Oakwood School

Oakwood School remains non-compliant with several independent school standards following this first progress monitoring inspection. The inspection focused on progress against the behaviour weaknesses identified previously, as well as curriculum, health and safety, risk assessment and safeguarding. Although an approved action plan was implemented within the expected timescales, it has not brought about consistent, effective behaviour management, and inspectors found additional unmet standards, including serious safety and premises risks. Leadership is also fragile, with recent leadership changes and unfilled teaching assistant posts. The school has some positive foundations: safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record and published policy, meet requirements; a new behaviour policy reflects pupils' needs; staff have been trained and are recording incidents; and pupils are supervised around the site. However, pupils' work and learning are generally weak, the primary curriculum is not yet implemented, assessment is underdeveloped, and teaching does not consistently meet pupils' needs. Health, safety and fire arrangements are not implemented effectively, with significant risks in the building and outdoor areas, and the premises are not maintained well enough to keep pupils safe. The school caters for pupils with significant trauma and social, emotional and mental health difficulties, and the report notes that current weaknesses can leave pupils distressed for longer and limit their progress.

Strengths

• An up-to-date safeguarding policy is published on the school's website.
• Safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks, meet requirements.
• A new behaviour policy has been developed that takes account of pupils' needs.
• Staff have received training on the new behaviour policy.
• Staff record behaviour incidents and leaders are beginning to identify trends.
• A supervision risk assessment has been completed.
• Leaders ensure pupils are supervised as they enter and leave the site and as they move around it.

Areas for Improvement

• The school does not meet all of the independent school standards checked during this inspection.
• The leadership and management standard is not met, and leadership changes and unfilled teaching assistant vacancies have created significant organisational fragility.
• The school has not thoroughly or urgently addressed the behaviour weaknesses found at the previous inspection.
• The approved behaviour action plan was implemented, but staff still cannot consistently and effectively manage pupils' behaviour.
• Pupils remain distressed for longer and incidents are more likely to escalate because behaviour management is inconsistent.
• Curriculum plans, especially in the primary phase, are not appropriate; the planned new primary curriculum has not been implemented.
• Pupils' work is typically weak, often low-level, incomplete or missing, and some books contain unaddressed profanities.
• Teachers' modelling of writing is sometimes weak and their written feedback on pupils' work is sometimes illegible.
• Teaching does not generally adapt the curriculum well enough to meet pupils' particular needs.
• Resources often offer very limited challenge, which limits pupils' learning.
• Assessment weaknesses mean leaders do not have a full enough view of pupils' attainment and cannot consistently improve progress.
• The safeguarding standard is not met because risks in the school have not been addressed.
• Health and safety, risk assessment and fire policies are in place but are not implemented effectively.
• There are serious fire safety risks, including staff not knowing how to set off key-operated alarms, key-operated external fire doors, and a covered smoke detector.
• The school has not identified serious premises risks, including unsecured bookshelves, rusty protruding bolts, sharp smashed Perspex, unboxed hot-water pipes and accessible mains wiring.
• Premises are not maintained to promote pupils' health, safety and welfare, with decommissioned rooms, untidy spaces, refuse-filled bins, graffiti naming pupils, sharp staples and broken window bolts.
• Outdoor space is not suitable, with decommissioned areas, fragile fencing, and missing playground fence panels creating trip hazards and a drop onto hard pathways.
• Planned work to make the car park safer and install safe fencing around a garden area has not begun, so these areas remain unsafe.
• The proprietor has not ensured that school leaders have the knowledge and skills needed to meet the independent school standards consistently.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is Oakwood School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Oakwood School is Good, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Oakwood School last inspected by Ofsted?

Oakwood School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Oakwood School have?

Oakwood School has 8 pupils on roll.

What age range does Oakwood School cover?

Oakwood School for pupils aged 5 to 16.

Where is Oakwood School?

Oakwood School is at Unit 2, The Oaks Business Park, Shepherds Lane, Shrewsbury, SY3 8BT.