Letter From The Headmaster
I hope you and your family had a relaxing Easter break.
You will be aware that this week we have been visited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for both a Focused Compliance Inspection and an Educational Quality Inspection. Our last inspections were in 2014 and 2018 respectively, so we have been expecting and preparing for the call for some time (the programme of inspections has naturally been somewhat disrupted by Covid).
A team of inspectors (comprised of experienced senior leaders in other independent schools) has been in school for four days from Tuesday through to this afternoon. The process is very comprehensive as you would expect and the inspection team were exceptionally professional and thorough.
The Focused Compliance Inspection looks at statutory compliance including recruitment, safeguarding, behaviour management, first aid, health and safety, risk assessment and the leadership and management of the school.
For the Educational Quality Inspection inspectors scrutinise the teaching and learning across the year groups in detail, including lesson observations, staff and pupil interviews, examination of pupils’ academic work and progress, SEND support, personal and spiritual development, pastoral systems, co-curricular provision and careers advice and guidance.
A key element of both inspections is feedback from parents, pupils and staff and I would like to thank all those who completed the online questionnaires for their responses and comments, the level of engagement was exceptionally high.
I would also like to thank all those involved in the inspection process – the Senior Leadership Team, teaching staff, support staff and trustees – for their hard work both beforehand and this week. A special mention has to go to our Chair of Trustees, Liz Griffin, who showed true dedication to the cause, by conducting her interview with the inspectors via Teams all the way from Sydney, Australia.
Whilst the Focused Compliance Inspection is either passed or failed, the Educational Quality Inspection produces two judgements, one for Pupils’ Achievement and the other for Pupils’ Personal Development. These can be rated Excellent, Good, Sound or Unsatisfactory.
The final report will be sent to us in approximately five weeks and we will share it with you at the earliest opportunity, before it is published on the ISI website.
Thank you once again for all your support.
Wishing you a very good Bank Holiday weekend.
E D Hester
