Buckswood School
OFSTED Improvement Action Plan
May 2017
Buckswood School
May 2017Page 1 of 28
Introduction
Buckswood School was inspected by OFSTED on 28-30 March 2016.
The OFSTED inspection judged Buckswood School as follows:
Overall effectiveness / InadequateEffectiveness of leadership and management / Inadequate
Quality of teaching, learning and assessment / Requires improvement
Personal development, behaviour and welfare / Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils / Requires improvement
Sixth form provision / Inadequate
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people in the boarding provision / Inadequate
The DfE served notice on Buckswood School requiring the school to submit an Action plan setting out how the School will improve and meet the Independent School Standards considered not met by OFSTED, by 31 May 2017
Buckswood School engaged the Services of the ISI Consultancy to carry out (i) a whole school review and (ii) a Policy review and Health Check between 16-19 May 2017.
A copy of the ISI Consultancy report can be found attached at Annex 1
This Action Plan aims to address areas identify by OFSTED as being areas that did not meet the Independent School Standards and shows how the School intends to meet these areas.
It has been preparedfollowing feedback from the ISI Consultancy and having regard to DfE guidance document “Independent school action plans”(April 2016)
This Action Plan is structured in Sections to how the School intends to meet each ‘Part’ of the Independent School Standards considered not met by OFSTED.
Table of Contents
Section A - Part 1 (Quality of Education provided):
Section B - Part 2 (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development ('SMSC')
Section C - Part 3 (Welfare, health and Safety of Pupils)
Section D - Part 4 (Suitability of Staff, supply staff and proprietors)
Section E - Part 6 (Provision of information)
Section F - Part 7 (Manner in which complaints are to be handled)
Section G - Part 8 (Quality of leadership and management)
Annex A – Copy of ISI Consultancy report May 2017
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Section A - Part 1 (Quality of Education provided):
Action plan relating areas under Part 1 (Quality of Education provided) of the ISSR identified by OFSTED as not be met.
Objective / Reference to the ISSRs / Reference to the NMS / Action Proposed / Date to be completed / Responsible person / Cost / Success criteria / Evidence1. To ensure a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, is drawn up and implemented effectively; / Para 2 / Ensure a Curriculum Policy is drawn up and visible on the school’s website / 28.06.17 / GJ / tbc / Curriculum policy reflects requirements set out in para 2 - (2) (a)-(i) / See Policy
Implement updated Curriculum Policy in next school year / 01.09.17 / GJ / n/a / (i) See Departmental handbooks (ii) see lesson observations
Head of Teaching and Learning to monitor the implementation of the updated Curriculum Policy through joint lesson observations with Subject Advisors and report back to SMT on weekly basis / On going / GJ / n/a / (i) Lesson observation, (ii)SMT meeting minutes, (iii) assessment grades and (iv) book inspections
2. To ensure that all matters under para 2 - (2) (a)-(i) ISSRs are addressed / Engage the services of professional educational consultants to advise on the adequacy of the Written Policies / 23.05.17 / ML / £10,000 / Curriculum policy reflects requirements set out in the ISSR's / See Policy online
Review Subject Area's Departmental Handbooks to ensure that they contain information relating to (i) 'Who is Who' in the department (ii) careers guidance/advice in relation to that subject (iii) how it addresses SMSC (iv) how the department incorporates ICT / 28.06.17 / GJ / n/a / Each subject has a departmental handbook that demonstrates a framework is in place to reflect on the provision and quality of the teaching and learning and the incorporation of resources in that subject area / See Departmental handbooks
Each department is to prepare an annual Departmental Development Plan, post results day which (i) includes how each department tracks pupils progress (ii) how the tracking has informed planning and teaching (iii) how the implementation of the teacher appraisal, has impacted on the department / 01.09.17 / GJ / n/a / A framework is in place to ensure that pupils progress is evaluated and teaching is planned to ensure good student progress / See Departmental handbooks
To ensure that all matters under para 3 (a)-(i) ISSR's are met / Paragraph 3 / Engage the services of professional educational consultants to advise on the provision of Teaching in the school / 23.05.17 / ML / £10,000 / Teaching reflects requirements set out in the ISSR's / See Policy online
Review and update the Monitoring and Appraisalprocess / 01.09.17 / GJ / n/a / The impact of teaching on pupil progress, and teacher professional development is monitored / (i) See Policy, (ii) See appraisal forms
Introduce a RAG system for student progress based on baseline data and ½ termly summative assessment grades / 01.09.17 / GJ / A framework in in place to assess students’progress and this information is used to inform planning. / See assessment data
Subject Advisors to use standardised agenda’s in their Subject meetings, to ensure a consistent approach. Minutes of which to reviewed by the SMT / 01.09.17 / GJ / A consistent whole school approach to subject meetings / See subject meeting minutes
Each teacher is to submit at the end of the week, the lesson plans for the Subject Advisor to review and monitor quality of planning / 30.06.17 / GJ / A framework is in place to monitor lessons to ensure that they are well planned / See lesson plans signed by Subject Advisors
Update the Marking Policy and to ensure teachers are aware of the expectations on the quality of their marking / 01.09.17 / GJ / Marking provides suitable feedback to students / Student's work
Set out a programme of Marking Moderation, by Subject Advisors (and SMT) to ensure consistency in each department (and across the school). / 01.09.17 / GJ / The whole school approach to marking of student’s work is consistent / Student's work, Marking moderation dates
Provide further training in the use of interactive whiteboard / On going / GJ / Increased use of ICT (interactive whiteboards/classroom resources) / (i) Lesson observations (ii) INSET training
SMT and Subjects Advisors to carry out regular 'spot checks' to ensure that teachers are adequately planning lessons, marking and using assessment information to ensure pupil progress / 01.09.17 / SMT / Teachers are delivering lessons that are well planned and effective teaching methods, activities and class management are utilised / Lesson observations / Lesson plans / teacher's mark books
Introduce a programme of shared lesson observations / spot checks by SMT and Subject Advisors, to facilitate a more consistent whole school approach to monitoring the impact of teachers on pupil progress / 01.09.17 / GJ / (i) The school has a more consistent whole school approach to monitoring of the impact of teachers on pupil progress / Student’s work, lesson observation documentation
Introduce a programme of INSET training, followed by a combination of learning walks and joint lesson observations to monitor the implementation of the INSET topics. / 01.09.17 / GJ / Teaching reflects topics covered in INSET / See INSET programme, See Lesson Observation notes, See Learning walk notes.
Introduce CAT/CEM testing for all students, to provide baseline data, which can then be used to measure progress / 15.09.17 / Exams / All new students sit CAT/CEM test / CAT/CEM scores on 3SYS
The record of incidents of poor behaviour to be collated and reviewed on a weekly basis by SMT / 25.05.17 / AJ / Behaviour policy / See SMT meeting minutes
SMT in their weekly meeting to consider the weekly record of incidents to identify patterns of behaviour, to ensure that the outcomes are satisfactory and consider possible strategies/interventions to prevent regular poor behaviour from occurring / 01.09.17 / SMT / Incidents of poor behaviour are monitored and dealt with. / See SMT meeting minutes, see record of incidents and outcomes
Update SEND policy / 28.06.17 / DC / SEND policy meets ISSRs / See policy
SENCO to provide a termly excel list of SEND students to all teachers and house staff, setting out details of the SEND requirements and possible strategies / 28.06.17 / DC / Teachers able to make better provision for SEND students / Lesson Observations / Lesson plans
SEND students are supported in boarding house / See housemaster meeting notes
Boarding house staff to receive training from the SENCO, so that they can help support the boarders in the evenings and weekends / 01.09.17 / DC / A more consistent and proactive whole school approach support SEND students / See SEND referrals, INSET training programme for the house staff
Provide better provision for the More Able students (top 15% in each year group) bydeveloping the “gifted and talented programme” / 01.09.17 / TS / A programme that develops and gives further opportunities for the More Able students is in place / See the ‘More Able’ programme
Once the assessment and tracking system has been implemented, Subject Advisors to oversee further implementation of shared departmental mark books / 01.12.17 / GF / There is a consistent and uniform approach to monitoring teacher’s mark books / See evidence from shared mark books
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Section B - Part 2 (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development ('SMSC')
Action plan relating areas under Part 2 (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development ('SMSC’) of the ISSR identified by OFSTED as not be met.
Objective / Reference to the ISSRs / Reference to the NMS / Action Proposed / Date to be completed / Responsible person / Cost / Success criteria / Evidence1. To ensure that the school actively promotes the fundamental British Values (Para 5 (a)) / Paragraph 5 / NMS Appendix 2 / Arrange for ESCC to deliver PREVENT training to teachers / 28.04.17 / GJ / Staff are aware of issues associated with extremism, and encourage British Values / See attendance register for INSET training
Arrange for ESCC to deliver PREVENT training to house staff / 30.09.17 / JO’S
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Section C - Part 3 (Welfare, health and Safety of Pupils)
Action plan relating areas under Part 3 (Welfare, health and Safety of Pupils) of the ISSR identified by OFSTED as not being met.
Objective / Reference to the ISSRs / Reference to the NMS / Action Proposed / Date to be completed / Responsible person / Cost / Success criteria / Evidence1. To ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at school / Paragraph 7 / NMS11.1 & NMS Appendix 1NMS Appendix 2 / Engage the services of professional consultants to review policies relating to safeguarding at Buckswood School / 23.05.17 / ML / £10,000 / Policy satisfactory meets requirements set out in the ISSR's / See policies, See ISIC feedback notes
Engage with East Sussex County Council (‘ESCC’) safeguard training and support services / 25.05.17 / GJ / tbc / Training and feedback from ESCC included as part of the ongoing school improvement / See meeting minutes
Update Recruitment and Selection Policy and DBS Policy to ensure it is a Safer RecruitmentProcess / 04.2017 / ES / n/a / Safer Recruitment Policy reflects current regulations and legislation / See SCR
Ensure a record of induction training for new staff is maintained (list of training, and an attendance register of those that attended) / 28.04.17 / ES & AJ / tbc / Staff are adequate inducted in the school and are aware of the relevant safeguarding provisions / See central records
Employ additional staff to assist with ensuring that "Safeguarding and Compliance”standards are met / 28.04.17 / ES / Safeguarding and Compliance Officer on the school role / See Job Description
Ensure safeguarding policy addresses peer-to-peer allegations / 01.06.17 / GJ / Safeguarding Policy meets required KCSIE/ISSR content / See policy
Update Allegations against staff policy / 04.04.17 / ES / Updated policy (which meets statutory requirements) has been implement by the school and is available online / See Allegations against staff policy
Review the School Code of Conduct to ensure that the Code adequately addresses staff behaviour / 15.06.17 / ES / Staff code of conduct meets the KCSIE requirements / See Staff Code of Conduct
Ensure staff have read Part 1 of KCSIE / 01.05.17 / ES / HR can confirm all staff have signed declaration confirming that they have read Part 1 of KCSIE / See SCR
Ensure staff have read Annex A of KCSIE 2016 / 06.06.17 / ES / HR can confirm all staff have signed declaration confirming that they have read Annex A of KCSIE 2016 / See SCR
A member of the SMT is designated/employed to act as the lead in relation to the responsibility for the safeguarding arrangements, and any serious safeguarding matters are reviewed by the SMT / 28.04.17 / GJ / A member of SMT is the Designated Safeguarding Lead / See safeguarding policy setting out the designated safeguarding lead
Ongoing / AJ / SMT review safeguarding and behavioural events at weekly SMT meetings / See SMT meeting minutes
Carry out weekly student surveys to assess the impact/effectiveness of the implementation of the safeguarding policies and procedures / Ongoing / TB / Results of student surveys reviewed every fortnight / See SMT meeting minutes
2. To ensure that arrangements are made to Safeguard and promote the welfare of boarders while they are accommodated at the school / Paragraph 8 (Safeguarding of Borders) / NMS11 / Review Boarding School Association Standards to ensure all are met including those that address the issue of risk assessments / 28.04.17 / JO'S / Boarding risk assessments complete / See risk assessment
Complete risk assessments of boarders sharing rooms / 25.04.17 / JO'S / Every dormitory has a completed risk assessment / See central records
Update the MissingStudents policy / 15.06.17 / JO'S / Staff working within the school know and implement the school’s policy in relation to boarders going missing and their role in implementing that policy / See the Missing Students policy
Promote the use of the ‘Buckswood Person’ document to encourage weekly pupil feedback of boarding/welfare provision / 05.06.17 / JO'S / The school listens to student feedback about boarding/welfare provision and addresses any concerns / See feedback documents
Ensure the admission policy is updated so in practise any potential risk from new students are flagged to the boarding staff and a suitable risk assessment can take place / 05.09.17 / JO'S / Potential issues with new students are flagged as early of possible, so IEP can be put in place and/or a risk assessment can be carried out / (i) See new admissions document
Review the provision of extra Independent Listeners from other nationalities to enable ESL students to be able to talk openly in their native language / 01.09.17 / JO’S / ESL students welfare is promoted
3. To ensure the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools are met / NMS are incorporated into the ISSRs mainly through paragraph 8 / NMS 12.2 and Appendix 1 & 2 documents / Ensure that this Action Plan addresses the NMS that OFSTED have required Buckswood to meet by ensuring that the Independent School Standards and Regulation are met and are referenced to the relevant NMS / All NMS that OFSTED have required Buckswood to address have been met / See Action Plan.
4. To ensure that the school promotes good behaviour amongst pupils / Paragraph 9 (Behaviour) / NMS 12.1 & 12.2 / The Safeguarding and Compliance officer will provide a weekly print out from the School Management Systemof negative behaviour events, to be discussed at weekly SMT meetings / 26.05.17 / AJ / The SMT review / track / provide interventions to negative behaviour / See SMT meeting minutes
The Safeguarding and Compliance officer will provide a weekly print out from the School Management System of negative behaviour events, to be discussed at weekly House meetings and in weekly Housemaster meetings with the Headmaster / 05.05.17 / AJ / The Headmaster and Housemasters review / track / provide interventions to negative behaviour / See meeting minutes
The existing Behaviour Policy sets out expectations of students, but this should be reviewed to ensure it adequately deals with poor behaviour / 28.06.17 / SMT / Behaviour policy is up-to-date and reflects practise / See updated policy, see SMT meeting minutes
Develop the use of the School Management Systemso that the recording and monitoring of poor behaviour takes place effectively and can be directed to the Safeguarding officer on a RAG system. / 01.05.17 / TB / Weekly reports can be generated / See behaviour records
Review the weekly SMT meeting agenda to ensure that any incidents of bullying and poor behaviour and the action taken are discussed and followed up / ongoing / HODS / Minutes from HOD meeting reflect discussion of any AMBER or RED incidents / See Procedures for dealing with Incidents of Bullying, See SMT meeting minutes
Review and update the policy dealing with the arrangements for searching pupils and their possessions / 30.06.17 / JO'S / A Searching pupils and their belongings policy is available upon request / See policy
5. To ensure bullying at the school is prevented in so far as practicable / Paragraph 10 (Bullying) / NMS 12 (promotingpositive behaviour and relationships)
NMS Appendix 2 / Review and update the Anti-bullying and Anti-Cyber Bullying policy / 05.06.17 / AJ / Anti-bullying and Anti-Cyber Bullying policy satisfactorily complies with relevant guidance / Anti-bullying and Anti-Cyber Bullying policy
Ensure a record of central record of Bullying & Unkindness ismaintained and reviewed weekly by SMT / 25.04.17 / AJ / Bullying and Unkindness is monitored weekly by SMT and patterns and relevant interventions put in place / See SMT meeting minutes
See record of bullying events
6. To ensure that relevant Health and Safety laws are adhered to / Paragraph 11 (Health and Safety) / NMS 6 (safety of Boarders) / Check hot water temperatures across the whole campus on a termly basis / 30.04.17 / GS / Hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users / Check tap temperature record
Engage a Health and Safety advisor to carry out a campus assessment to ensure the campus meet relevant legislation / 12.05.17 / GS / The campus meets relevant Health and Safety regulations / See Health and Safety assessment
The pond by the fountain blocks are fenced to reduce the risk students walking close by the ponds and/or falling in / 05.04.17 / GS / The ponds are fenced / See site
7. To ensure that students are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff / Paragraph 14 (Supervision) / Boarding - Staffing and Supervision (Note B103)
NMS Appendix 2 / Staff duty rotas and location of 'patrols' to be updated / 30.06.17 / TB and JGE / Staff duty rota reflects the supervision of pupils is effective / See Staff Duty Rote
Review how to prevent boarders returning to the boarding house during the day / 01.09.17 / GS / Boarder are adequately supervised when in the boarding house / See staff duty Rote
NMS 15.6NMS Appendix 2 / Review and update the Missing Student Policy, to make sure if reflects current best practise / 01.06.17 / JO'S / Staff working within the school know and implement the school’s policy in relation to boarders going missing and their role in implementing that policy / See ‘Missing Student’ policy
Monitor Boarding Accommodation and Staffing policies to ensure that Supervision Standards are continually met / 30.06.17 / JO’S / Supervision Standards are met / See policies
8. To ensure the welfare of pupils is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy and appropriate action is taken / Paragraph 16 (Risk Assessment) / Ensure the Management of Risk Assessment Policy is updated / 05.06.17 / JO'S / The school takes an active approach to managing risk and a Risk Assessment Policy is produced / See policy
Buckswood School