Farnham Common School

Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 1 Farnham Common School Ashley House, 1 the Broadway, Farnham Common SL2 3PQ

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report:

Overall outcome The school is unlikely to meet all the independent school standards if it is registered

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report:

The purpose of this inspection was to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the proposed school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards and associated requirements that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out pre-registration inspections of proposed independent schools, we report on the provider’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 does not demonstrate the necessary understanding of the independent school standards (the standards) that is needed. Consequently, there are a number of standards that are unlikely to be met should the school be registered. For example, the proprietor lacked knowledge of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Pupils are unlikely to be safe if the school opens as currently proposed. For example, access in and out of the school, including access to the pupils’ outdoor space, is through shared corridors with a dental surgery. This poses a risk to the pupils as there will be members of the public on site throughout the school day who have not been vetted. In addition, pupils can potentially access unlocked treatment rooms and significant x-ray equipment. Furthermore, not all fire escape Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 2 routes are suitable as exit points for pupils with more complex needs that the school intends to admit.

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Curriculum

The curriculum policy is suitable. The proposed curriculum demonstrates an appropriate breadth of core, foundation and vocational subjects. Leaders intend for pupils to work towards recognised and accredited qualifications.

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Curriculum

The proprietor intends that all the pupils at the proposed school will have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders have considered how they will gain an understanding of pupils’ individual needs on entry. They intend to adapt the planned curriculum to meet the individual starting points of pupils.

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Curriculum

Leaders have the appropriate experience to ensure that any gaps in pupils’ earlier education, including in phonics, reading, writing and mathematics are suitably addressed where necessary.

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Curriculum

There is a clear and appropriate plan to implement a suitable careers programme.

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Curriculum

Leaders demonstrate an understanding that they will need to adapt the relationships and sex and health education curriculum sensitively so that pupils gain age ‑ appropriate knowledge of health, wellbeing and personal safety.

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Teaching

The proprietor has ensured that staff are appointed with appropriate skills and qualifications. Leaders intend that all teachers will hold qualified teacher status. The proposed curriculum gives teachers clear guidance about what to teach and when. Leaders have a secure understanding of how they will ensure the quality of teaching is maintained over time, including through regular checks to ensure that it continues to meet pupils’ needs.

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Assessment

Leaders plan to assess pupils on entry to understand pupils’ individual starting points. They will use this information to identify gaps in learning and tailor the curriculum around the specific needs of individual pupils. Leaders will regularly review the quality of provision to ensure teaching remains as effective as possible.

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Assessment

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered. Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 3

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pupils

The proprietor and school leaders demonstrate a strong moral purpose, which is reflected in their plans for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and the curriculum for personal, social and health education. Together, these will help to develop pupils’ self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence and support them to understand right and wrong in society. Leaders plans also demonstrate how fundamental British values will be taught and how pupils will secure an understanding of protected characteristics. This will help to prepare for understanding their role in society.

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pupils

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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Safeguarding

The proposed school site poses a risk to pupils’ safeguarding. This is because leaders intend for pupils to access the school through a dental surgery. Although leaders state that pupils will always be supervised, pupils will use shared corridors daily to enter and leave the proposed school throughout the day. This creates the potential for regular contact with members of the public who are not known to the school. As a result, leaders cannot ensure the safety of pupils.

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Safeguarding

The headteacher has appropriate safeguarding training. However, the proprietor board did not demonstrate a secure understanding of their statutory responsibilities. The headteacher has a clear understanding of safer recruitment procedures. Leaders have secured the relevant checks on the single central record. The school has clear systems and procedures for identifying, recording and responding to concerns about pupils or the conduct of staff.

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Behaviour, anti-bullying and supervision of pupils

A suitable behaviour and anti-bullying policy is in place. These take into account the needs of pupils who may join the school. The policies clearly set out the expectations of pupils and how staff will record any incidents of poor behaviour.

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Behaviour, anti-bullying and supervision of pupils

The proposed school’s plans for supervision are appropriate. Leaders plan to adjust arrangements according to pupil numbers and individual needs. Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 4

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proposed school demonstrates some significant risks to health and safety. While the school has had a fire risk assessment completed by a registered assessor, it does not appear to have fully considered the needs of the pupils who will attend the proposed school. Not all fire exits open easily. An upstairs fire exit leads to a flat roof that has no safety railings. The fire escape from the flat roof is vertical and therefore not suitable for pupils with complex needs. At the time of inspection, large commercial bins and other bulky items were blocking the bottom of the fire escape.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

There is a suitable first-aid policy in place. The school’s plans for first-aid provision and training are appropriate to support pupils when required.

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Admissions and attendance

The proposed school expects to have suitable computer systems in place to record admissions and attendance. However, these have not yet been put in place. Leaders demonstrate a clear understanding that many pupils may not have had high attendance previously. As a result, they recognise the need to work with pupils, parents and carers as well as wider agencies to promote high levels of attendance.

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Risk assessment

There is a risk assessment policy in place. While leaders have a suitable understanding of the potential risks posed by individual pupils, as well as by trips and visitors, their understanding of risk assessments for the premises are not sufficiently rigorous and unlikely to be effective. This is demonstrated by the lack of controls in place for the shared corridors, some fire escape routes and the lack of a medical room.

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Risk assessment

The standards in this part are unlikely to be met if the school is registered.

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

Safer recruitment procedures are well understood by the headteacher. The appropriate checks on current staff and proprietors have been completed and recorded successfully. Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 5

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proprietor has ensured that an electronic single central record is in place. The record contains the relevant information relating to the checks completed on employees before their employment begins.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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and showers

The proposed school has separate toilet cubicles for staff and pupils. However, there is only one toilet available for pupil use. Each cubicle has a wash hand basin and drying facilities. However, the water pressure is weak, particularly the hot water supply.

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and showers

There is no designated area for changing and no showering facilities for washing after physical activity. Pupils would need to use a sink to wash if required on site. Leaders plan to use off-site sports facilities that will provide appropriate changing and showering facilities for physical education lessons.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

The proposed school does not have a medical room that meets requirements. The room currently shares space with one of the three teaching rooms. The medical bed has not been installed, and facilities to store medicine safely are on order.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

Drinking water is available for pupils during the school day. However, water supplies across the proposed school are not clearly labelled as suitable for drinking.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The proprietor has not ensured that the site is fully ready for pupils. Therefore, the health, safety and welfare of pupils cannot be assured. The proposed access corridors, fire processes, medical room facilities and outdoor environment are not suitable for pupils presently. As a result, pupils’ safety, wellbeing and integrity in times of medical need cannot be assured.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Classrooms, administration areas and other spaces are bright and well ventilated. The acoustics of the rooms are appropriate. Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 6

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Outdoor space

The outdoor space, while a suitable size, is not ready for pupils to use as astroturf is yet to be securely fitted and, at the point of inspection, presents a significant trip hazard. In order to access the outdoor space, pupils are required to use the shared corridors of a dental surgery. While the space is suitable for exercise and recreation, it is not suitable for the delivery of the physical education curriculum.

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Outdoor space

The school’s car park is not ready for uses either as a car park for staff and visitors, or as a drop-off point for pupils. It is currently used by other members of staff that are not associated with the school, as well as being cluttered with items such as rubbish, machinery and large waste bins.

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Outdoor space

The standards in this part are not likely to be met if the school is registered.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school’s website lists many of the necessary policies and procedures. Most of the required policies are available to parents on request. The school has appropriate plans in place to share information with parents about their child’s achievements at school.

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Part 6. Provision of information

However, there are no suitable procedures in place for pupils who speak English as an additional language. As a result, the school is not yet able to ensure that all families can access key information about the school effectively.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The standards in this part are not likely to be met if the school is registered.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

There is a suitable complaints policy in place. It sets out all the required elements of the standards, including clear timescales for each stage of a complaint.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The school’s accessibility plan is appropriate and meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 7

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools.

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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 inspector spoke with the chair of the proprietor body the newly appointed headteacher and an external educational consultant during the inspection.

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About this inspection

The inspector confirmed the following information about the proposed school:

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About this inspection

The proprietor for this school is AE Discovery Group Ltd. The proprietor does not currently have any other registered independent schools.

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About this inspection

Farnham Common School is located at the following address: Ashley House, 1 the Broadway, Farnham Common SL2 3PQ.

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About this inspection

Farnham Common School proposes to open for 12 pupils, with an age range from 11 to 16. The school plans to support pupils with a range of special educational needs and/or disabilities, including autism, cognition and learning and social, emotional and mental health needs.

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About this inspection

The proprietor does not intend to use alternative provision.

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About this proposed school

Proprietor AE Discovery Group Limited Headteacher Kam Badwal Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 12 Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 8 Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Provider’s proposal: 12

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About this proposed school

Number of part-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Provider’s proposal: 0

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About this proposed school

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities on roll Provider’s proposal: 12

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About this proposed school

Number of pupils on roll who have an education, health and care plan, or who are looked after by a local authority Provider’s proposal: 12

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About this proposed school

Age range of pupils Provider’s proposal: 11 to 16 Gender of pupils Provider’s proposal: Mixed Total hours operating as a school per week Provider’s proposal: 32.5

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About this proposed school

Total hours of teaching provided per week Provider’s proposal: 24

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About this proposed school

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Provider’s proposal: 3

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About this proposed school

Number of part-time teaching staff Provider’s proposal: 1 Annual fees for day pupils £50,000 Email address admin@apolloeducation.co.uk

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005[12]. Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 9  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 23(1)(a) suitable toilet and washing facilities are provided for the sole use of pupils;  24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including- – 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils; – 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility; and  24(2) The accommodation provided under sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) may be used for other purposes (apart from teaching) provided it is always readily available to be used for the purposes set out in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).  25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.  28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 28(1)(b) toilets and urinals have an adequate supply of cold water and washing facilities have an adequate supply of hot and cold water; – 28(1)(c) cold water supplies that are suitable for drinking are clearly marked as such; and  29(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable- – 29(1)(b) pupils to play outside.

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor- Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 10 – 32(1)(b) the information specified in sub-paragraph (3) is made available to parents of pupils and parents of prospective pupils and, on request, to the Chief Inspector, the Secretary of State or an independent inspectorate;  32(3) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is- – 32(3)(b) particulars of educational and welfare provision for pupils with EHC plans and pupils for whom English is an additional language;

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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; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. Farnham Common School, 16 April 2026 11 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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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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