Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk

This was the first progress monitoring inspection since an emergency inspection in November 2025 at Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk, an independent special school for pupils with EHC plans relating to social, emotional and mental health needs. The school still does not meet all of the independent school standards checked, with key weaknesses remaining in the quality of education and in leadership and management. The curriculum remains under construction and is not yet sufficiently adapted to pupils’ specific needs or EHC plan targets, while teaching and assessment are still at an early stage of development. Attendance registration is also not maintained in line with regulations. There has been meaningful improvement in several welfare and compliance areas. Safeguarding is now robust, with suitably qualified DSLs and strong local authority engagement. Supervision, anti-bullying work, risk assessment, safer recruitment, the single central record, complaints handling and the accessibility plan now meet requirements. Staffing is now full after a period of instability, and staff report feeling supported by the new senior leadership team. However, governance remains weak and the Part 8 leadership and management standard is still unmet. The school has experienced high staff turnover, vacancies and an interim headteacher, which slowed improvement. Although the action plan has been reviewed and quality assurance processes introduced, leaders have not yet secured consistent compliance across all standards, and the curriculum, teaching and assessment require further work before the quality of education standard is met.

Strengths

• Safeguarding arrangements are now robust, with three suitably qualified DSLs and clear reporting to external agencies.
• Supervision of pupils is appropriate, supported by a new electronic sign-in system and duty rota.
• Anti-bullying procedures have been strengthened, with clear reporting and close DSL oversight.
• Risk assessment policy is clear and followed, including for off-site activities.
• Safer recruitment checks and the single central record now meet statutory requirements.
• Complaints handling remains compliant, with clear procedures and independent panel arrangements.
• The school now has a published accessibility plan that fulfils requirements.
• The school is fully staffed and staff feel supported and looked after during change.
• The improvement action plan has been reviewed and now includes sharp targets and success criteria.
• A cycle of quality assurance processes has been implemented and linked to timely review.

Areas for Improvement

• Leadership and management remain weak, and the Part 8 standard remains unmet.
• Governance is weak, with a reduced governing body and ongoing reliance on local authority support.
• The curriculum is still under construction and is not sufficiently adapted to pupils’ SEND and EHC plan targets.
• Leaders have not ensured that subjects and content connect well, making it difficult for pupils to build learning across the curriculum.
• Teaching development is in its early stages, and staff do not consistently identify and address pupils’ misconceptions.
• Assessment is not used effectively to identify gaps in knowledge or inform future teaching.
• Pupils report that feedback is inconsistent in some subjects, so they are unsure how to improve.
• The attendance register is not maintained in accordance with regulations due to inaccurate coding of absence.
• Improvements have been slow because of reduced leadership capacity, high staff turnover and a period of understaffing.

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk 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 Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk is Good, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk last inspected by Ofsted?

Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk have?

Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk has 20 pupils on roll.

What age range does Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk cover?

Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk for pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk?

Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk is at 76 Earlham Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 3DF.