Youâve chatted to other parents who live nearby; talked to the staff at your toddler group or nursery; youâve had a look at the schoolsâ websites; looked at the various reviews in the school guides; what else do you need to do before you make that final shortlist of prep schools to visit for your son or daughter?
Well, just like state schools, all independent schools are inspected â most by the Independent School Inspectorate â and the report should be available on the schoolâs website and is definitely worth a proper read-through to check that the school is up to scratch!
From its own recent experience, Redcliffe Gardens provides Kensington Mums with the low-down on what is involved when the Inspector calls:
- Schools are inspected every three years (although Covid-19 caused some delays).
- Even though a Head might know an inspection is due, schools are only given one dayâs notice of the inspectorsâ arrival, so it can be quite nerve-racking for several weeks waiting for that telephone call!
- Thereâs always a lead inspector plus one, two or more inspectors depending on the size of the school. They are always experienced educationalists themselves and are very professional and considerate.
- Inspectors spend at least two days in the school so that they can really get a full picture.
There are two different types of inspections that alternate:
THE FIRST looks at only the regulatory compliance on eight different measures where standards are met or not met. These are:
- Quality of education provided
- Spiritual, moral, social and cultural [SMSC] development of pupils
- Welfare, health and safety of pupils
- Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors
- Premises of and accommodation at schools
- Provision of information
- Manner in which complaints are handled
- Quality of leadership in and management of schools
THE SECOND COMBINED inspection includes the regulatory inspection above PLUS an inspection of the educational quality which rates schools as EXCELLENT, GOOD, SOUND, or UNSATISFACTORY, for:
- The quality of the pupilsâ academic and other achievements
- The quality of the pupilsâ personal development
Before the inspectors arrive at the school, they review all of the schoolâs pre-inspection documentation â which takes some time to pull together – including the school policies and the information on the school website.
The inspections are very thorough and, depending on the type of inspection, gather evidence by:
- observing lessons and looking at pupilsâ written and other work
- visiting extra-curricular clubs, activities and events that are going on
- talking to the pupils, teachers, and staff
- having discussions with the governors
- in compliance matters, having discussions with the Head and any other relevant staff
- in educational quality aspects, having discussions with the Head and teachers and anyone else with responsibility for planning, implementing, and evaluating the schoolâs provision
- analysing evidence including the questionnaires provided by parents and pupils
- analysing documentary evidence, including performance indicators and self-evaluation
- gathering evidence as they move about the school, which may include discussions with staff and pupils.
As well as grading the school, the Inspectorsâ report will contain recommendations for areas of development which is always very useful: good schools always want to improve.
Schools receive a draft copy of the report soon after the inspection to check it for factual accuracy and to make any comments before itâs published.
Copies of the final published report are sent to the school within five weeks of the end of the inspection and must be published on its school website and made available to parents.
The inspection report is a very good resource for current parents to check that everything is going well at their childâs school.
Redcliffe Gardens School was visited by three inspectors in March 2022 and the school was absolutely delighted to achieve the highest possible rating in its combined inspection report.
Not only did the school meet all of the regulatory standards, but it was judged to be EXCELLENT for the quality of the pupilsâ academic and other achievements and EXCELLENT for the quality of the pupilsâ personal development.
The inspectors highlighted that âPupils of all abilities make rapid progress so that by the time they leave, they achieve extremely wellâ and that âPupils demonstrate great resilience and a positive attitude to learningâ.
The inspectors also noted that the school delivers âwell-planned teaching which has high expectations and a thorough knowledge of each pupil, delivered by capable and committed staffâ.
Head, Mr Ben Dunhill, was thrilled with the report saying, âeven though I am confident that all of my staff and teachers are doing a superb job, youâre still a little bit on tenterhooks: the inspection takes control of your life from the moment the âphone call comes in until the moment the inspectors leave four days later. The staff and children did a brilliant job of just being themselves and getting on with business as usual. I really think that the inspectors got under the skin of what makes Redcliffe tick and Iâm particularly proud of their comment that âpupils of all ages reflect the schoolâs values ⊠which results in a happy, family-focused school community, where kindness and respect are paramountâ. That, coupled with our excellent academic outcomes, is whatâs really important here.â
To find out more about Redcliffe Gardens School and to sign-up for a personal tour, please visit our website.
Head: Mr Ben Dunhill
Redcliffe Gardens School
47 Redcliffe Gardens
London SW10 9JH
T: 020 7352 9247
E:Â office@redcliffeschool.com
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