed new premises to evaluate the likelihood of meeting the standards in part 5. He also reviewed a number of policies and intended systems and processes for managing the school at the new premises as well as those at the current, temporary premises at 176 Watling Street, Cannock WS11 OBD.

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About this inspection

The inspector toured the school’s current temporary premises at 176 Watling Street as part of a check on arrangements to safeguard the pupils.

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About this inspection

The inspector 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 school is designed to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those with education, health and care plans, with a particular focus on those with autism, SEMH needs, MLD and specific learning difficulties.

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About this inspection

The school uses no alternative provision.

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About this inspection

As the school has not been able to remain in its registered address of 15 Market Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6JX, it is currently operating from 176 Watling Street, Cannock WS11 OBD as a temporary arrangement pending approval of this material change. The school moved to these premises in December 2025.

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About this school

Proprietor JLE Page Education Ltd Headteacher Mr John Page Type of school Other Independent Special School Capacity 18 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 9 to 16 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £50,000 to £62,000 Email address jlepageeducation@hotmail.com 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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