Oak Heights Independent School

Oak Heights School Independent school progress report

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DCSF registration number 313/6081 Unique Reference Number (URN) 135090 Inspection number 346747 Inspection dates 10 February 2010 Reporting inspector Michael Best

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Monitoring report template for use from January 2010

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Published: February 2010 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090137 Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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Purpose and scope of the visit

This inspection visit was carried out by Ofsted under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002 1 , as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005 2 . The visit was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection.

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Information about the school

Oak Heights School was established in September 2003 in the London Borough of Hounslow and operates under a board of trustees with charitable status. The school was founded with the specific aim of preparing secondary-aged students for entry to university to study degrees leading to professional work in medicine, dentistry, accountancy, banking and law. Students are selected through a rigorous examination and interview process. Their education is seen as part of a contract with parents who are also interviewed. Class sizes are small. Very few students are over compulsory school age but they are taught to GCSE level only.

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Information about the school

The school sees its aim as promoting an education that is more than academic, and one that encompasses dedicated sportsmanship and the acquisition of life skills. It aspires to produce students who will ultimately become leaders and pioneers in their chosen fields. Since the last inspection, the proprietor has additionally assumed the role and responsibilities of principal.

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Context of the visit

The school was last inspected by Ofsted in July 2009. Its action plan and the timescales proposed to address those requirements not met were evaluated as inadequate in September 2009. This is the first visit to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan.

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action plan

At the time of the last inspection in July 2009, there was no effective system in place to monitor the progress that students made over time from their varied starting points. The school has since devised and implemented an electronic spreadsheet which tracks students’ performance in termly tests and compares this with their predicted levels based on their starting points and prior attainment. This system highlights those who are making better than expected progress, expected progress or less than expected progress, in an easily accessible format. It also transfers

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action plan

1 www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020032_en_14#pt10-ch1-pb4-l1g162 2 www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/ukpga_20050018_en_15#sch8 Inspection report template – progress monitoring information to an electronic report template which is completed termly by teaching staff and sent to parents. These reports include personalised comments and individual targets for students to work towards in the following term. The requirement is now met.

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action plan

The previous inspection found that there were shortcomings in the required training of staff in child protection procedures and insufficient adherence to safeguarding policies. The requirements are still not met because neither of the named designated persons has attended the required training and there are a number of omissions in the school’s safeguarding provision. In particular, the school’s policy does not: - make clear that it is in line with locally agreed inter-agency procedures agreed through the local safeguarding board - set out clearly arrangements for dealing with allegations of abuse against the headteacher and all others having regular contact with pupils - set out clearly procedures for dealing with abuse by a pupil against another pupil - require training in child protection for the headteacher, all staff and all others involved regularly with pupils, to be updated every three years

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action plan

- state that any deficiencies or weaknesses in child protection arrangements will be remedied immediately - provide that the proprietor undertakes an annual review of the child protection policies and their application.

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action plan

The proprietor is aware of the latest reporting requirements of the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

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action plan

While the school had in place an appropriate policy for the health and safety of pupils on educational visits, the previous inspection noted that its implementation was not always sufficiently adhered to by staff. The school has revised its procedures and has implemented a more systematic approach to the implementation of welfare, health and safety policies which now meet requirements.

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action plan

At the time of the last inspection, the school’s fire risk assessment did not meet requirements. Although weekly alarm tests, regular fire drills and annual maintenance of fire-fighting appliances were carried out, there was a lack of rigour in recording day-to-day health and safety issues in relation to the premises as they arose. In addition, safety testing of portable electrical equipment had not taken place. A recent fire risk assessment has been made by an accredited outside contractor and the school has addressed the resulting recommendations. Portable electrical appliances have been tested and a system for making regular checks of the premises, and responding promptly to identified issues, has been implemented. The requirements of this standard are now met.

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action plan

Although the school published some information on the performance of its students in an insert in the school prospectus, the previous inspection found that these did not provide an accurate representation of students’ overall performance in previous years. The format in which the school now publishes its results meets requirements. Inspection report template – progress monitoring While progress has been made in implementing the action plan, the school must take urgent steps to meet the requirements relating to the safeguarding of students.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

As a result of this inspection visit, the school must take action to meet the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2003 3 as amended (‘the Regulations’), as follows:  ensure that the school’s policies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are pupils at the school are in compliance with DCSF guidance and fully implemented, in particular by making sure that the designated persons for child protection are properly trained (paragraph 3(2)(b)).

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

3 www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031910.htm Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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School details

Name of school Oak Heights Independent School DCSF number 313/6081 Unique reference number (URN) 135090 Type of school Secondary Status Independent Date school opened September 2003 Age range of pupils 11–18 years Gender of pupils Mixed Number on roll (full-time pupils) Boys: 17 Girls: 16 Total: 33 Number of pupils with a statement of special educational need Boys: 0 Girls: 0 Total: 0

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School details

Number of pupils who are looked after Boys: 0 Girls: 0 Total: 0 Annual fees (day pupils) £6,000 Address of school 3 Red Lion Court Hounslow Middlesex TW3 1JS Telephone number 0208 577 1827 Fax number 0208 577 1827 Email address enquiries@oakheights.co.uk Principal Mr Sukhvinder Dhillon Proprietor Mr Sukhvinder Dhillon Reporting inspector Michael Best Dates of inspection 10 February 2010

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