Ofsted and inspection reports
As a registered independent school, Changing Lives is inspected by Ofsted against the Independent School Standards. You can read our inspection reports in full below — we publish them openly, and we're proud of the journey they show.
Progress monitoring inspection — May 2024
Ofsted returned in May 2024 to check the progress we had made since our first full inspection. Their conclusion:
Inspectors confirmed that:
- our curriculum policy is fit for purpose;
- a programme for our post-16 students is in place, including community activities and independent living skills;
- pupils receive independent careers guidance, with a careers adviser visiting the school weekly.
Our full inspection — November 2023
Our first full inspection as a new school took place in November 2023, around a year after we opened. Inspectors judged that, at that early stage, the school required improvement overall — and rated our pupils' behaviour and attitudes as good. We were a young school and the report gave us a clear to-do list, which we acted on straight away, as the May 2024 inspection above confirms.
See the full judgements from November 2023
| Overall effectiveness | Requires improvement |
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
Just as importantly, inspectors saw what makes Changing Lives special for our pupils:
Paper copies of any inspection report are available free of charge from the school office — call 0161 969 5853 or email admin@changinglivessen.co.uk.
The best way to judge us is to visit
Reports tell part of the story. Come and meet our team, our pupils and our animals, and see the school in action for yourself.
Book a visit