Ofsted scrap school visit – because there aren’t any pupils

OFSTED were forced to abandon an inspection when they discovered the school which costs £35,000 to attend had no pupils.

Eden School, in Macclesfield, is an independent school for children with special educational and complex needs and is run on the grounds of Eden House, a care home for young people.

Inspectors from the education watchdog visited the school, on Chelford Road, but due to there being no pupils they were unable to carry out a proper inspection.

The school operated by Family Care Associates, has the capacity for eight pupils aged eight to 16 and costs £34,515 per year. It was reg- istered in February 2017 and takes pupils referred to it by Cheshire East Council.

Sarah Earing is the headteacher of Eden School and said she was ‘disappointed’ by the lack of referrals. She said: “The local authority had stated that there was a need in the area for an independent specialist provision.

“Since that date there were very few referrals to the school from the Local Authority. We are disappointed that to date there has been no pupils placed at the school as the school can offer a great bespoke service.

“The school is fully open and waiting to accept referrals which to independent provisions is different that to mainstream provisions.”

In their report inspectors said the school did meet the independent school standards (ISS) but there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to judge management, quality of teaching, and pupil outcomes.

Despite the inspection being unable to go ahead, Ms Earing said Ofsted’s comments were positive.

She said: “The Inspection result is excellent for a school with no pupils and shows that the provision is fully ready to accept pupils into the school.

“The inspector said that this was a unique situation with no pupils but the quality of what is already in place is too good to be classed as RI hence the Insufficient Evidence rating.”

She added: “We are very much hoping that the school will now be recognised and pupils placed with us.” A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council, said: “This is an independent school, so not one we maintain, nor is it one of our academies.

“We do commission places there through the Special Educational Needs (SEN) programme, according to need.” The spokesman said since the inspection a pupil had been placed at the school