Ofsted praises 'tenacious' Birmingham school reaching for final target
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Now, Newbury School’s leadership team continues to highlight its ‘massive strides’ towards providing evidence to fit all independent school standards in its teaching for vulnerable and deprived children.
Headteacher Enamul Hoque arrived in May last year and immediately introduced a range of measures which saw the school’s standard of education move from ‘unsatisfactory’ to ‘satisfactory’ according to Ofsted within weeks of him starting his role.
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Hide AdA new overall Ofsted report is set for later this year, but in the meantime, unannounced ‘monitoring’ visits have continued, with inspectors reporting on progress.


Mr Hoque said: “An unannounced monitoring inspection took place in January 2025 and our school now meets all independent standards except one around consistency.
“As headteacher, in post for less than one year and new senior leadership team in place, these sections require consistency to meet standards, and we have every confidence that these will be met at the next standard inspection.”
In their January 2025 report, Ofsted experts note: “Considerable work has been put in place to ensure that all subjects have long-term sequences of learning carefully planned for the pupils.
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Hide Ad“These meet the independent school standards and are ambitious for what pupils will achieve. A newly implemented catch-up curriculum has been created to support those pupils who join with gaps in their knowledge. This means that for every subject, there are clearly adapted sequences of learning that prioritise the essential knowledge and skills that pupils will need to catch up quickly.


“The new headteacher brought a fresh and articulated vision for quality learning, which he modelled through the classes he taught.
“There is now a rich dialogue about how pupils learn, what they have remembered and what could be better. As a result, there is now a strong focus on learning at the school. Work in books shows the pupils are learning the intended curriculum and successfully developing knowledge over time.”
The report continues: “Since that progress monitoring inspection, there has been an increased tenacity to ensure pupils are safe, even when away from school.
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Hide Ad“Safeguarding and attendance procedures are well written and reflect the statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State. General attendance for all pupils has improved, and all regularly attend school. In some cases where attendance is lower than leaders expect, learning packs are sent home, remote lessons are held, and frequent, face-to-face staff engagement is conducted. There is now an unrelenting expectation that pupils must be in school daily. Some pupils are currently on part-time timetables due to the complexity of their social, emotional, and mental health needs, but these are frequently reviewed and well-planned so that every child is in school for at least half of each day. As a result of this careful planning, the attendance of all pupils is rapidly improving.
“Since then, leaders have worked tirelessly to ensure that they always know where pupils are, and that staff act swiftly when pupils are away. The reorganisation of the attendance team, ensuring that they are also designated safeguarding leads, has enhanced this work.”
The school, in Cuckoo Wharf, Lichfield Road, Aston, has seen a positive change across a range of activities, including the introduction of a ‘family’ lunch club where deprived and vulnerable pupils are given a home away from home.
In its latest inspection, Ofsted has also highlighted an improvement in financial reporting.
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Hide AdMr Hoque said there are two independent school standards still to be met – even though inspectors praised current strategies and work under way to reach this goal.
The report says: “By the time of the progress monitoring inspection, a new headteacher had been appointed, bringing a fresh drive and dynamism to the school. There was a clarity of understanding about the standards, and a thorough understanding of the gaps in provision. However, some standards were still unmet, and more work was needed to ensure that all standards were consistently met.
“Since that last inspection, the proprietor and a tenacious and driven staff group have worked to ensure that all remaining standards from the progress monitoring inspection have been met.
“However, much of this work has happened since the arrival of the new headteacher in May 2024. It has been enhanced since the arrival of the new leadership team in July and September 2024, who are still developing their understanding of the needs of pupils and school systems and processes. “