Compass Community School Essex

Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 1 Compass Community School Essex 274 Harwich Road, Little Clacton, Clacton on Sea, Essex CO16 9PY

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report:

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

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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 age range of pupils, add additional premises and change the maximum number of pupils attending from 18 to 78 across both sites.

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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.

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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 (the 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 school is part of a wider proprietor body, with a number of other schools. There is a robust central leadership team within the proprietor body. These professionals are highly knowledgeable and provide effective support to the school in all areas. This includes the quality of the curriculum, safeguarding and inclusion. Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 2 The proprietor ensures effective challenge as well as support to school leaders. Layers of governance and oversight ensure that the proprietor meets their statutory duties. This includes robust oversight of safeguarding.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor and school leaders understand the standards well. They effectively apply this knowledge to ensure that the standards are consistently met.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Pupils’ needs are well known and understood. From the proprietor to school leaders, pupils’ needs are prioritised and central to all decisions made. The school’s leadership structure is clear and impactful. The school has further leadership capacity. This will ensure smooth running of the school should the proposed changes be granted.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

While the school has the space and curriculum well in place for the proposed changes, they are taking considered steps to expand the school. This means that should the proposed changes take place, not all additional 60 pupils will arrive at once. The increase of pupils on roll will increase steadily over the next year, to ensure that the quality of the provision remains high. Leaders are clear that this will also enable them to train all new staff, so they have the expert skills and knowledge needed to support pupils’ various needs.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

These standards are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Curriculum

There is an ambitious and well sequenced curriculum in place. Due to pupils learning at a range of stages, this curriculum already extends down into the early years. The school has carefully built the steps of knowledge pupils will learn from the earliest stage, until the end of their time here. This has been clearly set out in all subject areas, including those related to pupils’ personal development and life skills.

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Curriculum

The curriculum is suitably broad. Appropriate adaptation to breadth is evident in the well-considered personal development curriculum areas. This includes learning about independent living and keeping healthy. Leaders have prioritised developing pupils’ foundational knowledge gaps. A phonics programme is in place to support those pupils at the earlier stages of reading. Handwriting and spelling support is also in place to help pupils close any gaps in knowledge.

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Curriculum

The personal, social, health and economics education curriculum contains all relevant content. It is well sequenced and responsive to the experiences of the Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 3 pupils the school serves. It contains both the relationships and sex education programme and the careers curriculum, both of which are suitable for this cohort of pupils.

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Curriculum

The content required for the proposed younger and older pupils is already contained within the entire curriculum.

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Teaching

Teachers demonstrate secure subject knowledge. They understand what they are teaching and how best to teach to help pupils to build knowledge. The taught curriculum is ambitious. It matches the expectations that leaders have set out in their schemes of work.

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Teaching

If the proposed change is approved, the school will employ more teachers and support staff as the number of pupils on roll increases. The school already has a clear induction programme in place. This will ensure that all new staff have the knowledge and skills needed to support pupils.

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Assessment

The school has a well-structured assessment process in place. Assessment precisely matches the knowledge taught to pupils as set out within the curriculum. Teachers constantly evaluate how well pupils are securing taught knowledge. They use information from these checks to inform future planning.

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Assessment

The assessment progression in place, already considers the additional stages required for the proposed younger and older cohorts of pupils.

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Assessment

These standards are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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pupils

Pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values and pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are well considered. These are woven through the school’s curriculum. Identified time in the school day enables further exploration of themes. These are often personalised to match pupils’ experiences. Through the wide personal development offer, pupils learn about different cultures and traditions. They learn about protected characteristics, discrimination and diversity. Off-site visits and activities are woven through the school offer. This is part of the outdoor education approach in the school. While this includes outdoor learning in Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 4 the school’s grounds, it also includes learning in the community. Each trip is designed to meet pupils’ academic and personal outcomes.

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pupils

The school recognises the challenge in providing traditional work experience for pupils in key stages 4 and 5. While some pupils do access this, others would not benefit from this approach. Consequently, the school has in place individualised work-based experiences tailored to pupils. This enables pupils to access skills and knowledge that will support their preparation for the world of work.

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pupils

These standards are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Safeguarding

Both sites are secure and the current and intended staff numbers are suitable for supervision of the current and proposed cohorts. Safeguarding leaders are well trained and knowledgeable. Safeguarding records demonstrate that staff have the knowledge and skill to share concerns effectively and rapidly. Actions taken by school leaders are rapid. Safeguarding records show that the right actions are taken to help keep pupils and their families safe. These records also show the effective way the school works with a range of professionals and agencies.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a priority. Pupils’ needs are at the centre of all decisions made. When decisions about supervision or the site are made, they are done so carefully with the needs of pupils in mind.

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Health and safety, fire and risk assessments

The proprietors and school leaders are highly knowledgeable about the standards. There is clarity about the range of checks that need to be in place to ensure that both sites are safe. Well documented records demonstrate that these checks are made regularly. This includes in-school checks as well as those made by external professionals, such as on fire safety equipment.

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Health and safety, fire and risk assessments

The external fire risk assessment that was carried out was rapidly actioned by the school on both sites. Ongoing checks and oversight of alarm systems, fire doors and safety equipment ensure leaders are compliant with fire safety regulations.

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Health and safety, fire and risk assessments

There is an appropriate ratio of staff to pupils. The proposed staffing ratio for the proposed increase of pupils is equally suitable. The school has ensured that current staff and future staff, will be trained on the range of needs pupils have. This is further supported by the expert therapeutic leads in the school, supported by the proprietor body’s central therapy and safeguarding team. The high skill of Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 5 staff is clear to see through the current school. This ensures that pupils have positive relationships with staff and remain well-behaved.

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Health and safety, fire and risk assessments

The risk assessment policy is well considered. It sets out clearly the steps to take when making risk assessments. In all risk assessments seen, risks are well identified and well mitigated. Pupil risk assessments are very precise and individualised to each pupil.

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Health and safety, fire and risk assessments

These standards are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

Robust pre-employment checks are conducted to ensure the suitability of adults recruited to the school.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

The single central record complies with statutory guidance. It includes all required information on staff, including proprietors and those in leadership roles. The proprietor regularly reviews the single central record to verify that all required checks have been made.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

The school rarely makes use of supply staff. When it does, it makes all required checks on these staff. This includes verifying their identity when they arrive.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

These standards are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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and showers

There are plenty of drinking water facilities on both sites, which pupils can access at all times of the day.

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and showers

There are a suitable number of toilets and washing facilities on both sites. The opening of the second site means there is adequate numbers of washing and toilet facilities with the proposed increase of pupils. Toilets are all individually locked toilets. Pupils access physical education on both sites. Both sites have shower facilities for pupils to use should they wish. Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 6

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

There is a suitable medical room in place on the new site. On the current site, the medical room is a shared office. However, both spaces have all equipment required. This includes lying down facilities and a sink. Both are close to a toilet.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

There are multiple spaces available across both sites for therapeutic support. This includes spaces for talking therapy. It also includes spaces for sensory processing support.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The school sites are well maintained and keep pupils safe. The school prioritises pupils’ well-being. Oversight from the proprietor body’s central team and those responsible for governance, ensures that the school is maintained to a high standard.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Across both sites there is ample light. This includes natural light in nearly all spaces. Where there is no natural light, there is suitable lighting.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Emergency and outdoor lighting are sufficient through both sites.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

The new site is a converted industrial building. It has been very carefully modified and designed internally by the proprietor. High quality sound proofing has been installed throughout the site.

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Outdoor space

There is plenty of outdoor space on both sites. This enables sufficient space for outdoor and physical education. Both sites also have a sizeable amount of exterior space for pupils to use during social times or movement breaks.

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Outdoor space

These standards are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The school has a suitably written accessibility plan in place. This is published on the school’s website. Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 7

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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.

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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.

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About this inspection

The Inspector spoke with the proprietor and 4 members of the governing body during the inspection.

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About this inspection

The school is part of Compass Community Schools LTD. The proprietor body runs 22 other registered schools around the country. The chair of the proprietor body is Stacy Wallace. The school operates from the following address: 274 Harwich Road, Little Clacton, Clacton on Sea, Essex, CO16 9PY. The school has recently opened a second site, to accommodate the proposed increase of pupils. The address of this provision is: Pembroke Park, Bounstead Road, Blackheath, Colchester, Essex, CO2 0DE.

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About this inspection

The school provides full time education to pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. Some pupils may have additional needs such as Autism or ADHD. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. A local authority commissions all places.

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About this school

Proprietor Body Compass Community Schools Limited Headteacher Mr Nathan Kempster Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 18

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compulsory school age on roll

Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 8 Age range of pupils 11 to 17 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £79,521 Email address nathan.kempster@compass-schools.org Compass Community School Essex, 24 June 2026 9 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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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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