Oakwood School

Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 1 Oakwood School Unit 2, The Oaks Business Park, Shepherds Lane, Shrewsbury SY3 8BT

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report:

Overall outcome The school does not meet all of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection

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report:

At its most recent inspection, the school was judged to not meet all of the independent school standards and associated requirements.

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report:

The purpose of this 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.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out progress monitoring 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

Since the previous inspection, the proprietor has appointed an acting headteacher. The school has some new staff and two unfilled vacancies for teaching assistants. There is also a new regional educational leader. The change of leaders and vacancies for staff mean that the school currently has significant organisational fragility.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

At the last inspection, inspectors found that the school was not implementing the behaviour policy effectively. The proprietor submitted an action plan to the Department for Education. The action plan was deemed to be appropriate and was approved.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Since the previous inspection, the proprietor has implemented the action plan in the timescales suggested by the accepted plan. However, the actions taken have not led to staff in the school being able to consistently and effectively manage pupils’ behaviour. Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 2 Therefore, the school has not thoroughly or urgently taken effective action to address the weaknesses found at the last inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Additionally, there are a number of other standards that were found to be unmet during this progress monitoring inspection. Some of the unmet standards relate to the safety and wellbeing of pupils in the school.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has not ensured that those responsible for the leadership and management of the school demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to consistently meet the independent school standards.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has not ensured that all of the standards in this part are met.

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Curriculum, teaching and assessment

There is a curriculum policy and some schemes of work in place. However, leaders recognise that more appropriate curriculum plans are needed, particularly in the primary phase. Leaders have planned a new primary curriculum, but this has not yet been implemented. Pupils’ work is typically weak. Often, pupils do not follow the school’s expectation of how work will be laid out. Some books contain profanities which have not been addressed. Much work is of a very low level, has very low demand, is missing or incomplete. Sometimes, teachers’ modelling of writing is weak and their writing on pupils’ work is illegible.

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Curriculum, teaching and assessment

Teachers do not, generally, adapt the curriculum plans well enough to meet pupils’ particular needs. In addition, pupils’ learning is often disrupted through weak behaviour. Sometimes, the resources that teachers use offer very limited challenge. As a result, pupils’ learning is generally limited.

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Curriculum, teaching and assessment

As a result of weaknesses in assessment, leaders do not have a full-enough view of pupils’ attainment and are unable to use assessment to consistently improve pupils’ progress.

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Curriculum, teaching and assessment

The proprietor has not ensured that all of the standards in this part are met.

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Safeguarding

The school has an up-to-date safeguarding policy. It is on the school’s website.

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Safeguarding

There are risks in the school which the proprietor has not addressed. Therefore, the safeguarding standard is not met. Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 3

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

At the last inspection, inspectors found that the behaviour policy was not being implemented effectively. The school did not have sufficient oversight of pupils’ behaviour and therefore the school’s work to improve pupils’ behaviour was not as effective as it could be.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

Leaders have developed a new behaviour policy. This policy takes into account the needs of pupils in the school. Staff have received training. Staff record incidents and the school is beginning to identify trends in pupils’ behaviour. However, the policy is not implemented as well as it needs to be. Staff do not consistently demonstrate the skills to manage pupils’ behaviour effectively. This means that pupils’ wellbeing and welfare are at risk as they remain distressed for longer than they might, and incidents are more likely to escalate. This, in turn, leads to pupils not making the progress that they are capable of.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

The school has undertaken a supervision risk assessment. Leaders ensure that pupils are supervised as they enter and leave the site and as they move around the site. In response to some identified risks, the proprietor intends to make the car park area safer and to install safe fencing around a garden area. This work has not yet begun. Therefore, this area is not as safe as it needs to be.

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Health and safety, risk assessments and fire

While there are health and safety, risk assessment and fire risk assessment policies in place, these are not implemented effectively. The school has not noticed a range of risks to pupils in the building.

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Health and safety, risk assessments and fire

There are serious fire safety risks in the building. At the time of the inspection, some staff did not have the ability to set off a fire alarm because they did not know that the fire alarms are key operated. Additionally, most external fire doors are operated with keys meaning that to exit the building in the event of a fire staff must work through keyrings of keys to find the correct one to exit the building. One smoke detector was covered by a large sticker.

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Health and safety, risk assessments and fire

In some areas of the premises, the school has not identified serious risks to pupils. For example, in the library, narrow, high and fully stocked bookshelves are not secured to the walls and pose a serious crush risk to pupils. They are easily climbable. Low beams have rusty protruding bolts which could hurt a child. A Perspex panel has been smashed and is very sharp at the edges, posing another risk to pupils’ safety.

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Health and safety, risk assessments and fire

In a toilet area, the school has installed a hot water system but not boxed the hot-water pipes in, presenting a burn risk to pupils. Mains wiring with ducting covers missing is also accessible to pupils.

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Health and safety, risk assessments and fire

The proprietor has not ensured that all of the standards in this part are met. Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 4

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The school premises are not being maintained in a manner that promotes the health, safety and welfare of pupils. Some rooms have been decommissioned because they are not in a fit state to be used as classrooms or spaces for pupils to calm. Other spaces are not kept in a tidy way. Others are being used to store piles of disused furniture.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

Some classrooms are not warm or welcoming learning environments because displays have been removed and rough notice boards remain. There is inappropriate graffiti mentioning current pupils by name on a whiteboard in a classroom. In some areas, very sharp staples protrude from notice boards where displays have been removed. In others, window bolts are broken so windows cannot be properly shut.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

At the time of the inspection, there were large bins in classrooms full of refuse that had not been emptied. Other spaces in the school were generally untidy with piles of resources left out where they should not be. These things pose a more significant risk given the context of the school where pupils can become distressed and throw items at staff and each other.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The proprietor has not ensured that all of the standards in this part are met.

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Outdoor space

Some of the school’s outdoor space is decommissioned because it is not appropriate for pupils to use. It is surrounded by fragile wooden fencing which is awaiting replacement. The school’s main playground has missing internal fencing panels between the playground and path. This leaves trip hazards at the edge of the playground. The risk of these trip hazards is exacerbated by a drop on the other side of the missing fence panels onto hard pathways. Therefore, the outdoor space is not suitable.

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under sections 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. Inspectors checked the school's 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 compliance with the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Stand- ards) Regulations 2014. Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 5 Following our updated 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, in addition to evaluating progress in meeting the standards failed at the last inspection, was to evaluate the extent to which the school’s curriculum takes into account the ages, aptitude and needs of all pupils, including those of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The Department for Education also commis- sioned Ofsted to evaluate the health and safety and risk assessment arrangements in the school.

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About this inspection

Inspectors 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

Inspectors spoke with a representative of the proprietor, the acting headteacher and other staff during the inspection.

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About this inspection

This inspection was conducted without notice.

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About this inspection

Ofsted conducted an additional inspection in October 2025 at which the school was judged not to comply with the independent school standards. Following this, the Department for Education required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. Ofsted evaluated this plan in February 2026. The Department for Education accepted this action plan in March 2026.

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About this inspection

The last standard inspection was in November 2023.

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About this inspection

This was the first progress monitoring visit.

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About this inspection

The school caters for pupils who have significant trauma and social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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About this inspection

The school uses no alternative provision.

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About this inspection

The school is registered to admit 30 pupils.

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About this school

Proprietor Cambian Childcare Ltd Headteacher Alison Lewis (Interim) Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 6 Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 30

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compulsory school age on roll

Age range of pupils 5 to 16 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £59,993 Email address Alison.Lewis@cambiangroup.com

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 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 pupils with an EHC plan; and  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(b) that pupils acquire speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy skills; – 2(2)(h) that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress; and – 2(2)(i) effective preparation of pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society.  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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 3(b) fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 7 – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range; – 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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

can progress; – 3(h) utilises effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging pupils to act responsibly;  4 The standard in this paragraph is met where the proprietor ensures that a framework for pupil performance to be evaluated, by reference to the school's own aims as provided to parents or national norms, or to both, is in place.

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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 – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that- – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively; 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].  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

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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

 25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the 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. Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 8  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)(a) physical education to be provided to pupils in accordance with the school curriculum; and – 29(1)(b) pupils to play outside.

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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. Oakwood School, 16 April 2026 9 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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