Kennington School

Kennington School, 10 July 2026 1 Kennington School Kingscourt, 182 Five Heads Road, Catherington, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO8 9NJ

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report:

Overall outcome The school is unlikely to meet all the independent school standards if it is registered

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report:

The purpose of this inspection was to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the proposed school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards and associated requirements that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out pre-registration inspections of proposed independent schools, we report on the provider’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

The proprietor and leaders have been working to a renovation schedule, whereby they intend that the school is be ready to be open in September. Works are being completed to a high standard. However, at the time of the pre-registration visit, parts of the site intended for pupils’ use when the school opens, were still being renovated. For example, repairs intended to ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 were still in process. It has, therefore, not been possible to determine that all of the ISS are likely to be met should the school be registered. This includes that it is not possible to determine that pupils’ wellbeing and safety will be assured. This is in part because of the current renovations and repairs happening, but also because the fire assembly point is beyond a padlocked gate, and there was no clear plan to prevent pupils accessing the upstairs building works that are intended to continue once the school opens.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Kennington School, 10 July 2026 2 The proprietor demonstrates both an understanding and successful experience of how to lead and manage similar schools, once they are open. The proprietor runs several independent schools that regularly meet the standards. The proprietor has tried and successful methods of overseeing the quality of leaders’ work, including through the use of an experienced governing board. There are a range of useful systems intended to check that the site is kept in a good state of repair, once it is ready to open. Nevertheless, some aspects of the proprietor’s and governor’s oversight are not secure enough, as both the chair of the proprietor body and chair of governors stated that they believed that the site was ready for the inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The standard in part 8 is unlikely to be met.

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Curriculum

The curriculum policy is suitable. It is supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which cover the whole age range of the pupils that the proprietor has applied to admit. The range of curriculum subjects that the school intends to offer match the breadth required by the standards. The curriculum is likely to be ambitious. Leaders intend for pupils to work towards recognised and accredited qualifications, such as GCSEs.

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Curriculum

The proprietor intends that all pupils at the proposed school will have a diagnosis of autism. Leaders have considerable experience of educating pupils with this special educational need and associated other special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), such as communication and language needs. Leaders have set out clear processes to identify pupils’ individual needs, both academic and pastoral, on entry. They recognise that pupils may have had sustained periods out of education prior to entry and so be behind age-related expectations.

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Curriculum

Leaders demonstrate an understanding of the requirements to deliver a relationships and sex and health education curriculum programme that sensitively considers pupils’ individual needs. There is also a clear and appropriate plan to implement a suitable careers programme. It is likely that pupils will be well prepared for life in modern Britain.

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Teaching

The proprietor intends that staff are appointed with appropriate skills and qualifications. For example, the proprietor intends that teachers have qualified teacher status. The proposed curriculum gives teachers clear guidance about what to teach and when. Leaders have a secure understanding of how they will ensure the quality of teaching is maintained over time, including through regular checks to ensure that it continues to meet pupils’ needs. Kennington School, 10 July 2026 3 The proprietor has thought carefully about how to support pupils with autism to learn. There are likely to be 8 pupils in each class. Each class will be staffed by one teacher and a teaching assistant.

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Teaching

The resources that leaders intend for pupils to use were not on the school site at the time of the inspection. Consequently, assurances could not be provided of the quality, quantity and range of the intended resources. As a result, the standards in this part are unlikely to be met if the school is registered.

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Assessment

Leaders are aware of the need to assess pupils’ individual starting points, when they start at the school. They have experience of how to adapt the curriculum based on this knowledge. Leaders will then use ongoing assessment methods to monitor how well pupils progress through the curriculum. Leaders intend that this will provide teachers with the information they need to ensure teaching remains effective for each pupil.

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Assessment

The standards in Part 1 are unlikely to be met if the school is registered.

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pupils

The proprietor and school leaders have considerable experience in delivering purposeful spiritual, moral, social and cultural development for pupils with SEND. The proposed personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum provides pupils with the opportunity to develop their self-esteem. This will increase their confidence to understand how to play an integrated part of modern British society. The PSHE programme is likely to promote fundamental British values. For example, it is likely to help pupils to understand and respect other people’s backgrounds and viewpoints. Leaders intend that pupils will also secure an understanding of the protected characteristics.

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pupils

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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Safeguarding

The school’s site poses a risk to pupils’ welfare and safety. The site is currently being refurbished, but the parts of the renovation intended to be ready for when the school opens were not completed at the time of the inspection. Several parts of the site are not currently safe for pupils. For example, the fire assembly point is Kennington School, 10 July 2026 4 beyond a gate leaders intend to keep locked. There is open access to the building works upstairs and to the downstairs, unsafe cellar. In addition, there were cables hanging from walls, and some fire doors were not working. As a result, leaders were not able to demonstrate that they are likely to ensure the safety of pupils.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have appropriate safeguarding training. The proprietor, executive headteacher and wider staff demonstrate a secure understanding of their statutory responsibilities. The proprietor has set out robust procedures to recruit staff, who are safe to work with pupils. Leaders have also ensured that appropriate systems for recording safeguarding concerns are in place.

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Behaviour, anti-bullying and supervision of pupils

Leaders have ensured that suitable behaviour and anti-bullying policies are in place. These clearly set out the procedures that staff will follow in regard to rewards and sanctions. Incidents of poor behaviour will be recorded using an electronic recording system. Leaders intend to ensure that staff know how to use this system so that records are clear and appropriate.

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Behaviour, anti-bullying and supervision of pupils

Leaders have up-to-date knowledge of the most recent guidance on restrictive intervention, and the proposed school’s ‘Use of Restrictive Interventions Policy’ reflects that guidance.

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Behaviour, anti-bullying and supervision of pupils

The proposed school’s ratios for supervision are appropriate.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proposed school site currently contains some significant health and safety risks to pupils and staff. The most recent fire safety risk assessment, completed by a registered assessor, highlights some significant areas that have not yet been fully addressed. Some fire doors are locked or stuck. The fire assembly point at the rear of the building is located beyond a padlocked gate. While there is a current working fire system, the updated system is incomplete with wires protruding in many rooms waiting to be connected to fire-detection devices. Similarly, there is much unfinished cabling in relation to the new Wi-Fi system. The proprietor intends for another risk assessment to be completed once repairs and renovations are completed, but at the time of the inspection the proprietor was not able to demonstrate the appropriate assurances from the Fire and Rescue Service that the premises are compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

Currently, pupils would also be able to access various unsuitable areas at the school. Building materials are positioned at the front of the school, where pupils will enter at the start of the day. Scaffolding poles surround the entire building and are especially accessible at the rear of the building. Cleaners’ cupboards, the cellar and the building works on the first floor are all accessible to pupils. Kennington School, 10 July 2026 5 There is a suitable first-aid policy in place. The proposed school’s plans for provision and training of first aid are appropriate.

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Admissions and attendance

The proposed school has suitable computer systems in place to record admissions and attendance. Leaders demonstrate a clear understanding that many pupils may not have had high attendance previously. As a result, they recognise the need to work with pupils, parents and carers as well as wider agencies to promote high levels of attendance from the outset.

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Risk assessment

There is a clear and appropriate risk assessment policy in place. However, the implementation of this has not mitigated all risks. For example, there a lack of controls in place for areas of the school that should be inaccessible to pupils. As a result, the wellbeing of those on site is likely to be compromised.

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Risk assessment

The standards in this part are unlikely to be met if the school is registered.

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

The proprietary board understands safer recruitment procedures very well. This cascades well through the systems that the board have ensured are in place. As a result, the required checks on staff, governors and proprietors have been recorded appropriately.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proprietor has ensured that an electronic single central record is in place. It is kept securely. The record contains the relevant information relating to the checks completed on employees before their employment begins.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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and showers

The proposed school’s toilet and washing facilities are suitable. There are separate toilets for staff and pupils. Leaders have set up a changing room for pupils to use. Kennington School, 10 July 2026 6 There is a shower for pupils’ use that is located in the medical room, next to the changing room.

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and showers

Drinking water is available for pupils during the school day.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

The proposed school’s medical room is appropriate. The medical bed, lockable medicine cabinet, lockable fridge and recording books are all in place. It is close to a toilet. Suitable rooms are in place to support pupils’ therapy needs.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The proprietor has not ensured that the site is fully ready for pupils. Therefore, the health, safety and welfare of pupils cannot be ensured. This is because the refurbishment of the parts of the premises the school intends pupils to have access to, is incomplete. As a result, pupils’ safety and wellbeing cannot be assured and the standards in this part are not likely to be met if the school is registered.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

The works which have been completed have been done to a high standard. Classrooms, the entrance foyer and other spaces are bright, well-lit and ventilated. The acoustics of the rooms are appropriate.

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Outdoor space

The proprietor has ensured that the considerable outdoor space is very well kept. There are ample grounds for pupils to use and be supervised in. This includes a well-maintained multi-use games area, a small, peaceful wooded area and substantial fields to exercise in.

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Outdoor space

Pupils are likely to arrive to school by car or taxi. There is a spacious driveway and turning circle. Leaders have set out clear expectations for how drop offs and pick ups will be organised at the start and end of each day.

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Outdoor space

The standards in this part are not likely to be met if the school is registered.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school’s website includes the necessary policies and procedures. The school has appropriate plans in place to share information with parents about their child’s achievements at school.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered. Kennington School, 10 July 2026 7

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

There is a suitable complaints policy in place. It sets out all the required elements of the standards, including clear timescales for each stage of a complaint. Leaders are clear on how each stage of the complaint will be recorded and reported. The proprietor has demonstrable experience of handling complaints in the other schools run by the proprietor body. The proprietor intends that should a complaint reach stage 3, the independent person appointed to a complaints panel is likely to be a governor of another school not run by this proprietor body.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The standard in this part is likely to be met if the school is registered.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The school’s accessibility plan is appropriate and meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools.

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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.

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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 inspector spoke with the chair of the proprietor body, the chair of governors, the executive principal, the principal for special educational needs and other leaders during the inspection.

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About this inspection

The inspector confirmed the following information about the proposed school:

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About this inspection

Kennington School proposes to open for 32 pupils, with an age range from 11 to 16. The school plans to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and a diagnosis of autism. The proprietor intends to admit pupils into Years 7, 8 and 9 in its first year of opening. Kennington School, 10 July 2026 8 The site is currently under development. The first phase of the works include the downstairs of the main building, which consists of 4 classrooms, a therapy room and a computer room, along with medical and administrative spaces. A separate art room and spacious grounds were also considered as part of this inspection. There will not be kitchen facilities in the first phase of works, so pupils will be required to bring a packed lunch. For the second phase, the proprietor is also renovating the upstairs of the main building for use at a later date. Therefore, the upper floor of the main building was not inspected as part of this pre-registration

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About this inspection

The proprietor is The Licenced Trade Charity. The proprietor runs several other independent schools, including some independent special schools.

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About this inspection

The proprietor does not intend to use alternative provision.

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About this proposed school

Chair of the proprietor body Ludovick Halik Executive Principal Rachel Borland Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 32

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authority

Age range of pupils Provider’s proposal: 11 to 16 Gender of pupils Provider’s proposal: Mixed

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teaching staff

Number of part-time teaching staff Provider’s proposal: 0 Kennington School, 10 July 2026 9 Annual fees for day pupils £64,059 to £94,512 Email address enquiries@kenningtonschool.co.uk Kennington School, 10 July 2026 10

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range;

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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.  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 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.

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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- Kennington School, 10 July 2026 11 – 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.

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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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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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