Darwin School

Overview: The proposed Darwin School is likely to meet all the independent school standards when it opens. The school will offer full-time education for up to 24 pupils aged between 11 and 16 years, catering for some pupils who are looked-after children and some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Strengths:

• The proposed school has a suitable curriculum policy that reflects its values and ethos and promotes fundamental British values well.
• The intended curriculum is broad and ambitious, providing opportunities for pupils to work towards recognised qualifications.
• Leaders have planned a thorough induction process for new staff, including pertinent training to support staff to manage pupils' social, emotional and mental health and behaviour needs.
• The proprietor has invested in an appropriate range of resources to support pupils to learn the curriculum effectively.
• The proposed school has a suitable accessibility plan, with leaders taking appropriate steps to ensure that the school building is accessible.

Areas to improve: The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding: The proprietor has a suitable understanding of the required safeguarding policies and procedures to establish an effective culture for safeguarding, and there is a comprehensive training programme for staff to gain a secure understanding for safeguarding pupils.