The Park School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Safeguarding arrangements are not effective. Leaders and governors responsible for safeguarding have not ensured that statutory requirements are met. The oversight of safeguarding procedures by senior leaders and designated safeguarding leads has been weak.

There were six different issues identified during the inspection that could have put pupils at risk of harm. Governance is ineffective. Over time, governors have not challenged leaders.

As a result, governors were not aware of the many safeguarding issues identified during the inspection. Governors have not ensured a coherent strategy for the use of pupil premium funding. They h...ave not closely monitored the impact of this spending or of the use of other additional funding on pupils' progress.

Senior leaders are complacent. Their attention has not been fully focused on leading the school well. They do not welcome challenge and scrutiny.

The school's use of part-time timetables, flexi-school arrangements and home-education agreements is unsatisfactory. Arrangements in place are a form of unofficial exclusion because : they remove pupils' right to a full-time education. The school has the following strengths Teaching is good.

Pupils enjoy learning in a wide range of lessons. Adults foster positive relationships with pupils and get to know them well as individuals. Pupils make good progress from their starting points in a range of subjects.

Most pupils move on successfully to sustain worthwhile placements in further education. Pupils' behaviour is good in lessons and around the school. Pupils are kind, polite and respectful of each other.

The key stage 4 curriculum is well planned and prepares pupils very well for the next stage of their education. Across the school, pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is strong.

Information about this school

The school caters for pupils who are supported by an education, health and care plan for their learning difficulties and additional needs.

A growing number of pupils also have a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder and a few have severe learning difficulties and/or social, emotional and behaviour difficulties. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is above average. The nearby Brooklands College provides off-site training in vocational education for pupils in Years 10 and 11 for half a day each week.

The school uses one alternative provider 'Steps to 16' in Woking. The school is led by two co-headteachers who share the role. One is due to retire at Easter 2019, at which time the other is due to become the full-time headteacher.