The Outdoors School

The Outdoors School, 9 September 2026 1 The Outdoors School Straw Barn, Barton Lane, Shillingford Abbot, Exeter, Devon, EX2 9QQ

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report:

Overall outcome The school is unlikely 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 its 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 (ISS) 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 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 school is part of a wider proprietor body, with a number of other schools. The proprietor and senior staff, supported by the stakeholder committee, hold a clear and ambitious vision for the school. The proprietor maintains oversight of the school’s work. They are committed to providing a high quality of education and pastoral care to vulnerable pupils with a range of special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders demonstrate a secure understanding of the ISS and have ensured they are robustly adhered to on their current school sites. Leaders place a high priority The Outdoors School, 9 September 2026 2 on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of pupils. Robust arrangements are in place to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare. This reflects the school’s commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive environment. Safeguarding is embedded across all aspects of school life. The proprietor has recently acquired an additional premises, referred to as ‘Bear

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Town’. The site itself has the potential to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers that the proprietor has requested. However, with building work still outstanding, the site has not yet been reconfigured to reflect the needs of the pupils. This impacts the ability of the proprietor to show how they are able to meet part 5 of the ISS for this potential school site. Furthermore, the proprietor is still awaiting the outcome of planning permission from the local authority for the erection of teaching shelters across the site. This means the school is unlikely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the material changes relating to the school provision are implemented.

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Safeguarding

The school demonstrates an embedded culture of safeguarding. Secure systems are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all pupils. These systems are underpinned by a clear safeguarding policy and effective procedures. Such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. The school provides staff with regular and up-to-date training in safeguarding matters. It places a sustained emphasis on this area of staff’s professional knowledge. This enables staff to identify and respond to concerns about pupils’ welfare promptly and appropriately. Staff know pupils well and are confident in reporting concerns. This contributes to a detailed and coherent safeguarding picture overseen by the designated safeguarding leader. The recording of safeguarding concerns is robust.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The school has effective policies and procedures to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of pupils and staff. Fire safety is well managed. The proprietor ensures that fire safety equipment is suitably located throughout the site. Fire assembly points are well considered. The proprietor intends to adopt the same high staff-to- pupil ratios for the proposed school site that reflect the current established schools. This will ensure that pupils are properly supervised throughout the day.

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Risk assessment

Leaders have conducted thorough risk assessments for activities, such as fire lighting, across the school site. These also include the use of transport and The Outdoors School, 9 September 2026 3 arrangements for external visits. In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, individual safety plans are developed for each pupil. This ensures that their specific needs are met and any risks are mitigated effectively.

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Risk assessment

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change requests are approved.

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

The proprietor has ensured that all the required checks on staff working at the school have been completed before employment commences. This includes checks on the right to work in the United Kingdom. The proprietor ensures that when the school uses any supply agency staff the appropriate checks are completed. Members of the proprietor body have had the statutory checks made to determine their suitability in their roles. This ensures that individuals are not prohibited from managing schools.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The school maintains a well-organised electronic single central record. Leaders and members of the proprietor’s executive team regularly check the single central record to ensure that it is maintained appropriately. The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change requests are approved.

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and showers

The proposed school site has toilets, shower and changing facilities. However, they have not been reconfigured to reflect the vision of the proprietor. Drinking water is not readily available throughout the school. Nor is there appropriate signage for drinking water. Hot water could not be tested for appropriate temperature as this was not connected.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils' therapy needs

The proposed school site does not have a dedicated medical room with a bed and appropriate first-aid equipment. The Outdoors School, 9 September 2026 4

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needs of pupils

The proposed school site is not maintained to ensure the health and safety of pupils. For example, fencing is not adequate, pathways have not been cut through the undergrowth and condemned play equipment has not been removed.

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The school's accessibility plan

The school has an appropriate accessibility policy and plan in place for the current school. The plan contains details about adaptations to the curriculum and the physical environment. However, it has not been updated to reflect the new school site.

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The school's accessibility plan

The proprietor has ensured that schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 is likely to be met.

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About this inspection

The 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

During the inspection, inspectors spoke with the proprietor body, The Outdoors Group Ltd, as well as the headteacher and other senior leaders.

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About this inspection

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 and carers. These requirements of the ISS are met.

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About this inspection

At the time of this inspection, the school has 118 pupils on role aged 7 to 16 years.

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About this inspection

The material change application is to increase the admission number to 180 pupils and use an additional site. The Outdoors School, 9 September 2026 5 The school intends to continue to cater specifically for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and neurodevelopmental needs, including autism.

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About this inspection

This is the fourth material change inspection the school has requested. The preceding material change inspection took place in October 2024. The inspection found at that time that the school was likely to meet the independent standards if the change was agreed.

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About this inspection

The school does not currently use alternative provision.

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About this inspection

The school operates at 4 additional sites at Straw Barn, Barton Lane, Shillingford Abbot, Exeter, Devon, EX2 9QQ; Exeter Forest School, Shillingford Road, Shillingford St George, Exeter, Devon, EX2 9QL; Tiverton Forest School William Arthurs Hall, Cowleymoor Road, Cowleymore, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6HH; Bridge House Farm Portford Lane, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9PF; and The Outdoors School, Credition, Western Road, Crediton, EX17 3NH.

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About this inspection

The school proposes to use new premises for 60 additional pupils if the material change is approved. This is located in The Outdoors School, (Bear Town) Waters lane, Cullompton, EX15 1RZ.

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About this school

Type of school Other independent special school

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an education, health and care plan

Annual fees for day pupils £56,000 to £120,000

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an education, health and care plan

Email address admin@theoutdoorsschool.co.uk

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an education, health and care plan

Website www.theoutdoorsschool.co.uk The Outdoors School, 9 September 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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an education, health and care plan

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an education, health and care plan

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an education, health and care plan

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