Private school charging £45k per pupil forced to close after inspection finds children are 'at risk of harm'
06.01.2024 - 09:06
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A private school for children with special needs was ordered to close after a damning inspection found ‘pupils are at risk of harm’. Craig Ormerod Associates School Provision, Outwood Road, Radcliffe only opened in September 2022 and charged £45,000 per pupil per year.
It had its first Ofsted inspection in September last year. A pre-opening inspection report in June 2022 from Ofsted said the school was ‘likely to meet all the independent school standards when it opens’.
However, the September 2023 inspection found the quality of education, personal development and leadership and management all inadequate. The school had 17 students on its roll, most of whom had experienced difficulties in accessing education in their previous settings.
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The Ofsted report, said: “The school does not make sure that its pupils are safe. Weaknesses in safeguarding arrangements prevent the school from fulfilling its safeguarding responsibilities effectively.
“For example, staff are not well trained in child protection procedures. The school does not promote pupils’ health, safety and welfare. Consequently, pupils are at risk of harm.” After that inspection the Secretary of State for education requested the voluntary closure of the school on September 18 2023.
Another emergency inspection was conducted in November because the Department for Education (DfE) was made aware that the school had re-opened. The DfE had also received further complaints about the school.
In a report published in late December, Ofsted said the emergency inspection had taken place on November 23. The report said ‘the school does not meet all of the independent school standards