The Becklands School

The Becklands School, 2 June 2026 1 The Becklands School Unit 18, Becklands Park Industrial Estate, York Road, Market Weighton, East Yorkshire YO43 3GA

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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 (ISS) 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 ISS first. Under part 8, the proprietor is required to ensure that the school meets all of the ISS 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

At the last inspection, inspectors found that the proprietor had not ensured that the school met all the standards consistently. Although leaders displayed a clear understanding of the weaknesses in the school, their actions to address these were in the early stages and quality assurance procedures were in development. As a result, the leadership and management standards that relate to leaders’ skills, knowledge and effective implementation of the standards were unmet.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has taken appropriate steps to ensure that the school is now meeting the standards that were judged as being unmet at the previous additional inspection. The Becklands School, 2 June 2026 2 Leaders have acted swiftly to strengthen their strategic oversight of the school after a period of instability in leadership. The proprietor has put in place appropriate systems and procedures to monitor the health and safety of staff and pupils more stringently. These systems are designed so that leaders can check precisely the impact of their work and act promptly when concerns arise. As a result, senior leaders, governors and the proprietor have a clear understanding of the school’s compliance with the standards.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The school’s quality assurance processes are now established and provide leaders with a range of information to help them understand the effectiveness of the school and secure the safety of pupils. This includes timely maintenance of the school site and checking the school’s compliance with the school standards more regularly.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Promoting pupils’ welfare is central to leaders’ work. This is evidenced through their secure safeguarding processes and purposeful work with external professionals. They have taken swift action to ensure that the school is safe and risks for pupils are considered carefully and reduced effectively.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor and governors know the school well. They possess relevant knowledge and skills to monitor the quality of the school’s provision effectively and provide continued support and challenge.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has ensured that these standards are met.

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Safeguarding

Leaders promote a culture where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Staff receive relevant training to safeguard pupils and to follow safeguarding procedures to keep pupils safe. Leaders address concerns swiftly and support pupils to be aware of risks, including online. Pupils learn about the negative impact of substance misuse and the importance of healthy relationships and positive mental health.

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Safeguarding

There is an appropriate policy for safeguarding in place, which reflects current statutory guidance. It is published on the school’s website. The school liaises with external agencies, when necessary, to support pupils and their families. The proprietor ensures that recruitment of staff is rigorous and the relevant checks on the suitability of staff are undertaken and recorded as required.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor and governors maintain secure oversight of safeguarding arrangements, including through regular audits of the school’s practices, procedures and records. The school ensures that children in care and those known to social care have a designated teacher who works closely with local authorities to support pupils’ needs. Leaders check The Becklands School, 2 June 2026 3 carefully that safeguarding arrangements are appropriate when using alternative provisions.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has ensured that these standards are met.

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Health and safety and fire

The previous inspection found that the school’s health and safety policy was out of date and did not reflect the school’s procedures. Some health and safety concerns were not identified and addressed in a timely way.

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Health and safety and fire

Leaders have addressed the health and safety concerns raised at the last inspection. They reviewed and implemented a new health and safety policy, which is appropriate and reflects the school’s practice. Suitable systems to undertake and monitor necessary health and safety arrangements are in place. For example, regular checks on the suitability of the school buildings now take place. Any issues that arise are logged and remedied in a timely way to ensure the safety of staff and pupils. Staff have received additional training and guidance to help them recognise potential hazards and report them promptly.

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Health and safety and fire

At the last inspection, inspectors found that a recent fire risk assessment had identified significant risks in the building and the school had no clear written action plan to manage these risks or a suitable record of the actions taken.

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Health and safety and fire

The proprietor has sought specialist professional advice to adequately reduce the risk of fire and keep pupils safe. Appropriate measures have been implemented, and an external assessor has completed updated fire risk assessments of both school sites. These risk assessments do not identify any significant fire safety concerns. However, leaders have implemented detailed action plans and regular monitoring of fire safety measures to ensure that pupils are kept safe. Leaders check fire safety equipment regularly, including testing fire alarms and fire extinguishers. These checks are clearly recorded. The school now complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Health and safety and fire

The proprietor has ensured that these standards are met.

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Risk assessment

The school has implemented an appropriate risk assessment policy. Risk assessment protocols have been revised and provide greater clarity and guidance for staff. Risk assessments identify pertinent risks and suitable measures to reduce them. Leaders review risk assessments regularly and track their use and effectiveness. Individual risk assessments for pupils are reviewed more frequently and in response to any new risk identified.

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Risk assessment

The proprietor has ensured that these standards are met. The Becklands School, 2 June 2026 4

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showers

At the time of the last inspection, leaders were not checking the temperature of the water carefully enough to ensure that it did not pose a risk of scalding. Leaders have put in place a robust system to measure the temperature of the water accurately. These measurements are carried out frequently and recorded so that leaders can quickly identify any risk and be assured that the hot water does not pose a risk of scalding. Similarly, leaders have introduced procedures to flush fixed plumbing, such as shower facilities, and these are also logged and monitored to ensure the facilities remain in good working order.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

Leaders have improved their oversight of health and safety arrangements. Previous health and safety concerns have been addressed and appropriate monitoring by leaders is helping to ensure that the premises are well maintained and the safety of pupils and staff is high priority. For example, a previously blocked drain has been repaired, and appropriate checks are made on electricity, water and fire safety.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The proprietor has ensured that these standards are met.

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About this inspection

The inspector 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.

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About this inspection

The inspector 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

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 inspection was conducted without notice.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with the executive headteacher, the head of school, the designated safeguarding lead, the chair of the proprietor body, the chair of governors and spoke informally with some staff and pupils. She also spoke on the telephone with a representative from East Riding local authority. The inspector considered documentation related to safeguarding, staff recruitment, health and safety and risk assessment, and toured both school sites. The Becklands School, 2 June 2026 5 The school’s last standard inspection took place on 28 to 30 January 2025. An additional inspection of the school took place 11 November 2025, when the school was judged not to comply with all the independent school standards. This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection.

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About this inspection

The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. Ofsted evaluated this action plan on 15 April 2026. The DfE rejected this action plan on 20 May 2026.

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About this inspection

The school currently uses five unregistered alternative provisions.

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About this inspection

The school operates from two sites. The second site is located at: Station Lane, Holme-on- Spalding Moor, Pocklington York YO43 4AL.

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Lead inspector

Stephanie Innes-Taylor His Majesty’s Inspector

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body

The Becklands School Ltd Vicky Simpson Headteacher Claire Horsfield Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 30

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compulsory school age on roll

Age range of pupils 11 to 18 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils From £75,000 Email address info@thebecklands.co.uk The Becklands School, 2 June 2026 6 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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compulsory school age on roll

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compulsory school age on roll

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compulsory school age on roll

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