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On Track Education Northampton

Inspected — · URN 136227

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Summary

No overall grade in this framework

Al Mistrano

What we read, and from where

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  • Inspectors verified

    Al Mistrano

  • Postcode verified

    NN3 6QB

  • Name on report verified

    On Track Education Northampton

  • URN verified

    136227

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

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Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+33Mostly positivemore positive than 41% of reports of this type

In line with other reports of this type.

Praiseindependentpositiveconsistentlysuccessfulcaringfeel safesafeeffectively
Criticismconcernsharm

How the report reads, start to finish

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FindingsLeadershipSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings312w+47
  • Leadership219w+73
  • Safeguarding617w+1

Strengths

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No standout praise found.

Concerns

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No strong criticism found.

Next steps

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No next steps set out.

What the report dwells on

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Anatomy of the report

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Pages
7
Words of findings
1,148
about usual (typical 1049)
Reading level
Fairly hard
Flesch 56, typical 45
Average sentence
16 words
Next steps
0
typical 5
Hedged sentences
1%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 19%Leadership 13%Safeguarding 38%About the inspection 30%

Full report text

On Track Education Northampton, 24 June 2026 1 On Track Education Northampton On Track Education, Unit 6 , Quarry Park Close, Moulton park, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN3 6QB

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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 add additional premises and change the maximum number of pupils attending.

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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 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

Since the previous material change inspection, the proprietor has occupancy of the new site. The proprietor has ensured that the proposed new premises are suitable and comply with the independent school standards (the standards). All the relevant standards for the proposed material change are likely to be met.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has a positive history of running and expanding schools. They know what is working well and how things can improve. On Track Education Northampton, 24 June 2026 2 The proprietor has put in place a well-considered plan, the leadership structures and training needed to make the growth of the school likely to be successful. They have in place credible plans to ensure the quality of the provision at the main site will be established at the new site.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The school is likely to meet all the standards checked in part 8 if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has ensured that caring for pupils’ welfare, health and safety is fundamental to the school’s ethos. Leaders and staff have placed pupils’ wellbeing at the centre of their work.

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Safeguarding

Staff are vigilant to the signs of potential harm. When concerns arise, staff take appropriate action.

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Safeguarding

Leaders work well with external agencies. They keep clear records of vulnerable pupils’ experiences and actions agreed at multi-agency meetings. Leaders ensure that pupils get the support they need.

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Safeguarding

Pupils feel safe at school. They appreciate the way staff care for them. When worried, pupils feel comfortable sharing concerns and seeking help from staff.

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Safeguarding

The school’s safeguarding policy is up to date and in line with national guidance. It is on the school’s website.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

For both sites, leaders have appropriate health and safety policies in place. Leaders carry out routine checks on the buildings to ensure that pupils are safe. When concerns arise, leaders act swiftly to make any necessary remediations.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proprietor ensures that external audits of health and safety are routinely undertaken for both sites. They ensure that leaders make required alterations when audits raise concerns.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

Leaders have suitable fire-safety arrangements in place for both sites. Working with external specialists, leaders routinely assess, identify and resolve any risks. Fire-safety equipment is in good order. Leaders also ensure that staff and pupils understand evacuation plans with training, signed evacuation routes and evacuation practices. On Track Education Northampton, 24 June 2026 3 There are sufficient staff at the main site so that pupils are well supervised. For the proposed new site, the proprietor has plans to appoint enough staff to establish the same staff ratios as at the main site. The proprietor currently has more staff for the main site than necessary. This means that the school has sufficient staff for the new site to open to the first group of pupils. The proprietor and leaders intend to increase the number of pupils at the site gradually so that staff can establish the same positive ethos found at the main site.

p.2

Risk assessment

Leaders are well trained to assess risks. They also work with external specialists to ensure that they have the expertise necessary to manage risk effectively. There are appropriate risk assessments for both sites. Risk assessments identify potential hazards and ways to mitigate them to keep pupils safe. Leaders also establish risk assessments for each pupil when they join the school.

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Risk assessment

The school is likely to meet all the standards in part 3 if the material change is approved and implemented.

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

Leaders have safer recruitment practices in place. They ensure that the necessary background checks are completed before a new member of staff begins their role.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

Leaders record the outcomes of background checks appropriately. The proprietor ensures that regular audits are completed about leaders’ recruitment practices and background checks for new staff.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The school is likely to continue to meet all the standards in this part if the material change is approved and implemented.

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and showers

On both sites, the school has toilets available for sole use of pupils. Although some rooms have space for more than one pupil, staff allow only one pupil in a toilet area at a time. On Track Education Northampton, 24 June 2026 4 Toilets at both sites are well equipped to support pupils’ hygiene. Leaders maintain the water in the washing facilities at a reasonable temperature.

p.3

and showers

At both sites, there are suitable areas where pupils can shower and change clothes when necessary. Staff and pupils understand and follow the protocols to ensure pupils have appropriate privacy when using these spaces.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

Leaders have set aside rooms for the medical examination and treatment of pupils at both sites. These rooms have the necessary equipment, washing and toilet facilities.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The school’s 2 sites appear to be well maintained. There is sufficient space at each site to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers. Leaders have ensured that both sites are suitable for pupils’ health, safety and welfare.

p.4

Lighting and acoustic conditions

The acoustics at both sites are suitable.

p.4

Lighting and acoustic conditions

The main school site and the new building have suitable indoor and outdoor lighting.

p.4

Lighting and acoustic conditions

Both sites have drinking-water dispensers for pupils to use throughout the school day.

p.4

Outdoor space

Leaders have ensured that the main school and the new site have sufficient outdoor space for pupils to use during social times and when taking part in sport and physical activities. Leaders also have contracts with local fitness centres to use during physical education lessons.

p.4

Outdoor space

The school is likely to meet all the standards checked in part 5 if the material change is approved and implemented. On Track Education Northampton, 24 June 2026 5

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The school’s accessibility plan

The proprietor has ensured that there are suitable accessibility plans for the main and new sites. Leaders’ plans consider all requirements of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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

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

This inspection was commissioned by the DfE to determine whether the school could increase the numbers of pupils at the school and add new premises.

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About this inspection

Inspectors spoke with a director, the school manager, the education manager, teachers, support staff and pupils during the inspection.

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About this inspection

This is the second material change inspection to determine whether the school can increase the number of pupils at the school and to add additional premises. The previous inspection was 22 January 2026.

p.5

About this inspection

The proprietor and leaders have a plan to open the new site to 4 pupils in the first instance. Over the subsequent months, they aim to add pupils after securing the necessary staff to maintain the staff ratios currently in place at the main site.

p.5

About this inspection

The school provides education for pupils who have social, emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties. All pupils have an EHC plan. Many have not been successful in their previous settings.

p.5

About this inspection

The school uses no alternative provision. On Track Education Northampton, 24 June 2026 6 The school has undergone a significant change since the last inspection. The proprietor and leaders gained access to the new site and completed the work needed to meet the independent school standards.

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About this school

Proprietor On Track Education Services Ltd Headteacher Pete Davies (Education Manager) Sally O’Connor (School Manager) Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 48

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compulsory school age on roll

Age range of pupils 11 to 19 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £49,527 to £69,635 Email address soconnor@ontrackeducation.com On Track Education Northampton, 24 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

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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 .

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compulsory school age on roll

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compulsory school age on roll

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

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