Residential provision at Chart Wood School inspection

The Residential Provision at Chart Wood School was inspected under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework on 4th to 6th February 2019. Below is a statement from John Prior, Executive Head/Deputy CEO, Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust and Ms Jo Gale, Interim Head teacher, Chart Wood School.

We fully accept that the inspector’s report on the school’s residential provision is upsetting to read, but in our view it is an accurate overall assessment of the school’s residential boarding provision at the time of the inspection in February this year.

We recognise that parents and carers may feel anxious and will expect immediate action to make the necessary changes and improvements. We will focus our energy on doing this quickly and with the children’s best interests at the forefront. This work has already started.

We know there is a committed and hardworking team at Chart Wood School, who want to do the very best for pupils and this was acknowledged by Ofsted in their report.

Chart Wood School converted to academy status on 1 January 2019 and now comes under the management of Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (OHCAT).

As highlighted in the report, plans are in place to review and improve the boarding provision and the school’s senior leadership is being provided with additional, specialist support from OHCAT. Our highest priority is the safeguarding, wellbeing and welfare of all our pupils.

We will work hard to ensure parents, carers, pupils and the wider school community are confident that the residential provision at Chart Wood School is the best place for their children.