Hopespring Newcastle

Overview: Hopespring Newcastle is an independent school that caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has a strong culture of safeguarding and provides a safe and healthy environment for pupils. The school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the material change relating to the school provision is implemented.

Strengths:

• The proprietor has established a rigorous recruitment and selection process for school leaders who possess the requisite educational knowledge and leadership skills.
• The school has a strong, open and honest culture of safeguarding, informed by the significant risk that many pupils face.
• The school provides a safe and healthy environment for pupils, with suitable water supply, toilet and washing facilities, and shower and changing facilities.
• The school has suitable outdoor space at both its current site and its proposed additional site, providing pupils with an environment in which they can exercise and engage in activities such as horticulture.
• The school publishes its safeguarding policy on the school website, which is updated annually and informed by the relevant statutory guidance.

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

Safeguarding: The school has established a strong, open and honest culture of safeguarding, informed by the significant risk that many pupils face. All school staff have undertaken designated safeguarding leader training, and the school embeds safeguarding into its day-to-day operations.