Other · Ofsted report

Cornerstone-Crewe

Inspected — · URN 152487

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Summary

No overall grade in this framework

Jen Sloan

What we read, and from where

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Inspectors verified
Jen Sloan
Postcode verified
CW2 7BX
Name on report verified
Cornerstone-Crewe
URN verified
152487

Page 1 of 10

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Tone of the report

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+37Positivemore positive than 43% of reports of this type

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Praiseindependentconsistentlysuccessfuleffectiveambitioussecurevery highsafe

Criticismgapsconcernsseriously

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FindingsLeadershipSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical

Findings1926w+49
Leadership284w+73
Safeguarding130w−57

Strengths

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No standout praise found.

Concerns

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No strong criticism found.

Next steps

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Anatomy of the report

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Pages: 10
Words of findings: 2,340; longer than usual (typical 1049)
Reading level: Fairly hard; Flesch 50, typical 45
Average sentence: 15 words
Next steps: 6; typical 5
Hedged sentences: 1%; “some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 75%Leadership 11%Safeguarding 5%About the inspection 9%

Full report text

Cornerstone-Crewe, 23 July 2026 1 Cornerstone-Crewe The Dome Youth Zone, Oak Street, Crewe, Cheshire CW2 7BX

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report:

Overall outcome The school is likely 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 (ISS) 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 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

The proprietor operates a multi-academy trust that comprises other independent schools, free schools and academies. It has a proven track record in the leadership and management of independent special schools. The existing independent school within the trust has been judged to be successful at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025. The proprietor has developed well-honed systems to check that the ISS are met. This is supported by thorough training so that staff have the expertise and knowledge to ensure that the ISS are met consistently.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proposed school’s leaders have well-considered approaches to safeguarding. This is supported by a curriculum for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education designed around the context of the pupils that the school seeks to support. In addition, leaders have drawn up risk assessments that further support pupils’ safety. Through these actions, leaders of the proposed school demonstrate their commitment to pupils’ wellbeing. Cornerstone-Crewe, 23 July 2026 2 The proposed school’s leaders have significant expertise and experience in the leadership of independent alternative provision. The proposed school seeks to support similar pupils to the existing alternative provision. Staff in the proposed school will be supported by a central team of expert staff from the proprietor’s trust.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

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Curriculum

The proprietor has produced a curriculum policy aligned to the values and ethos of the proposed school. The curriculum policy describes an ambitious and broad curriculum designed around academic knowledge, therapeutic care and personal development. The curriculum will help pupils to secure skills and knowledge across the subjects taught as well as important life skills. The curriculum will support older pupils to access appropriate careers advice.

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Curriculum

The proposed school will admit pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The proprietor has carefully considered how schemes of work will be adapted to meet the needs of pupils with SEND. This builds on the current secure practice in the alternative provision that the proprietor oversees. The proprietor recognises that many pupils who join the school may have significant gaps in their learning. Some will be at the early stages of learning to read. An approved phonics programme is in place. Existing staff have considerable expertise in phonics. Leaders plan to use this expertise to support new staff in the proposed school.

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Curriculum

The proposed school will deliver religious education lessons to pupils alongside its PSHE curriculum. This will support pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding of life in modern Britain.

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Curriculum

The proposed school has taken statutory guidance into account when designing what pupils will learn in the relationships and sex education curriculum. The school has developed systems to inform parents and carers of the content of this curriculum. The proposed school recognises that pupils need to acquire knowledge in PSHE that is in line with their chronological age. To this end, leaders have established a curriculum for pupils in key stages 2 and 3 that meets statutory guidance.

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Teaching

The proprietor and leaders already in post are experts in teaching pupils with SEND. They know how to adapt teaching to meet individual pupils’ needs. There Cornerstone-Crewe, 23 July 2026 3 are clear plans in place to train newly appointed staff to ensure that pupils’ individual support plans are implemented consistently well. The proprietor has invested in a range of appropriate resources, for example a well-equipped sensory space for pupils that need it.

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Teaching

Pupils will have opportunities to revisit prior learning. This will support them to remember their learning over time. Pupils will have plans tailored to their personal and emotional development. These will contribute to pupils achieving the targets outlined in their education, health and care plans.

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Teaching

The proprietor has a long-established and detailed induction process for new staff. This includes training staff on the proposed school’s curriculum and teaching approaches. The proposed school will use the same systems to monitor the quality of teaching as other successful schools in the proprietor’s trust.

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Assessment

The proposed school has well-considered assessment procedures in place to support pupils. These are aligned to what pupils will learn. These will be used to check what pupils know and remember in each subject. Leaders recognise that many pupils joining the school are likely to have gaps in their knowledge. Leaders have plans to identify and address these gaps. Leaders from the trust will monitor pupils’ achievement and engagement in learning frequently.

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Assessment

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

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pupils

Leaders of the proposed school have thought carefully about how the curriculum will support pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development. The proposed curriculum for PSHE will promote fundamental British values. The school’s plans for SMSC are further enhanced by opportunities for pupils to explore community participation. Leaders have considered how pupils will re-engage with learning and then develop their independence and resilience over time. These aspects are deliberately planned for.

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pupils

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

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Safeguarding

Cornerstone-Crewe, 23 July 2026 4 The proprietor and leaders have the appropriate knowledge of safeguarding procedures to ensure that pupils are kept safe. The school’s detailed induction process for new staff includes completing mandatory safeguarding training before commencing in post.

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Safeguarding

Leaders take their moral and statutory responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils very seriously. They have well-established processes to report, record and monitor any concerns about pupils’ welfare that will be applied to the proposed school. This includes specific guidance for staff about how to record any safeguarding concerns.

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Safeguarding

The headteacher of the proposed school is already a designated safeguarding lead at one of the proprietor’s other schools. Additional staff will be supported by leaders from the central team, including the safeguarding lead for the proprietor’s trust.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

The proposed school has a detailed behaviour policy that reflects the needs of the pupils that the school is likely to admit. This is supported by a separate anti- bullying policy. Training on these policies forms part of the staff induction process. The policies clearly identify how pupils’ behaviour should be supported by staff.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

The school has systems to record behaviour incidents. These records will be analysed to identify patterns and trends in behaviour. Leaders plan to use well-established and effective systems that are already in place within the trust’s other schools.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

The proposed staffing structure will ensure that pupils are adequately supervised at all times.

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Anti-bullying

Pupils will learn about bullying through the PSHE curriculum as well as through planned links with other subjects. Pupils will also learn about discrimination and diversity through their exploration of fundamental British values.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proprietor has drawn up a health and safety policy. This sets out how the school will comply with relevant health and safety laws. The proprietor will commission an additional fire risk assessment when the new building is handed over. Leaders have well-developed systems in place to ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This includes, for example, making sure that frequent checks of fire alarm systems are undertaken. Cornerstone-Crewe, 23 July 2026 5 There is a suitable first-aid policy in place. The proprietor will ensure there are always several trained adults on site who can administer first aid. Leaders have existing systems to check and maintain first-aid kits. The school has an appropriate system for recording accidents and injuries.

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Admissions and attendance

Effective systems are in place for admissions and monitoring attendance. The template for the admissions register shows that the required information will be held about each pupil. Attendance registers will be taken twice each day. The proposed school will use the Department for Education’s register codes and the proprietor’s existing management information system.

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Risk assessment

The proposed school has a risk assessment policy. This takes account of a range of risks that pupils and staff may encounter and how these risks will be managed. In addition, there are risk assessments that are specific to the building. For instance, leaders have taken account of outdoor play spaces, kitchen facilities and the climbing wall. These risk assessments include details of daily site checks to make sure that pupils are safe.

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Risk assessment

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

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

The proprietor has trained several staff in safer recruitment procedures. Leaders understand the required checks that must be made on new staff, volunteers, contractors and members of the proprietor body. The proprietor also intends to appoint governors. The proprietor understands how to ensure that these proposed governors are suitable. Leaders know that checks on new staff must be completed before staff are appointed. Where appointments have already been made, these processes have been followed in full.

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

The proposed school does not intend to use any supply staff.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proposed school has an electronic single central record. This contains details of the proprietor body, staff who have already been appointed and members of the trust central team. All appropriate checks have been made on these individuals. Cornerstone-Crewe, 23 July 2026 6 The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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and showers

The premises have suitable toilet and washing facilities that are adequate for the proposed number of pupils. Each toilet is a self-contained, lockable cubicle with a sink. There are 2 disabled toilets and 4 showers. There is adequate space in the school to provide suitable changing spaces for pupils should this be required. Throughout the proposed school there are drinking water points that pupils can access. These are correctly labelled.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

Leaders have created a medical room for short-term use by sick and injured pupils. The room has an adjustable bed, sink and toilet as well as a hoist should this be needed. It also has a well-stocked first-aid kit.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

Leaders and the proprietor body have established systems to ensure the ongoing maintenance of the school premises to a high standard. Daily premises checks help to ensure pupils’ safety and welfare. The premises are surrounded by secure perimeter fencing. There is adequate external lighting to ensure that people can safely access the premises.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

The premises are completed to a very high standard. Classrooms are light and bright and have appropriate acoustics. Each classroom will be fitted with an interactive whiteboard. Pupils will have access to an art room and food technology room. There is also a separate room for music teaching and a recording studio. The proposed school has impressive sporting facilities as well as several rooms for small-group teaching.

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Outdoor space

There is a large outside space attached to the proposed premises that has seating areas for pupils to socialise and an outdoor sports pitch. There is more than adequate space for pupils to play outside and take part in physical education lessons. Cornerstone-Crewe, 23 July 2026 7 The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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