Forest Park School

Forest Park School, 4 June 2026 1 Forest Park School Durham Way South, Newton Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe DL5 6XP

p.1

report:

Overall outcome The school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the material change relating to the school provision is.

p.1

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.

p.1

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.

p.1

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.

p.1

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor and leaders are suitably skilled to fulfil their responsibilities well. They demonstrate a clear and detailed understanding of the independent school standards (the standards). The proprietor makes use of other professionals to assure themselves of the work of the school. This, along with regular checks on the standards, ensures that the school continues to meet the standards over time. The proprietor and leaders understand the needs of pupils who attend the school well. They take careful considered actions to ensure pupils are well supported when they join. The proposed increase in capacity reflects their ambitions to Forest Park School, 4 June 2026 2 increase pupil numbers in a sustainable way whilst maintaining the ethos and values of the school.

p.1

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

p.2

Safeguarding

The proprietor ensures that the school has a secure culture of safeguarding. Leaders and staff are vigilant to the safeguarding needs of pupils and their communities. Staff benefit from timely and regular training and updates for safeguarding, including ‘prevent’ duty. It helps staff to remain alert to safeguarding issues. Staff and leaders know when to raise concerns. Leaders deal with concerns in a timely way. They engage with other professionals promptly. Record keeping is detailed and clear. Staff understand when to raise concerns about adults who work with pupils. This includes their role in reporting low level concerns. Clear induction processes enable new staff, including those recruited for the proposed increase in pupil numbers, to be suitably trained when they start their roles.

p.2

Safeguarding

The school’s safeguarding policy reflects statutory guidance and is published online.

p.2

Supervision of pupils

Staff benefit from purposeful and timely training to support pupils who attend. This includes how to care for pupils with medical needs. Staff and leaders understand their role in supporting pupils with their learning as well as how to safely supervise pupils. The school’s proposal to increase the number of staff is well matched to meet the proposed increase in pupil numbers. This will maintain the current ratios between pupils and staff.

p.2

Health and safety and fire

Leaders have high expectations and clear policies linked to health and safety. These are reflected in a suitable health and safety policy. Across the whole school site, the proprietor, with leaders and staff, ensure careful consideration is given to how to keep pupils safe. Daily checks by staff ensure the building and site are safe. This sits alongside other timely internal and external maintenance checks on the school’s buildings and features.

p.2

Health and safety and fire

The proprietor uses the external advice of fire safety professionals to be assured of the fire safety measures in the school. This includes the new building and its Forest Park School, 4 June 2026 3 classrooms. The new building has a suitable fire alarm system connected to the main building to keep all pupils safe. Firefighting equipment is serviced regularly. Trained staff undertake regular checks of equipment, fire alarm systems and emergency lighting. Regular fire drills ensure pupils can leave the site safely in the event of an emergency. If professionals advise actions need to be taken to replace or repair equipment leaders complete this promptly. The proprietor has ensured compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

p.2

Risk assessment

The school’s risk assessment policy is purposeful. It ensures that the proprietor, leaders and staff understand their responsibilities in this area. Individual risk assessments for activities and buildings are clear, well matched to each situation and reviewed. Individual pupil risk assessments demonstrate appropriate consideration of the needs and vulnerabilities of pupils. The proprietor has considered risk assessments for the new building carefully. Staff articulate clearly their role in writing and reviewing risk assessments along with leaders. Together this whole school approach helps reduce risk.

p.3

Risk assessment

The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

p.3

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

The proprietor ensures staff, including newly recruited staff, undergo a thorough recruitment process. These processes follow required safer recruitment expectations. Along with leaders, the proprietor has a secure understanding of the checks needed during recruitment to be assured that adults are suitable to work with pupils. These checks also apply to any supply staff the school may use. Currently no staff have spent time overseas however the proprietor and leaders know how to make relevant checks if needed in line with statutory guidance.

p.3

The single central record of these recruitment checks

The school’s single central record (SCR) is up to date. It records the necessary safeguarding checks on adults that the school makes on its staff. The SCR is reviewed by both leaders and external advisors for the school. The SCR holds the appropriate checks for the proprietor. This includes those checks relating to the leadership and management of schools.

p.3

The single central record of these recruitment checks

The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Forest Park School, 4 June 2026 4

p.3

and showers

Across the two school buildings there are sufficient toilets to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers is approved. Pupils’ toilets are for individual use and lockable. Staff have separate toilets. The water in the toilets does not pose a scalding risk. Drinking water is suitably labelled across the school site. It is available to pupils to access across the school day.

p.4

and showers

The main school building has suitable space for pupils to change for physical education. This includes access to showering facilities. Pupils using the additional new building will share these facilities should the proposed material change be approved.

p.4

Medical room

The school has a suitable medical room for the whole site. All pupils are able to access this from each building. The medical room contains a sink and is located close to a toilet. It is suitably resourced with appropriate first aid equipment. Medications are kept securely and administered in line with the school’s expectations.

p.4

Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The new classrooms have been built to a high standard and specification. They are suitably furnished to match the intended teaching purposes and the proposed increase in pupils on roll. Aspects of welfare and health and safety have been considered so that pupils in this new part of the school site have the same welfare considerations to that of their peers in the main school building. For example, pupils have access to welfare staff and spaces in the main building when needed.

p.4

Lighting and acoustic conditions

Classrooms and learning spaces across the school building, including the newly built classrooms, are well furnished and bright. Both the main school building and new classrooms have appropriate external lighting.

p.4

Outdoor space

The school site benefits from large, secure, well-kept outdoor spaces. This offers pupils the opportunity to socialise as well as engage in physical education. The all- weather pitch enables pupils to play sport during breaks and as part of the Forest Park School, 4 June 2026 5 curriculum. Spaces to relax, talk with peers and make use of playground equipment and resources are sufficient in size to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers.

p.4

Outdoor space

The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

p.5

The school's accessibility plan

The school has a suitable accessibility plan in place.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

About this inspection

Following our updated inspection framework, all inspections are now led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) or by Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) who have previously served as HMIs.

p.5

About this inspection

This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to check the school’s suitability to change its capacity.

p.5

About this inspection

The inspector spoke with the headteacher, other school leaders and the proprietor during the inspection. The inspector also spoke with pupils and staff.

p.5

About this inspection

This is the school’s first material change inspection in relation to an increase to the number of pupils on roll.

p.5

About this inspection

The school uses two unregistered alternative provisions.

p.5

About this inspection

The school operates from one site. It is located at Durham Way South, Newton Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe DL5 6XP.

p.5

About this inspection

The school provides education for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This includes pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, Forest Park School, 4 June 2026 6 autism, speech, language and communication needs, and moderate learning difficulties.

p.5

About this school

Type of school Other independent special school

p.6

compulsory school age on roll

Email address j.reynolds@forestparkschool.co.uk Forest Park School, 4 June 2026 7 providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people

p.6

compulsory school age on roll

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

compulsory school age on roll

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

compulsory school age on roll

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7