New Ways School

New Ways School is an independent special school for pupils aged 11 to 19, all of whom have an education, health and care plan. Many pupils arrive having previously struggled to engage with education, and the school is judged to be at the expected standard for achievement, attendance and behaviour, inclusion, and personal development and wellbeing. Behaviour is a strength: pupils re-engage, attendance improves, social times are harmonious, and pupils feel safe and included. Safeguarding standards are met. However, curriculum and teaching, and leadership and governance, need attention. The school does not meet all independent school standards: quality of education and quality of leadership and management are not met because assessment is not consistently effective across subjects. Staff do not always know what pupils know or need, so gaps are not always addressed and support and feedback are not always precise. Leaders understand this, but new assessment systems and plans are at an early stage and have not yet had the intended impact. There has been significant change since the last inspection, including a second site, an expanded age range, and leadership changes. The school currently uses three unregistered alternative providers, and the headteacher was absent during the inspection. Leaders have a clear, ambitious vision and put pupils first, and staff value the training and welfare support they receive.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well given their previous difficulties engaging with education and are prepared for further education, training or work.
• The school places no ceiling on academic ambition, with some pupils sitting and passing GCSEs and all achieving well in other qualifications.
• Each pupil has a personalised curriculum with clear end points and a strong focus on English, mathematics and reading.
• Attendance improves for the vast majority of pupils, with staff working relentlessly to overcome barriers.
• Behaviour is a strength: pupils typically behave well, are engaged in lessons, and social times are harmonious.
• The school is inclusive and many pupils feel they belong for the first time, with bespoke support based on EHC plans.
• Staff know pupils well, build warm relationships, and make appropriate adjustments and adaptations to the curriculum.
• Personal development is comprehensive, builds confidence, and prepares pupils for life in modern Britain.
• Careers education starts in Year 7 and gives pupils helpful advice and opportunities for appropriate next steps.
• Pastoral support for pupils and families is highly effective and its impact is carefully checked.
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture in which concerns are actively identified and managed.
• Leaders have a clear, ambitious vision, high expectations, and strong relationships with parents and carers.
• Staff value professional development and training, and feel leaders consider their welfare and workload.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum and teaching need attention because delivery is inconsistent due to weaknesses in staff use of assessment.
• New assessment systems in some subjects are at a very early stage of implementation.
• Staff, including support staff, do not always identify what pupils know or what they need to work on.
• Pupils do not always receive precise support and feedback to address gaps in their knowledge.
• The school does not meet all independent school standards; quality of education is not met.
• Leaders and the proprietorial body have not ensured a framework is in place to assess pupils' work regularly and thoroughly in all subjects.
• Quality of leadership and management is not met, with leaders not consistently fulfilling responsibilities so that standards are met.
• Leaders' plans to improve assessment are new and have not yet had the intended impact on the quality of education.
• Teachers do not always have the information they need to plan teaching so that pupils can progress.

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at New Ways School were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 100.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

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What is New Ways School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for New Ways School is Needs attention, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was New Ways School last inspected by Ofsted?

New Ways School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does New Ways School have?

New Ways School has 44 pupils on roll.

What age range does New Ways School cover?

New Ways School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is New Ways School?

New Ways School is at 300 Redhill road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 9EL.