Progress Schools - Carlisle

The report on the Progress Schools – Carlisle, dated 13 December 2023, highlights several areas where the school failed to meet the independent school standards during a progress monitoring inspection. This inspection followed a previous standard inspection conducted in April 2023, where the school was found to be non-compliant with various educational standards. The latest inspection was aimed at evaluating the progress the school had made in addressing these issues.

One of the key areas of concern is the quality of education provided at the school. In the April 2023 inspection, it was found that the curriculum did not adequately meet the needs of all pupils, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including some with Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plans. For example, some pupils lacked the prior knowledge needed to engage with the curriculum, particularly in key stage 3 and among those who struggled with reading. These gaps in the curriculum made it difficult for pupils to build and deepen their knowledge effectively.

Following the April inspection, the school submitted an action plan in August 2023, which was rejected by the Department for Education (DfE) for being unclear and insufficiently detailed. During the December progress monitoring inspection, it was found that while there had been some improvements in curriculum planning for subjects like English, mathematics, and science, significant gaps remained in other subjects. Curriculum plans, especially for pupils with EHC plans, were still lacking the necessary detail to guide teachers in supporting students’ learning effectively. This ongoing deficiency hindered students’ ability to acquire and retain knowledge over time.

Another major issue identified was the competence of the teaching staff. In April 2023, inspectors noted that staff lacked the necessary subject knowledge and understanding of pupils’ prior knowledge and needs, which impeded effective teaching. There were also issues with how staff used assessment information to inform future teaching, resulting in pupils not making adequate progress.

Although some staff training had been provided since the last inspection, the December report indicates that these efforts were insufficient. Staff still lacked the necessary subject knowledge, particularly in how to adapt the curriculum to meet the diverse needs of pupils. As a result, misconceptions and gaps in pupils’ knowledge were not adequately addressed, leading to suboptimal learning outcomes.

On a positive note, the school has made progress in ensuring the welfare, health, and safety of pupils. The school has a suitable safeguarding policy in place, and procedures for reporting concerns about pupils’ welfare are secure and effective. Staff receive regular safeguarding training, and the school communicates effectively with external professionals to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils.

The report also highlights concerns with the school’s leadership and management. Despite a curriculum review and some improvements, the school’s leadership has not taken sufficient action to address all the issues identified in the previous inspection. The leadership continues to struggle with ensuring that the independent school standards are consistently met.

In conclusion, the inspection report for Progress Schools – Carlisle indicates that while some progress has been made in certain areas, significant shortcomings remain in the quality of education and the effectiveness of the school’s leadership and management. The school’s curriculum development is incomplete, and staff training has not yet sufficiently improved teaching quality. These ongoing issues have led to the school failing to meet several independent school standards, raising concerns about its overall effectiveness in providing a quality education to its pupils.