AN INDEPENDENT education facility in Ashton-under-Lyne has been told it still does not meet standards checked by Ofsted inspectors.
Greater Manchester Alternative Provision, on Blandford Street, has been told it had made ‘small, but limited steps in identifying gaps in pupils’ learning.’
But after a visit in April, it was deemed ‘there has been no further progress in addressing the remaining unmet standards.’
This inspection, the third in 14 months, still deemed Greater Manchester Alternative Provision as ‘requires improvement.’
And while a report did acknowledge some progress, it added that more needs to be made.
It states: “At the time of the progress monitoring inspection in November 2024, the proprietor had ensured that the curriculum policy reflected the full range of subjects that pupils study.
“This included the previously missing curriculum experiences of technological, creative education and physical education (PE).
“However, this amendment was not supported by appropriate schemes of work for each of these subjects.
“When the school’s action plan was evaluated in February 2025, it was judged that leaders’ plans to improve the quality of education for pupils regarding the curriculum were not sufficient to meet this standard.
“The proprietor continues to ensure that the curriculum policy reflects the full range of subjects that pupils will study at the school.
“This includes the three curriculum experiences that were missing at the time of the previous standard and first progress monitoring inspection, namely technological, creative education, and PE.
“The curriculum policy is still not supported by appropriate schemes of work for each subject of study.
“At the time of the progress monitoring inspection in November 2024, the school had made small, but limited steps in identifying gaps in pupils’ learning.
“However, this was not precise enough to enable staff to match the curriculum that they were offering to the individual needs of pupils.
“When the school’s action plan was evaluated in February 2025, it was judged that the school’s plans to improve curriculum delivery were not sufficient to meet this standard.
“This was also the case for its plans for identifying gaps in pupils’ learning and from these, devising appropriate activities using the intended curriculum.”
Greater Manchester Alternative Provision has 10 pupils aged 11-16 – all of whom have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and are enrolled at mainstream schools – under headteacher Shane Mahon.
And the Ofsted report says he and proprietor Cerise Pike remain the only teachers in the school and continue to teach most of the day.
It adds: “The reduction in pupil numbers on the school’s roll has presented financial constraints.
“This has resulted in the previously employed full-time member of support staff now only being part-time.
“This places extra demands on leaders to run the school, develop the curriculum as required, and to also access extra curriculum training where needed.
“There are robust procedures in place for staff to report any concerns that they might have about a pupil’s welfare.
“The school communicates effectively with other professionals to ensure that pupils are safe and well when they are not in school.
“Since the previous inspection, there have been a series of circumstances that have adversely preoccupied the proprietor and headteacher. This has caused them to lose impetus.
“As a result, there has been virtually no progress made in addressing the remaining unmet standards.
“They continue to be conscientious in promoting the well-being and safety of pupils. However, all the standards that were unmet at the last inspection remain unmet at this inspection.
“The proprietor and headteacher intend to set up systems to ensure that the school is regularly held to account for its work, responsibilities, and ongoing development. However, this work has stalled.
“As a result, there are still no regular checks to ensure that the standards are met. The proprietor has plans to address this situation.”
Greater Manchester Alternative Provision, which provides short-term placements for pupils who have disengaged from education or are at risk of exclusion from education., has submitted three action plans previously.
However, the Ofsted report details that in November 2023, May 2024 and February 2025, they were rejected.
Standards regarding the school’s safeguarding policy are met but overall, it was deemed: “All the standards that were unmet at the last inspection remain unmet at this inspection.
“The proprietor still does not demonstrate that it has the capacity or knowledge to meet the standards consistently.
“This is further compounded by the fact that this is the third progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection in September 2023 where these standards have not been met.
“The proprietor and headteacher intend to set up systems to ensure that the school is regularly held to account for its work, responsibilities, and ongoing development.
“However, this work has stalled. As a result, there are still no regular checks to ensure that the standards are met.
“The proprietor has plans to address this situation. A suitable person has been identified to provide external accountability.
“However, this remains at an early stage of development.”