AN alternate provision in Carlisle is making progress, according to a recent Ofsted inspection.
Following a Requires Improvement grade from Ofsted in April 2023, Progress Schools has been subject to additional inspections in December 2023 and June 2024.
Its summer inspection was a more promising one. The report from Ofsted, which was published on September 20, states that the school meets all of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection.
At the progress monitoring inspection in December 2023, the school’s curriculum did not take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an education, health and care plan.
However, the school has now put in place a suitable curriculum for pupils to study. There are schemes of work and curriculum plans for all of the subjects that pupils study. These take into account the ages and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
The December inspection suggested that 'staff did not have the subject knowledge needed to deliver the curriculum well' but again there was an improvement by the summer, as subject-specific training has supported staff to deliver the subject curriculums effectively.
The welfare, health and safety of pupils has always been met, while 'leaders have significantly developed their understanding of the requirements for independent schools.'
Charlotte Barton, managing director said: “We are pleased that during our most recent visit, Ofsted have reported that all independent school standards are being met.
"We have worked hard to create and deliver an offer that meets the needs of all our pupils, many of whom have previously struggled in mainstream school.
"As a registered provider of alternative provision, with a cohort of pupils with varying complex needs, we place significant emphasis on supporting the individual needs of our pupils, and we remain committed to providing the very best education possible to them based on their individual requirements.”
The provision in Carlisle teaches children aged between 13 and 16 and currently has 18 pupils on the school roll, according to Ofsted.
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