INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE

Transcription

1 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE ETON COLLEGE BOARDING WELFARE INTERMEDIATE INSPECTION Independent Schools Inspectorate

2 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE Eton College Full Name of School Eton College DfE Number 868/6016 Registered Charity Number Address Eton College Windsor Berkshire SL4 6DW Telephone Number Fax Number Address Head Mr Anthony Little Provost The Lord Waldegrave of North Hill Age Range 13 to 18 Total Number of Pupils 1314 Gender of Pupils Boys Numbers by Age 0-2 (EYFS): 5-11: 3-5 (EYFS): 11-18: 1314 Number of Day Pupils Total: 0 Number of Boarders Total: 1314 Full: 1314 Weekly: 0 Inspection dates 05 Nov 2013 to 07 Nov 2013

3 PREFACE This inspection report follows the ISI schedule for intermediate inspections, focusing primarily on compliance with the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools (NMS). The inspection occurs over a period of two and a half continuous days in the school. The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is the body approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of inspecting schools belonging to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Associations and reporting on compliance with the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010, as amended. From September 2011 the inspection of boarding welfare forms part of the inspection process. This inspection focuses on the school s compliance with the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. It comments on the progress made by the school in meeting the recommendations set out in the most recent statutory boarding inspection. Boarding inspections were previously carried out by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), Children s Services and Skills. The relevant Ofsted report refers to an inspection in October 2009 and can be found at The inspection of the school is from an educational perspective and provides limited inspection of other aspects, although inspectors comment on any significant hazards or problems they encounter which have an adverse impact on children. The inspection does not include: (i) (ii) an exhaustive health and safety audit an in-depth examination of the structural condition of the school, its services or other physical features (iii) an investigation of the financial viability of the school or its accounting procedures (iv) an in-depth investigation of the school s compliance with employment law. Inspectors may be aware of individual safeguarding concerns, allegations and complaints as part of the inspection process. Such matters will not usually be referred to in the published report but will have been considered by the team in reaching their judgement.

4 INSPECTION EVIDENCE The inspectors conducted formal interviews with boarders, and held discussions with housemasters, senior members of staff and the Provost. They observed a small number of extra-curricular evening events and attended chapel and house meetings. Inspectors visited each of the 25 boarding houses and the facilities for sick or injured pupils. They took meals with boarders. The responses of parents and boarding pupils to pre-inspection questionnaires were analysed. Inspectors examined regulatory documentation, school policies and boarding handbooks made available by the school, and inspected records relating to boarders and their welfare. Inspectors Mr Timothy Holgate Mrs Lynn Doughton Mrs Sarah Godfrey Dr John Godwin Mr Peter Goodyer Mr Neil Hampton Mr Tom Walsh Mr Simon Wilson Reporting Inspector Team Inspector for Boarding (Head of Department, GSA school) Team Inspector for Boarding (Director of Pastoral Care, HMC school) Team Inspector for Boarding (Head of Department, HMC school) Team Inspector for Boarding (Deputy Head, HMC school) Team Inspector for Boarding (Deputy Head Pastoral, HMC school) Team Inspector for Boarding (Vice Principal, ISA school) Team Inspector for Boarding (Deputy Head, HMC school)

5 CONTENTS Page 1 THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL 1 2 SUMMARY 2 (i) Compliance with regulatory requirements 2 (ii) Recommendation for further improvement 2 (iii) Progress since the previous inspection 2 3 COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL MINIMUM STANDARDS 3 (a) Boarding provision and care 3 (b) Arrangements for welfare and safeguarding 4 (c) Leadership and management of the boarding provision 5

6 Eton College 2 1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL 1.1 The Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton Besyde Windesore, more commonly known as Eton College, was founded in 1440 by Henry VI for the worship of God and the education of young men to the service of the church and state. In the 21 st century, its charitable purpose is "the advancement of education by the provision, support and conduct of a college in Eton and the maintenance and preservation of an associated chapel and buildings". The original school room (Lower School) has been in continuous use since the 1440s, as has College Chapel since its completion in The school occupies an extended site in the town of Eton, on the opposite bank of the Thames from Windsor, in Berkshire. Most of the boarding houses are distributed throughout the town rather than on a self-contained campus. All pupils are boys, and all are boarders, allocated to one of 25 boarding houses. The Provost and Fellows are trustees and directors of the school s charitable company and hold proprietorial responsibility. 1.2 The school s primary aim is to encourage each pupil to be a self-confident, enquiring, tolerant and positive young man with a well-rounded character and independent mind who respects the differentness of others. By the time he leaves Eton, the school wishes each boy to have that true sense of self-worth which will enable him to stand up for himself and for a purpose greater than himself, and in doing so to be of value to society. The school seeks to provide pastoral care that nurtures physical health, emotional maturity and spiritual richness. 1.3 The school educates 1314 pupils between the ages of 13 and 18, and 543 are in the sixth form. Although 90 pupils come from families where other languages are spoken apart from English, all are proficient English speakers.

7 Eton College 3 2. SUMMARY (i) Compliance with regulatory requirements 2.1 The school does not meet all the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools 2011, and therefore it must: ensure that all houses carry out fire drills at least once each term and that these are suitably recorded to enable effective monitoring of the process [National Minimum Standard 7.2 under Fire Precautions and Drills and National Minimum Standard 13.3 under Management and Development of Boarding]. (ii) Recommendation for further improvement 2.2 In addition to the above regulatory action point, the school is advised to make the following improvement. 1. Record in greater detail the actions taken by the governing body in reviewing the effectiveness of the school s safeguarding policy and its implementation. (iii) Progress since the previous inspection 2.3 The previous boarding welfare inspection was undertaken by Ofsted in October The school has made appropriate responses to the recommendations made in remedying two health and safety issues and providing additional training opportunities for boarding staff.

8 Eton College 4 3. COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL MINIMUM STANDARDS 3.(a) Boarding provision and care 3.1 The school meets all of the NMS under this section. 3.2 Helpful documentation for boarders and their parents supports the house-based induction programme for boarders, who report that they settle in quickly to the routines of their house and new school. The support of mentors and older pupils is appreciated by new boarders. Boys identify many staff and prefects in whom they would have confidence in sharing a problem. Boarders are provided with appropriate contact details for various sources of support, including external help lines and an independent listener. [NMS2] 3.3 Appropriate policies to deal with boarders who are ill are well-implemented throughout the school. First-aid training for staff and training of Dames (house matrons) in minor medical matters is comprehensive, and the central sanatorium provides constant support and advice to houses. Minor ailments are treated effectively in houses with the sanatorium treating more serious cases. This central medical facility provides appropriate GP services, nursing care and in-patient facilities. Additional medical and dental services are available locally. Policies and procedures for the storage and administration of medication are effective and robust and include appropriate provision for boarders to self-medicate. The confidentiality and rights of boarders as patients are appropriately respected. [NMS3] 3.4 Boarders are required to have a laptop and a mobile phone, making communication with home easy in a variety of ways at all reasonable times. All houses have good wireless internet access which is restricted overnight. [NMS4] 3.5 Boarders of all ages have single study bedrooms which are well lit, heated and ventilated, and provide appropriate sleeping accommodation and a quiet place to study. Boarders are encouraged to personalise their rooms, and many do. Washrooms and toilet facilities are clean and accessible to boarders, and offer suitable privacy. Houses have a variety of communal and social areas for boarders to use. Appropriate measures are taken to ensure the security of boarding accommodation and control access to it. With a current shortage of changing accommodation elsewhere in the school, members of visiting teams occasionally use boarders accommodation in which to change, and the school takes care to minimise any security or privacy consequences of this practice. [NMS5] 3.6 Although a significant minority of boarders in their responses to the questionnaire raised concerns about the quality of food, inspectors did not find evidence to support these views. The food provided at the three main meal times is nutritious and plentiful, and offers suitable variety. In addition, boarders are provided with a substantial mid-morning snack and afternoon tea. Whilst the choice and quality of meals in the central catering hall is consistent, the food in self-catered houses shows greater variation, but is nonetheless suitable and sufficient. Full provision is made for those with special dietary requirements. Boarders have access to drinking water at all times and are able to prepare snacks for themselves in small hygienic kitchens in houses. [NMS8] 3.7 Both house staff and boys feel that the laundry system works well. Boarders clothing and bedding are stored appropriately. Boys purchase personal and stationery items from the school stationers and during visits to local shops. In their

9 Eton College 5 houses, boys have access to lockable storage. Passports and other valuables are also kept safely by house staff. [NMS9] 3.8 Boarders are provided with an extensive range of extra-curricular clubs and activities in the evenings and at weekends. House events and competitions foster a sense of community. Academic and learned societies abound. Boarders also have suitable provision for quiet reflection and free time for relaxation. They have access in school to a variety of safe leisure areas and facilities. Boys keep abreast of the world outside school through newspapers, television and the internet, as well as through many visiting speakers. [NMS10] 3.(b) Arrangements for welfare and safeguarding 3.9 The school does not meet one of the NMS under this section Policies to promote the health and safety of boarders are clear, comprehensive and effectively implemented. Risk assessments are thorough and appropriately monitored by senior staff. Boarders say that they feel safe and secure within the school and their boarding houses. Accommodation and premises are maintained to an appropriate standard to ensure boarders health, safety and welfare. [NMS6] 3.11 Procedures to ensure safety from fire are comprehensive, and underpinned by appropriate policies, training and the maintenance of fire fighting systems. However, these measures have not been fully implemented in the recent past, as some houses have failed to hold the required fire drill each term. Record-keeping systems have failed to identify these omissions soon enough. [NMS7] 3.12 Arrangements to safeguard boarders welfare are efficient. Appropriate policies comply with official guidance and are robustly implemented. All teaching and nonteaching staff have undertaken child protection training and understand the importance of reporting concerns about boarders welfare. Close relationships exist with local welfare agencies. The designated child protection officer contributes to the governors annual safeguarding review, although this is not documented in sufficient detail to identify clearly the process undertaken. [NMS11] 3.13 Policies to promote good behaviour, to outline clear expectations of conduct and to counter bullying take account of official guidance and are thoroughly and effectively implemented. Boarders consider that behaviour in their houses is good and feel that house sanctions, although not necessarily fully consistent across all houses, are proportionate and fair. Boys say that they get on well together, and that very little if any bullying occurs. They are confident that housemasters would deal with any such behaviour quickly and effectively. [NMS12] 3.14 The school s detailed procedures to ensure safe recruitment of staff are rigorously implemented. All necessary checks, including those of criminal records, are undertaken in a timely manner. Necessary checks on members of boarding staff families are carried out and appropriate accommodation agreements signed. Suitable security arrangements, and a clear visitor policy help to ensure that boarders and their accommodation are protected from unauthorised entry by unchecked adults. The school does not appoint guardians for overseas boarders. [NMS14]

10 Eton College 6 3.(c) Leadership and management of the boarding provision 3.15 The school does not meet one of the NMS under this section 3.16 A statement of the school s ethos, aims and principles on which boarding is based is available to parents, and made known to boarders. It fully reflects the boys experience of boarding. [NMS1] 3.17 Senior leaders and governors oversee the effectiveness of boarding arrangements, which include comprehensive documentation and efficient communication between housemasters. The important tutorial system ensures effective monitoring of boarders academic and pastoral progress. Boarding staff have considerable experience and expertise. Records relating to boarders welfare and pastoral care are appropriately maintained and monitored, except for those relating to house fire drills. [NMS13] 3.18 Staff working with boarders have appropriate job descriptions and are given suitable induction when new in post, often involving shadowing a more experienced colleague. Short- and long-term reviews of performance enable training needs to be identified and provided for. Deployment of staff to the houses is sufficient to ensure the safety and pastoral care of the boarders by day and overnight. Boarders know who is responsible for them and how to contact them at all times. Appropriate roll calls and systems for signing out enable staff to monitor boarders whereabouts. Clear procedures to deal with any missing boarders are in place. Suitably separate accommodation is provided for staff, and boarders access to this is appropriately managed. [NMS15] 3.19 The school has effective policies to promote diversity and harmony and prevent discrimination. These are successfully implemented, as boarders consider that a strong sense of inclusiveness and tolerance pervades the boarding house communities. [NMS16] 3.20 A small minority of boarders questionnaire responses suggested that the school does not ask for boarders opinions or respond to them. However, inspectors found that boarders can express their views on boarding and other school matters through the year group discussion forums and food committees, and boys cited a number of improvements that had been made as a result. Boarders also have confidence in expressing their views directly to their housemasters. They feel that they can raise any concerns through a variety of channels including house staff and senior pupils. [NMS17] 3.21 The school s complaints policy for parents complies with regulations. Complaints are logged efficiently, enabling any patterns and trends to be identified, and the resolution and outcome of each complaint is recorded. Formal complaints are dealt with thoroughly according to the published procedure. [NMS18] 3.22 House captains, members of the Eton Society ( Pop ) and Sixth Form Select all occupy important positions of responsibility within the school. They have clear duties and responsibilities, and have a strong pastoral role in houses in helping younger boarders settle in. They receive training in leadership and child protection, and meet regularly with housemasters and senior staff. Boarders respect these pupil leaders and feel they are approachable and supportive and that they discharge their duties fairly. [NMS19] 3.23 The school does not provide lodgings for boarders. [NMS20]