Westwood House 7 Homesdale Gardens Hastings East Sussex TN34 1LY None. None Westwood House 7 Homesdale Gardens Hastings East Sussex TN34 1LY

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1 Spot check report Organisation name Buckswood St George s Inspection date 13 September 2015 BACKGROUND Organisation profile Inspection history Dates/details First inspection November 2013 Last full inspection November 2013 Subsequent spot check (if applicable) Subsequent supplementary check (if applicable) Subsequent interim visit (if applicable) Other related non-accredited activities (in brief) at this centre Other related accredited colleges/centres/affiliates Other related non-accredited colleges/centres/affiliates Current accreditation status and reason for spot check Current accredited status Accredited Reason for spot check Routine: newly accredited institution Preparation for A levels. Buckswood School, a co-educational boarding college located in the Sussex countryside close to Hastings. Buckswood School is accredited for the teaching of English. Lower and upper secondary college GCSE and A level courses at Buckswood School and Buckswood St George s, and at other Buckswood colleges in Georgia, Swaziland, Nigeria and Hong Kong. Premises profile Address of main site Details of any additional sites in use at the time of the inspection Details of any additional sites not in use at the time of the inspection Sites inspected Westwood House 7 Homesdale Gardens Hastings East Sussex TN34 1LY None None Westwood House 7 Homesdale Gardens Hastings East Sussex TN34 1LY Student and staff profile At inspection In peak week ~ March 2015 Total ELT/ESOL student numbers (FT + PT) 6 42 Minimum age (including closed group or vacation) Typical age range Typical length of stay 9 months 9 months Predominant nationalities Chinese and Saudi Arabian, Chinese and Saudi Russian and Ukrainian Arabian, Russian, Ukrainian Total number of teachers on eligible ELT courses 1 excluding the director of studies (DoS) 4 including the DoS Total number of administrative/ancillary staff 3 Report expires 31 March 2018

2 INTRODUCTION Background Buckswood St George s is part of the Buckswood Education Group. The main school is Buckswood School, a co-educational secondary college offering secondary education up to A-level. Buckswood School currently boards 250 students from nearly fifty different countries and there are 200 local day pupils. Buckswood St George s complements Buckswood School s academic programme by focusing on a range of pre-university courses for the international student. These include a University Foundation Course, A Levels and the International Baccalaureate. Some of these courses may be taught at Buckswood School depending on the number of students at Buckswood St George s and their educational needs. The college s English language provision consists of general English courses with a particular focus on IELTS. Excluding the summer holiday, when the premises are taken over by another Hastings-based EFL college, the college offers vacation courses depending on demand. These include fully tailor-made programmes for closed groups or additional tuition for those students who choose to stay on campus. It was noted during this visit that some tailor-made programmes for closed groups are now taking place during term time. The students are accommodated in the college s residences, which are located next to the main teaching block. Accreditation was awarded in March 2014 and this is the report of the routine follow-up spot check. Preparation The Accreditation Unit sent the inspector relevant documentation and copies of the 2013 full inspection report. The inspector contacted the DoS to discuss the availability of key staff during the proposed spot check period and establish which courses would be running. The actual date of the spot check was not given. Programme and persons present The spot check inspector had been the reporting inspector during the 2013 inspection. The inspector arrived at and left at There were discussions with the college manager and the DoS. Focus groups were held with students and the one English language teacher working on the day of the inspection. The inspector also met the newly appointed house managers. Relevant documentation was checked. One teacher was observed teaching. FINDINGS The college had taken all the points to be addressed from the 2013 inspection report very seriously. Considerable effort had been made to address all the points listed and record any action taken. There was also evidence that the college continues systematically to review all its services and make changes to improve the quality of its provision. Efforts had been made to improve the relationship between the general English course and the IELTS programme in order to promote the reinforcement of key linguistic items and skills. Improvements had also been made to the students common room to make it a more attractive area for relaxation and recreation. The course programme and key staff were the same as at the time of the inspection in 2013 and two new house managers, who look after the college s residential accommodation, had started one week before the spot check.

3 POINTS TO BE ADDRESSED Management M3 Some members of staff are undertaking duties which are not clearly defined in their job descriptions or contracts of employment. Addressed: The Head of Personnel for the Buckswood Group reviewed all contracts and job descriptions for the start of the new term in September The teacher who was previously carrying out welfare duties on a voluntary basis has now had this aspect of her work formalised in her job description. The contracts and job descriptions of the accommodation house managers have been updated to reflect their contracted work responsibilities. M10 There is no systematic in-service training programme for teachers organised at Buckswood St George s. Addressed: A monthly in-service teacher training programme is now in place with appropriate sessions being organised. It was reported that teachers had responded favourably to these and valued the developmental opportunities offered by being allowed to run sessions themselves. Some sessions have related specifically to the results of lesson observations. M25 There is some inconsistency on the web site regarding group sizes on the general English and IELTS courses. Neither is it clear how many hours a week are provided on the IELTS course. The description of the General English course states that hours a week are offered. There is insufficient information on the process and financial implications of tailor-making courses for individual students. Addressed: A new website has been designed and all inaccuracies and omissions have been corrected. M28 Weekend meal arrangements are not accurately described in the publicity. Addressed: These are now accurately described. All meals are provided on a Saturday, prepared by a kitchen assistant who is on hand to supervise and clear away. These have proved popular with students. Although students are allowed to cook their own snacks if they wish, the college provides the full range of meals. M29 Publicity states that students join in the full social programme which operates throughout the academic term or students are involved with extra-curricular activities which are designed to broaden their understanding of both international and British culture. However, the activities programme is organised on a student request basis and there are no specialised staff involved in its organisation. Addressed: The publicity has been changed to include details of excursions and activities that are included in the fees. Excursions take place once a month. The college has now produced and published an events timetable listing trips that are organised for all students each month. This also includes evening activities in the local area and the six-a-side football league which St George s is part of. The new house manager has the responsibility of organising activities in his job description. There are plans to introduce the Duke of Edinburgh s award scheme which has already been established at the main Buckswood School. Resources and environment R7 There was some evidence that materials for the IELTS programme are not used in an effective way with duplication taking place in different classes. Addressed: Materials duplication is now avoided because the IELTS course components follow separate coursebooks with different objectives and content. The IELTS co-ordinator has also created an IELTS materials file to monitor more carefully how course materials are created and used. Teaching and learning T11 There are no formalised arrangements led by the academic manager which ensure effective guidance and support for teachers. Addressed: There are now monthly in-service training sessions which are popular and effective. T12 There were no effective arrangements for the observation and monitoring of teachers performance. Addressed: All teachers are observed at least twice a year and sometimes additionally in the summer term. Observation notes are comprehensive and clear. Action points for follow-up are listed and form the basis of training sessions. Observation sessions are regarded as being effective by the teaching staff. Welfare and student services W5 All students are issued a student card with the 24-hour emergency contact number which is held 24/7 by the college manager. Arrangements need to be made to rotate the emergency number among other staff. Addressed: The emergency number is now rotated amongst key staff and the schedule was seen. W15 On Saturday, the chef s day off, students prepare all their own meals with food provided by the college. Students at the focus group said that they had not been made aware of these arrangements pre-arrival and some students felt that there was insufficient variety in the food provided for self-service. Addressed: Students no longer have to prepare their own food and suitable provision is made when the chef is having a day off. Students reported the food was good. In addition, facilities continue to be made

4 available for those students who like to prepare their own snacks. W23 There was a reasonable standard of cleanliness and maintenance in all the areas inspected although students told inspectors that they were dissatisfied with the general standard of cleaning in Braybrooke House since the departure of the college cleaner. Addressed: A new cleaner has been hired and Braybrooke House is part of her duties. Evidence of her appointment was seen. The students spoken to had no complaints about the cleanliness of the college premises or accommodation. W34 At the inspection the sign out/sign in book in each house had not always been signed by students going into town, and students under age 18 had not been clearly identified. A revised sign out/sign in book and appropriate notices setting out the rules for students under age 18 were drawn up during the inspection. Addressed: Students ages are identified on all college registers. Students are required to sign out and sign in when they leave the premises at all times. This forms part of their general fire and personal safety training. 16 and 17 year olds can only travel further afield after their parents or guardians have been telephoned. The DoS is a member of the Hastings Overseas Action Committee (Hosac) which regularly examines ways of maintaining the safety of all overseas students studying in the town. Other points to be addressed Management M4 Academic staff would benefit from more detailed briefings about arrival of new students and from more contact with senior management. Addressed: All staff receive a weekly ed newsletter which provides information on new student arrivals, general points of administration, information on previous and actual students achievements and news from Hosac. M11 There is the risk that the DoS, who is already very busy, gets involved in too many aspects of the college s general administration. Addressed: The DoS no longer teaches in the mornings and receives a greater non-teaching time allowance at the beginning of the academic year, as more administration is involved. It is recognised that she needs sufficient time to complete all the academic management and administration tasks. Welfare and student services W27 Information about weekly local social and cultural events is limited. Addressed: A new noticeboard with information on local events is now displayed in the student common room. Efforts are made to include national and local events of cultural and historical interest in the academic and extra-curricular life of the college. W28 Students at the focus group commented that they would like more organised activities. Addressed: There are now more organised activities. (See M29) In addition, trained external staff provide courses in public speaking which students enjoy very much. They also support preparation for the IELTS speaking test. CONCLUSIONS The college has addressed all the points listed in the 2013 inspection report. In addition, there is evidence that it continues to search for ways of improving the quality of all the services it provides its students. The standards identified in the 2013 inspection report have all been maintained and in several cases exceeded. RECOMMENDATION The next inspection falls due in 2017; there are no grounds for bringing this forward. SUMMARY STATEMENT Changes to summary statement The need for improvement in the area of publicity can now be removed.

5 Summary statement (revised) The British Council inspected and accredited Buckswood St George s in November The Accreditation Scheme assesses the standards of management, resources and premises, teaching and welfare and accredits organisations which meet the overall standard in each area inspected (see for details). This private language college offers residential courses in general English for adults (16+) and vacation courses for individual and closed groups of adults (16+) in college premises. Strengths were noted in the areas of quality assurance, academic staff profile, learner management, teaching and the care of students. The inspection report stated that the organisation met the standards of the Scheme. Points to be addressed outstanding from the previous inspection(s) or arising from this visit None.