The Manchester Creative Studio School is a smaller-than-average 14 to 19 studio school for boys and girls. It specialises in preparing pupils for employment or further training in the creative and digital industries. The Manchester Creative Studio School opened as a free school in 2014. It is part of the Collective Spirit Academy Trust. A new principal was appointed in September 2015. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is higher than the national average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is lower than the national average. Inspection report: Manchester Creative Studio, 1–2 March 2017 Page 11 of 14 The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is lower than the national average. The school does not receive any additional funding to support pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders do not make use of any alternative provision. Inspectors, without investigating a complaint, considered the issues that surrounded or linked to the allegations. It is now under investigation by the appropriate authorities. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website and complies with Department for Education (DfE) guidance on what academies should publish. ui Inspection report: Manchester Creative Studio, 1–2 March 2017 Page 12 of 14 Information about this inspection Inspectors observed learning in a range of lessons in key stages 4 and 5. Three observations were conducted jointly with senior leaders. Inspectors also observed an assembly and form time. Inspectors undertook an in-depth analysis of pupils’ work across a range of subjects. In addition, inspectors looked at a wide range of pupils’ work in lessons. Meetings were held with the principal, senior leaders, the special educational needs coordinator, members of the governing body, middle leaders, teachers, industry partners, a representative from the DfE and newly qualified teachers. Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour during lessons, to and from lessons and during break and lunchtime. Inspectors met formally with a range of pupils across both key stages. They also spoke to pupils informally in lessons and around the school. A range of documentation was scrutinised by the inspection team, including the school’s own self-evaluation, the school improvement plan, records of ongoing teacher training, governors’ minutes, performance management information and records of the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. Inspectors also examined attendance and behaviour records, safeguarding documentation, school policies and the school’s own information about current pupils’ progress and attainment. Inspectors took account of 27 responses to Parent View, Ofsted’s online questionnaire and 21 free text responses from parents. During the first day, it came to light that Ofsted’s official letter to parents had not been issued by the school in its correct format. As a result, the lead inspector requested that it be reissued. Inspectors analysed 17 responses to Ofsted’s staff questionnaire. No responses were received to Ofsted’s pupil questionnaire. Inspection team Jonathan Smart, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Andrea Machell Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report: Manchester Creative Studio, 1–2 March 2017 Page 13 of 14 Any complaints about the inspection or the report should be made following the procedures set out in the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email [email protected].