Educ8 Liverpool

Educ8 Liverpool, 14 April 2026 1 Educ8 Liverpool Elm Road, Seaforth, Liverpool, Merseyside L21 3TG

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report:

Overall outcome The school meets 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 (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

When the school received its standard inspection, the standards in part 8 were unmet. Inspectors found that the proprietor and school leaders lacked the knowledge and understanding needed to ensure that the school met all the standards securely and consistently. Consequently, a number of standards were not met. These weaknesses put pupils’ wellbeing and safety at serious risk.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

At the previous progress monitoring inspection in October 2025, the inspector found that with the support, advice and guidance of external advisors, the proprietor and leaders had taken appropriate action to meet most of the standards that were checked. However, the inspector found that the proprietor and school leaders were over-reliant upon the expertise and support provided by external providers. Without this support and expertise, Educ8 Liverpool, 14 April 2026 2 leaders lacked the capacity to embed and to build further upon the improvements identified.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When the school’s action plan was evaluated in January 2026, it was found not to be acceptable. In principle, the actions that the school proposed were found to be appropriate. However, the plan did not explain clearly enough how the school planned to build on the external expertise within its own staff to reduce its reliance on external support. In addition, the school’s leadership restructure was not due to take place until after Easter 2026. Furthermore, the school did not identify clearly enough lines of accountability within the school.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

At this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that the school has implemented its restructure much sooner than it intended to. External support has now reduced. The school is no longer over-reliant on this support to ensure that improvements are sustained. New positions, such as the executive headteacher position, have added strength to the school’s leadership structure. The proprietor has ensured that leaders have clear roles and responsibilities. This includes ensuring that the executive headteacher checks on the standard of education in school and reports this more swiftly to the executive board and proprietor. In addition, the executive headteacher and headteacher have the necessary knowledge and skills to support the proprietor in ensuring that the standards are met consistently.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Since the school’s standard inspection in May 2025, the proprietor has strengthened school governance. The executive board robustly holds school leaders to account for the performance of pupils and ensures that the standards are consistently met. In part, this is because the proprietor ensures that members of the executive board have the necessary knowledge and skills required to do so. This results in the proprietor and school leaders relying much less on external support. Overall, these systems help the proprietor and governors to spot any areas of the school that need further improvement much sooner than previously. For example, the proprietor and executive board have challenged school leaders to improve the curriculum on offer for pupils. This has resulted in those improvements coming to fruition, with pupil’s achievement improving.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor and school leaders are effectively ensuring that they promote pupils’ welfare, as the school have implemented clearer systems for attendance, safeguarding and behaviour. Pupils report that they feel well supported in school. They feel that staff support them well to regulate their own emotions. Pupils report that staff support them to engage more with their learning.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The school now meets the standards in this part. Educ8 Liverpool, 14 April 2026 3

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Safeguarding

When the school received its standard inspection in May 2025, the standards relating to safeguarding were not met. The proprietor had not taken sufficient account of relevant statutory guidance and had delegated safeguarding responsibilities to other agencies. The inspector found that weaknesses in the school’s record-keeping prevented leaders from connecting vital pieces of information about pupils’ welfare.

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Safeguarding

At the previous progress monitoring inspection, it was found that the school had implemented a management information system. The proprietor had sought external support to ensure its effective implementation. The inspector found that when staff reported concerns, these were recorded with a suitable amount of detail. This helped leaders to collate a range of information to support effective decision-making. This helped the school to protect pupils from harm.

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Safeguarding

At this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that this remains the case. The school’s safeguarding policy is appropriate and follows current statutory guidance. It is available on the school’s website for parents and carers. Record-keeping is thorough. Records continue to contain enough detail to ensure that school leaders can take appropriate action. This includes making referrals to other agencies when required. Staff receive regular training. They are vigilant and report any concerns using the school’s internal management information system. Collectively, this helps to support pupils well and effectively promote their wellbeing.

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Health and safety

At the request of the Department for Education, the inspector reviewed paragraph 14 to ensure that pupils were effectively supervised during the school day. The inspector found that suitable ratios were in place. The school has considered pupils’ additional needs carefully, when deciding on its staffing ratio. This results in pupils working in small groups. When pupils move around the school, they are supervised closely. This includes when they leave the building to take part in activities off site.

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Risk assessment

At the previous progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that the proprietor and school leaders had in place a range of suitable risk assessments. The inspector found that they reflected the specific needs of pupils and potential hazards of the school. It was found that staff had received training to implement these risk assessments effectively.

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Risk assessment

At this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that this remained the case. Risk assessments show clear identification of potential hazards to either staff and/or Educ8 Liverpool, 14 April 2026 4 pupils. Leaders ensure that suitable control measures are put in place to mitigate any potential risks. For example, there are individual risk assessments in place for pupils who may need them. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly to ensure that they remain relevant and suitable.

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Risk assessment

The standards checked during this inspection continue to be met.

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The single central record of recruitment checks

The proprietor has ensured that the correct checks are carried out on new staff. This information is accurately recorded on the school’s single central record.

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The single central record of recruitment checks

The standards in this part continue to be met.

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 99 of the Education Act 2002, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools.

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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 of 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 asked the inspector to check some standards that were previously judged to be met at the time of the previous progress monitoring inspection. This included standards 14 and 16. The inspector checked the school’s compliance with paragraphs 7, 7(a) and 7(b).

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About this inspection

The school’s last standard inspection was in May 2025. This was the second progress monitoring inspection the school has received since its standard inspection. The last progress monitoring inspection took place in October 2025.

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About this inspection

The DfE required the school to submit 2 action plans in July 2025 and January 2026. Both were rejected by the DfE.

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Lead inspector

Stuart Perkins His Majesty’s Inspector Educ8 Liverpool, 14 April 2026 5

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About this school

Proprietor Educ8 Liverpool Ltd Headteacher Sian Moss Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 40

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compulsory school age on roll

Age range of pupils 13 to 16 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £19,000 to £45,000 Email address sian.moss@educ8group.com

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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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