Progress Schools - Stockport

Overview

The report states that the school requires "urgent improvement" across most evaluation areas, including achievement, curriculum, and leadership. While safeguarding standards are met and staff morale is high, leaders do not ensure pupils receive their full educational entitlement or that independent school standards are consistently upheld.

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
• Most pupils are "polite and cooperative," interacting well with staff and responding to help in regulating emotions.
• Incidents of bullying or racism are "dealt with swiftly and well," and pupils have a "secure understanding" of relationships and sex education.
• Staff morale is high, and new leadership is providing "greater stability" while helping manage workloads.
• Parents and agencies feel "more involved" in pupils' education, with their suggestions beginning to be considered.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must urgently ensure the curriculum meets pupils' needs and that staff have the expertise to address knowledge gaps, particularly in reading, writing, and mathematics.
• The proprietor must strengthen monitoring to ensure statutory duties are fulfilled and independent school standards are maintained, including safe storage of chemicals and provision of showers.
• Leaders should improve careers guidance and personal development programmes to better prepare pupils for adulthood and life in a "modern and diverse Britain."

Safeguarding

The report confirms that safeguarding standards are met, noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.