London Vocational Ballet School offers dance training alongside a “comprehensive academic education”
A coeducational West London school offering ballet training and academic tuition has been told its support systems for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) “are not fully effective”.
While being praised by Ofsted for its “ambitious” curriculum, the London Vocational Ballet School was told following an inspection that “leaders and staff have limited knowledge and expertise about pupils’ special educational needs”.
Pupils at the school, on Bulwer Street in Shepherd’s Bush, were also described as having “excellent” behaviour, with their development “carefully considered by the school”.
Ofsted inspectors found that four of the six areas assessed had met the expected standard during a visit in June, though two, ‘inclusion’ and ‘leadership and governance’, were flagged as needing attention.
The school’s Academic Director, Kate Blakeburn, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) changes have been implemented to make the delivery of SEND support “more robust”.
Ofsted’s reports assign ratings to six areas of school life, ranging from ‘exceptional’ to ‘urgent improvement’.
London Vocational Ballet School was found to be meeting the expected standards in four of the six, namely ‘achievement’, ‘attendance and behaviour’, ‘curriculum and teaching’, and ‘personal development and wellbeing’.
“Pupils are extremely well prepared for their next steps in vocational training,” the inspectors wrote. “They progress to prestigious destinations which very much reflect their ambitions and aptitudes.
“Their academic outcomes complement this well. The published outcomes in national examinations for pupils at the end of Year 11 are consistently high. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with other potential barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.”
The report says pupils’ behaviour is “excellent”, adding they are focussed on their studies and training.
“Pupils treat others cordially. They understand the school’s high expectations of them. On the rare occasion staff have to remind them of expectations, pupils respond promptly and respectfully.
“Leaders have recently strengthened reasonable adjustments for pupils who need support with their behaviour. These have a positive impact for some pupils.”
Regarding concerns about SEND support, the report notes that external professionals have been engaged, though inspectors wrote the school has not put in place all of the support identified as necessary.
“As a result, some pupils with SEND do not receive the help to which they are entitled,” inspectors add.
The approach of leaders “to developing staff expertise” is also noted as lacking rigour, though praise is given for the way in which they “role model professionalism and high expectations with staff”.
Ms Blakeburn told the LDRS: “Ofsted found London Vocational Ballet School to be an ambitious and nurturing environment which prepares pupils extremely well for further vocational training and the report highlighted that our positive academic outcomes and the quality of our pastoral support reflect the high standards of vocational training our pupils receive.
“The report flagged a specific area of SEND support that needs development, and we have implemented changes to make our delivery and review of SEND support more robust and strengthen our CPD programme for academic and vocational staff.
“We are confident that with the support of all London Vocational Ballet School staff and our Board of Trustees we are now on track to reach the required benchmarks in every area.”
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