INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE

Transcription

1 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE PRIOR'S FIELD SCHOOL BOARDING WELFARE INTERMEDIATE INSPECTION

2 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE Prior's Field School Full Name of School DfE Number 936/6010 Registered Charity Number Address Prior's Field School Prior's Field School Priorsfield Road Godalming Surrey GU7 2RH Telephone Number Fax Number Address Head Chair of Governors Age Range 11 to 18 Total Number of Pupils 450 Gender of Pupils Mrs Julie Roseblade Mr Richard Green Girls Number of Day Pupils Total: 357 Number of Boarders Total: 93 Full: 40 Weekly: 53 Inspection dates 24 Sep 2013 to 26 Sep 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 September 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, held discussions with senior members of staff and with a governor, observed a sample of the extra-curricular activities that occurred during the inspection period and attended registration sessions. Inspectors visited each of the boarding houses and the facilities for sick or injured pupils. The responses of parents and boarding pupils to pre-inspection questionnaires were analysed, and the inspectors examined regulatory documentation made available by the school. Inspectors Mrs Maureen Bradley Mrs Sally Cunliffe Reporting Inspector Team Inspector for Boarding (Former Senior Housemistress, 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 Prior s Field School 1 1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL 1.1 Prior s Field School is a day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18. The school was founded in 1902 by Julia Huxley, the granddaughter of Thomas Arnold of Rugby and mother of Julian and Aldous Huxley. Situated close to the town of Godalming in Surrey, the school is administered by a governing body. It maintains a boarding school ethos, although the majority of pupils are day girls. The school aims to provide an excellent all-round secondary education that brings out the best in each girl according to her abilities and talents. It strives to encourage individuality and develop well-balanced and enterprising young women of integrity who leave school prepared for the next stage of life and ready to make their mark on the world. 1.2 Of the 450 pupils on roll, 93 are boarders. There are 40 full boarders and 53 who board weekly, while a further 19 pupils board on a flexible basis. Pupils come from the surrounding areas of Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex, and many weekly boarders are from the London area. The majority of boarders are from England but others are from a range of countries across the world, with 20 nationalities represented. The majority of pupils come from families with backgrounds in business and the professions. The school has identified 68 pupils as having special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and a range of support is offered to all of them. There are 30 girls who receive support for English as an additional language (EAL). 1.3 Since the previous Ofsted boarding inspection in September 2009, the school has created a new careers library and information and communication technology room. Parts of the boarding accommodation, the food technology room and the swimming pool have been refurbished. Two new day studies in the sixth-form house have been created. A new all-weather sports pitch and pavilion have been added and a three-storey teaching building and reception opened in September The boarders are accommodated in two houses: a junior house for pupils aged from 11 to 16 and a sixth-form house. The junior house is overseen by a housemistress who is supported by a team of assistant staff. The school s head of boarding is responsible for the sixth-form house. 1.4 National Curriculum (NC) nomenclature is used throughout this report to refer to year groups in the school. The year group nomenclature used by the school and its National Curriculum equivalence are shown in the following table. School NC name First Form Year 7 Second Form Year 8 Third Form Year 9 Fourth Form Year 10 Fifth Form Year 11 Lower Sixth Year 12 Upper Sixth Year 13

7 Prior s Field School 2 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 boarders have access to suitable shower facilities [National Minimum Standard 5.3, under Boarding accommodation]. (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. Ensure that all boarders, including those boarding on a flexible basis and those starting mid-term, have access to a suitable formalised induction programme. (iii) Progress since the previous inspection 2.3 The previous boarding welfare inspection was undertaken by Ofsted in September All the recommendations made at that inspection have been met: the school now meets the requirements for recruitment, medical care, and health and safety. A suitable personal, social and health education programme to support boarding is now in place and all formal records are suitably maintained.

8 Prior s Field School 3 3. COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL MINIMUM STANDARDS 3.(a) Boarding provision and care 3.1 The school does not meet one of the NMS under this section. 3.2 Appropriate induction and guidance are provided for new boarders. Boarders are invited to visit both the school and the boarding houses, and to meet staff before the new term begins. A brief helpful written guide to boarding is provided. When boarders start school an induction session allows them to become familiar with the boarding facilities and procedures. Appropriate documentation, including a boarders handbook, is made available. The induction process for those who board on a flexible basis and those starting mid-term is less thorough, but essential information is provided and older boarders are encouraged to act in a supportive role. The boarders say they have a choice of staff who they feel comfortable to approach if they have a concern or require guidance. Telephone numbers are provided for those who can offer advice outside the school, including several helplines, and an independent listener and the Children s Rights Director are among those whose details are listed on a Listening Tree, which is displayed around the boarding house and the school. [NMS 2] 3.3 The school has effective policies for the care of boarders who are unwell, which are carefully implemented by the nursing and house staff. The medical centre is linked to the junior house and is within easy access for sixth-form boarders. The centre is run during the day by well-qualified and experienced nursing staff. There are welfare plans for boarders with specific medical conditions. The centre has accommodation for two boarders and has suitable toilet and shower facilities. Boarders who are ill during the evening or at weekends can remain under the care of house staff in their own rooms or, if necessary, stay in the medical centre under the care of house staff. A female doctor visits the school twice a week and arrangements are made locally for boarders to receive orthodontic and other specialist services. Boarders can make appointments with the school counsellor. Prescribed medicines are given only to those for whom they have been prescribed and self-medication is only allowed for those who are assessed as being competent by the nursing staff. The house staff are all trained in first aid and if necessary administer household remedies. There is effective two-way communication regarding medicines and treatment between the medical centre and house staff. The medical centre and house staff ensure that all medicines are kept secure and that the confidentiality of boarders is respected. [NMS 3] 3.4 Boarders are free to contact their families through the internet and by using their mobile telephones. A house telephone in a private setting is also available. Boarders responses to the pre-inspection questionnaire and interviews with them indicate that they find it easy to contact their parents. [NMS 4] 3.5 Boarding accommodation in the sixth-form house is well maintained and comfortable, and it offers appropriate privacy. Sixth-form boarders have individual rooms, most of which have en-suite facilities. Other toilet and washing facilities are suitable. The accommodation in the junior house includes rooms for single occupancy or that accommodate up to four boarders. Bathrooms and toilets are suitable, but not all shower rooms offer appropriate privacy for boarders and the shower pressure and temperature are not always easy for the boarders to control. Both houses are well lit, heated and ventilated, and reasonable standards of cleaning are maintained. The houses have made arrangements to accommodate any boarder who has restricted mobility. Houses are adequately furnished and

9 Prior s Field School 4 bedding is of a suitable quality, clean and sufficiently warm. Study facilities are available in bedrooms and in specified prep rooms. Computer facilities are provided in both houses. Boarders have the use of adequate common rooms, which they are allowed to personalise with posters and photographs. Social areas, including kitchens, are well equipped and comfortable. The boarding house accommodation is for the sole use of the boarders during term time and is secure from unauthorised access. The use of CCTV on site does not invade boarders privacy. [NMS 5] 3.6 Main meals are prepared by qualified staff in a hygienic and suitably equipped school kitchen. Meals are served in a comfortable dining hall that is clean, light, warm and well maintained. Daily menus are published and offer a wide choice of food, which caters for the varied cultural interests of boarders. The menus contain many healthy options and fruit is available at every meal. Specific dietary requirements are catered for and boarders appreciate the efforts made by the kitchen staff to listen to their suggestions and requests. In responses to the preinspection questionnaire and during interviews, the majority of boarders said that they like the food. Inspectors found the food to be well presented and of excellent quality and quantity. Snacks and drinks of a suitable quality are available in the evening in the house kitchens. [NMS 8] 3.7 Appropriate laundry provision for clothing and bedding is made within the boarding houses. In the junior house laundry is carried out for all of the boarders and care is taken to ensure that it is returned correctly. The sixth-form boarders are required to manage their own laundry and facilities are available for them to do so. Opportunities are provided to purchase toiletries and stationery from the school shop. Older pupils have set times to use local shops for extra supplies if needed. Lockable facilities in the bedrooms allow them to keep their possessions safe and private. Money and valuables can be stored securely by house or administrative staff. [NMS 9] 3.8 Boarders take part in a wide range of activities throughout the school day and evening. Weekend activities and trips are varied and offer a suitable range for the age of the boarders who are at school at the weekends. Recreational and leisure facilities and the school grounds are available to the boarders during the evenings and weekends. The school gardens, library and other quiet areas provide opportunities for periods of solitude where boarders can be alone if they wish. Television news programmes and the internet enable boarders to keep up with events in the world outside. Newspapers and magazines are provided in the boarding houses. The school arranges trips and visits to the local area and further afield at weekends. [NMS10] 3.(b) Arrangements for welfare and safeguarding 3.9 The school meets all of the NMS under this section Procedures for health and safety are suitable. Frequent risk assessments are conducted to ensure the boarders welfare both within school and on visits off site. Health and safety matters are appropriately overseen by a health and safety committee. An education and welfare committee, including governors, monitors and evaluates health and safety to ensure that any deficiencies are remedied. The committee reports to the full governing body. Estate management and maintenance are thorough in their organisation and are well documented. Boarders who were interviewed said that they feel safe in their boarding house and around the school site. [NMS 6]

10 Prior s Field School The school has appropriate arrangements for fire safety. Clear instructions and signage, together with regular drills, enable all boarders to be fully aware of procedures for evacuation during the day and when in their boarding houses at night. Fire drills in boarding time are conducted each term and are logged and evaluated. [NMS 7] 3.12 Due attention is paid to all aspects of child protection. School staff have the necessary training and new staff, through their induction, are made fully aware of child protection procedures. The child protection policy is in line with that of the local safeguarding children authority. The policy contains clear guidance on recruitment procedures. A trained governor has responsibility for monitoring child protection and for recruitment, and for keeping the governing body informed on child protection matters, reviewed annually. The records are suitably monitored and kept secure. [NMS 11] 3.13 The school s behaviour policy is clear and boarders understand what is expected of them regarding their conduct. Sanctions are considered fair by the boarders but some of those interviewed were unaware of any rewards, aside from praise. Almost all parents who responded to the pre-inspection questionnaire said that the school achieves high standards of behaviour. A suitable anti-bullying policy, including information on cyber-bullying, is provided and the procedures are implemented in an appropriate manner. A very small minority of boarders and their parents reported in pre-inspection questionnaire responses that the school does not always deal well with any bullying that occurs. The boarders who were interviewed during the inspection did not feel that bullying would be tolerated and did not know of any bullying incidents. They were confident that, if it did occur, it would be quickly handled by the staff. The documents which record bullying incidents are maintained appropriately and indicate that incidents are few, and have been resolved quickly and handled well. A suitable policy is in place on the use of physical restraint and is understood by the boarding staff. Arrangements for searching the boarders and their possessions are clearly defined. [NMS 12] 3.14 The school operates safe recruitment procedures for the appointment of staff, governors and volunteers. The central register of appointments is suitably maintained and all recruitment checks on staff are completed correctly. Appropriate recruitment checks and agreements are in place with all individuals over the age of sixteen who reside in school. Visitors are carefully supervised so that they do not have unsupervised access to the boarding accommodation. The school does not appoint guardians for the boarders. [NMS 14] 3.(c) Leadership and management of the boarding provision 3.15 The school meets all of the NMS under this section A suitable statement of the school s boarding principles is outlined in documents for pupils and their parents, for parents of prospective pupils and for staff, and is displayed in the boarding houses. The statement is seen to work in practice. A very large majority of parents reported in response to the pre-inspection questionnaire that the experience of boarding helps their children s progress and development. [NMS 1] 3.17 A clear management structure for boarding staff has been established. The deputy head is responsible for the line management of boarding, and the head of boarding, who is resident on site, has the day to day responsibility for the boarding team. A housemistress takes specific responsibility for the junior house. The senior members of the boarding team have experience and training in boarding. Other

11 Prior s Field School 6 members of the team, for example the Gap Year students, have an appropriate induction programme, and in-house training is provided. Job descriptions define individual responsibilities. Regular meetings between the staff in the two houses enable matters concerning the boarders welfare to be discussed. Effective links are established between boarding and day school staff. The required records for the welfare of boarders are maintained, kept secure and reviewed regularly. A diary is used effectively by staff to record daily events and any issues or concerns about boarders. [NMS 13] 3.18 Levels of supervision in the boarding houses are appropriate during the day and throughout the evenings and overnight. A number of staff are resident and on duty overnight in each house and on the school site. The level of supervision at the weekends is sufficient for the number of boarders in school. There is always a suitably qualified and experienced member of staff on duty. Duty rotas are displayed which enable boarders to contact a member of staff at all times. Suitable equipped and private accommodation is provided for resident staff and access by boarders to the accommodation is only with appropriate supervision. The boarders report that they are not aware of any favouritism by staff towards any boarder. The roles of other adults resident in staff households are clear. The whereabouts of boarders are known at all times. Procedures are in place for boarders to sign in and out of the houses, and registration takes place regularly throughout the day and evening, including at mealtimes. The missing child policy is known to staff. All staff with boarding responsibilities have appropriate induction that includes child protection procedures, and a job description. Staff have access to an appraisal programme and training opportunities. [NMS 15] 3.19 In discussions, and in almost all their responses to the pre-inspection questionnaire, boarders reported that they feel they are treated equally and that there is no inappropriate discrimination. Boarding and catering staff ensure that due attention is paid to the diverse cultural needs and customs of the boarders. Provision for those with SEND or EAL is suitable; boarders say that they feel well supported. [NMS 16] 3.20 Boarders can share their ideas and concerns in a boarding committee where all year groups are represented. There is evidence to suggest in house minutes that feedback from the committee takes place, although this is sometimes informal. Boarders also have access to a comment book, though this is rarely used. Boarders are currently represented on the school s food committee. A food comments book is provided and the suggestions acted upon by the catering staff. [NMS 17] 3.21 A clear complaints procedure is available for all parents of pupils in the school and to parents of prospective pupils, and has been followed appropriately. [NMS 18] 3.22 A boarding prefect in the sixth form has a supportive role in both houses. She is not permitted to issue sanctions. Other members of the sixth form also help to support the younger boarders. [NMS 19] 3.23 The school does not arrange lodgings for any of its boarders. [NMS20]