Ashdown Garden School

Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 1 Ashdown Garden School Hartfield Road, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JX

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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 body includes those with extensive skills and experience to contribute to the intended provision. School leaders, including a headteacher, have been appointed for the proposed school, who bring a breadth of educational and leadership experience. This ensures that there is appropriate understanding of curriculum planning, implementation and adaptation to suit pupils’ needs in the classroom.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Leaders have undertaken the additional training they need to establish a culture of safeguarding and to help protect pupils from harm. A range of additional teaching staff have been recruited, incorporating those with both primary and secondary educational experience, which lends itself to the age range of the proposed school. Further land-based tutors in the areas of animal care and craft have been appointed to teach the specialist skills required as part of the land-based curriculum of the intended garden school environment. Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 2 Additionally, further specialist staff to support pupils’ additional educational needs, including occupational therapy and speech and language development, have also been appointed. This demonstrates how leaders have ensured that appropriately skilled staff are in place to provide their intended curriculum offer in anticipation of the school’s registration.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proposed school is also part of the Ruskin Mill Trust, which already runs 4 other independent special schools and 5 colleges. Across the central trust teams, there are appropriately skilled and experienced leaders, as well as developed quality assurance systems to provide effective oversight and support with planning and ongoing development. This breadth of knowledge and experience across school leaders, trust leaders and the proprietor body demonstrates that there is extensive knowledge of the ISS and a secure understanding of the development of effective education provision.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

As a result, the standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment

Leaders have developed an appropriate curriculum offer for the proposed primary- and secondary-aged pupils they plan to cater for. The curriculum is inspired by Steiner education principles, founded around the ‘Practical Skills Therapeutic Education’ curriculum and underpinned by the trust’s ‘seven fields of practice’.

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Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment

Leaders have plans for pupils to learn across a broad range of subjects. This includes the development of pupils’ foundational skills and knowledge, a range of craft skills including woodwork and clay work, as well as animal care, using the outdoor space and farmland throughout to enhance this offer. Leaders intend for mixed-age teaching groups based around their stage of education and tailored to their needs. Curriculum plans show effective consideration for pupils’ starting points and are likely to meet pupils’ specific special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment

There are appropriate plans in place for pupils to receive careers advice and guidance, tailored to their individual needs, as well as an appropriate programme for personal, social, health and economic education, and relationships and sex education and health education.

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Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment

Leaders intend to ensure that staff are well trained to deliver the curriculum and adapt lessons to ensure that pupils’ additional needs are met effectively. Newly appointed staff bring teaching experience across both primary and secondary Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 3 phases, and leaders have plans to recruit further subject specialists as the school grows. A range of additional staff have been appointed as land tutors to support the land and craft-based components of the curriculum which are central to the school’s offer, as well as specialist staff to support pupils’ additional educational needs, including occupational therapy. Monitoring of pupils’ progress is well considered, which would ensure that staff and leaders can track pupils’ progress, both through the curriculum and against any individualised targets from education, health and care plans.

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Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment

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

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pupils

Leaders place a significant emphasis on pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. For example, central to their approach are planned opportunities for pupils to learn to work collaboratively with others, developing their social skills and their confidence and resilience. The development of pupils’ increasing independence is intended to be woven through the curriculum and their outdoor learning experiences. Social times, including staff and pupils coming together for meals, further support the sense of developing community that the proposed school intends to foster. Leaders intend a clear emphasis on pupil voice to underpin their approaches to their education, including a student council and opportunities for pupils to make decisions about how their school develops. This includes the specific play equipment that the school intends to develop as a result of pupils’ ideas.

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pupils

Leaders intend to maintain an appropriate focus on developing social and emotional resilience that is tailored around pupils’ individual needs. Pupils will be taught how to develop positive and healthy relationships with others as part of an appropriately planned curriculum. The planned curriculum further offers pupils opportunities to learn about different cultures and faiths and how to contribute to the world beyond their school.

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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 proposed school’s safeguarding policy is comprehensive and meets statutory requirements. The policy outlines the proposed school’s robust procedures to identify, report and record concerns about pupils’ welfare. Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 4 Leaders intend for 2 senior staff to lead on safeguarding practice in the proposed school. Both have the additional training they need to check that the culture of safeguarding helps to protect pupils from harm. There is appropriately planned safeguarding training for staff which is relevant and considers both statutory duties and the school’s contextual needs. These are further supported by trust- wide systems that provide further assurances about oversight of this area.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor body’s systems for oversight are robust. The need for the regular review of safeguarding practices and procedures is understood by leaders to ensure that pupils’ safety and welfare are prioritised.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils, including anti-bullying

A well-considered behaviour and anti-bullying policy is in place. It establishes consistent expectations of how staff should support pupils to manage their behaviour and reflect on their conduct. The school has outlined the steps the school intends to take to manage any bullying incidents. Leaders intend for any incidents to be recorded centrally, including actions taken and resolutions. The policy also clearly outlines the processes for communication with parents and carers. All staff will be trained so that they feel confident using de-escalation processes and ensure that restrictive physical intervention is used as a last resort.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

Leaders have put in place appropriate health and safety and first-aid policies that support the welfare of pupils and staff. These policies are underpinned by effective systems, including both site-based and trust-based checks of the site to ensure they are likely to continue to be implemented consistently. This would allow for any identified issues to be addressed swiftly. The site is maintained to a high standard and is safe and overseen by qualified site staff.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

A compliant fire safety policy is in place. Clear escape routes are supported by ample signage. An external fire safety risk assessment has been undertaken of both new and existing buildings to ensure they are compliant. Essential equipment, including fire alarms, fire doors and fire extinguishers, is installed and spread appropriately across the expanse of the school site. External ongoing checks are planned for this equipment to ensure these remain well maintained. These processes ensure that the proposed school would maintain ongoing compliance with fire safety regulations.

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Admissions and attendance

A detailed admissions policy and set of processes have been drawn up by leaders. Admissions and attendance registers have been established and would contain the necessary information. Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 5 The school’s attendance policy clearly outlines the procedures for recording attendance, which adheres to current statutory guidance, as well as strategies to promote positive attendance and support pupils to attend well.

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Risk assessment

The intended school’s risk assessment policy sets out how risks to pupils and staff will be identified, managed and reduced. Leaders have established risk assessment processes that cover the wide range of school activities. This includes assessments for the school site, including working with animals and accessing specialist equipment, including within the forge, pottery, green woodwork area, barn and garden classroom.

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Risk assessment

The school intends to create personalised risk assessments for pupils when they first join the school. They will identify pupils’ triggers and associated risks, alongside proactive strategies to reduce potential harm. Leaders have a secure understanding of the need for risk assessments to be regularly reviewed to ensure that these remain relevant to pupils’ changing or developing circumstances.

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Risk assessment

As a result, the proprietor body has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met.

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

The proposed school’s safeguarding policy sets out how the school will fulfil legal obligations when recruiting new staff as well as supply staff and contractors working on site. The school’s recruitment processes are well considered and reflect safer recruitment guidance. Leaders have a secure understanding of the appropriate checks that need to be made prior to staff commencing work.

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

Leaders involved in recruitment are trained in safer recruitment procedures. This enables them to apply safeguarding expectations confidently and consistently throughout the process. There are further supports in place as part of trust oversight processes that provide further assurances of the systematic nature of these checks.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The single central record is accurately maintained, kept up to date and includes all staff. Senior leaders, trust staff and the proprietor body have a secure understanding of recruitment processes and ensure that all pre-employment checks are recorded on the proposed school’s single central record. Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 6 The standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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and showers

The school site has appropriate toilets, handwashing, changing and shower facilities for pupils, which are separate from staff amenities. This includes both in the main school buildings as well as across the breadth of the school site so that they are easily accessible to pupils wherever they are accessing their learning.

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and showers

Hot water is set at a safe temperature and is regularly checked. Pupils have ready access to drinking water at numerous locations across the school site, which is clearly labelled.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

A medical room has been established, which includes a bed for the short-term use of pupils who need it. There are adequate first-aid supplies available in this room, as well as elsewhere around the school site, the contents of which leaders intend to regularly check and replenish. Leaders further intend to have a school nurse to support with the administration of medications and if pupils become unwell. The medical room also includes a locked cupboard and a fridge for prescribed medicines. A toilet cubicle attached to this room ensures there are appropriate facilities in close proximity to the medical room.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The premises of the proposed school provide a safe and well-resourced environment which is maintained effectively. New building work has created 5 classroom spaces, as well as a dining hall and school hall to provide additional spaces for pupils and staff to come together, both socially at communal mealtimes and for assemblies and gatherings. Appropriate spaces to house animals, including chickens, pigs and cows, are also in place to support both pupils’ learning and wellbeing.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

Extensive grounds provide ample outdoor space, and a range of different spaces support pupils’ regulation when required. These areas are well maintained and accessed by pupils through their curriculum and/or when they need to regulate their behaviour. Additional buildings, including the forge, pottery area, green woodwork area, barn and garden classroom, are similarly well resourced and appropriately risk assessed. Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 7 Planned staffing levels are appropriate, and a programme of training and development is planned to ensure that staff are well trained so that they can supervise pupils effectively throughout the day. Leaders have appropriate consideration for staff-to-pupil ratios in anticipation of pupils’ needs, including one- to-one support where this is needed.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

There are appropriate acoustic conditions and suitable internal lighting across all learning spaces and communal areas. These support effective teaching and learning as well as more communal spaces, such as the school hall and dining area. External lighting is appropriate across the extensive school site, ensuring that the proposed school is a safe and sufficiently illuminated environment.

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Outdoor space

The external school grounds are extensive and well maintained. They provide adequate space for physical education, as well as space to support regulation and wider education, including extensive open areas of land and horticulture spaces, including polytunnels. Leaders have ensured that the outdoor areas for the proposed school would allow pupils to socialise safely during breaktimes and lunchtimes. There are careful plans in place for appropriate levels of supervision so that pupils can use them safely.

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Outdoor space

Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the school is registered.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school’s website sits within the overall website of the Ruskin Mill Trust. All policies and relevant school information are available on the website to prospective parents.

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Part 6. Provision of information

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

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

An appropriate complaints policy has been established which meets the relevant requirements of the standards. The policy clearly explains how the school will manage complaints through informal and then formal stages, and clear timescales for managing complaints are also identified. Leaders and the proprietor body intend to maintain close oversight of any informal or formal complaints to the school. Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 8 The standards in this part are 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. 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 inspectors checked the suitability of the proposed premises during their site check. They met with the headteacher, chief executive officer of the trust and a range of other leaders from both the school and the trust. They also held a meeting with the chair of the proprietor body.

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About this inspection

The inspectors reviewed documents in relation to the curriculum, teaching and learning, the provision for pupils with SEND, recruitment, safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and risk assessment.

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About this inspection

The inspectors also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents.

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About this inspection

The inspectors confirmed the following information about the school:

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About this inspection

The proprietor body is Ashdown Garden School, which has a board of trustees chaired by Aonghus Gordon. The school is also part of the Ruskin Mill Trust, which operates 4 other independent schools and 5 colleges.

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About this inspection

The proposed school will operate from Hartfield Road, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JX. This is the same site address as Emerson College, which is owned by the same trust, but operates separately and whose premises are distinct from that of the proposed school. Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 9 The school intends to operate as an independent special school, specialising in supporting pupils with autism spectrum condition, speech, language and communication needs and social, emotional and mental health needs. The proposed school intends to have all pupil places commissioned by the local authority, and all pupils at the school will have education, health and care plans.

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About this inspection

The school does not intend to use any forms of alternative provision.

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About this proposed school

Chair of the proprietor body Aonghus Gordon

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About this proposed school

Type of school Other independent special school

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authority

Age range of pupils Provider's proposal: 7 to 16 Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 10 Gender of pupils Provider's proposal: Mixed

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teaching staff

Number of part-time teaching staff Provider's proposal: 1

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teaching staff

Annual fees for day pupils £85,000 to £120,000

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teaching staff

Email address tara.gratton@rmt.org Ashdown Garden School, 11 August 2026 11 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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teaching staff

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teaching staff

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teaching staff

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