November ~ December 2011 - Independent Schools Magazine

All change on the
inspection express?
Independent Schools Inspectorate Chief Executive Christine Ryan outlines the
key developments coming on stream in 2011-12 and looks forward to the new
integrated inspections...
We have become used in recent
years to moving at the speed of
an express rather than a freight
train as changing governments and
priorities have seen off inspections
cycles: the second cycle after four
years because the last government
wanted more frequent inspection
at short notice; the new inspections
set up as a result after just two
years because the coalition wanted
reduced frequency of inspection
for schools deemed to be ‘low
risk’. During much of this period,
the Unified Inspections Project,
the cherished aim to bring
all inspection activity in ISC
Association schools under a single
inspectorate, may have seemed to
have been shunted into a siding.
However, that was never the case
and it remained at the top of the
ISI agenda and these changes will
have significant impact on school
inspections.
As scheduled, the inspection
of boarding welfare in ISC
Association schools became part of
ISI from 1st September. A small
number of boarding schools will
be included in the pilot integrated
inspections taking place during the
Autumn term, but most will not
see any changes until the full roll
out of integrated inspections in
January 2012.
At the time of writing, the draft
integrated inspections framework
is with DfE for approval, but after
the consultation period over the
summer, ISI gave stakeholders an
indication of what the key features
would be. The model will be
fully integrated, with EYFS and
boarding welfare being inspected
6 Independent Schools Magazine
alongside educational provision.
Schools with boarding will be
subject to checks of National
Minimum Standards [NMS] and
EYFS requirements for registered
settings. The NMS have already,
after consultation with ISI, ISC,
BSA and others been extensively
streamlined and it is likely that
EYFS requirements will also be
reduced before September 2012.
Integrated inspections will consist
of a single four day visit, the
first day of which will involve
lead inspectors only to finalise
inspection arrangements and to
complete, as far as possible, the
checks on regulatory compliance.
Schools will make available
to ISI at all times the policies
required for compliance purposes
so that regulatory checks may
be undertaken before the school
is notified of the inspection.
There will be five days’ notice
and there will continue to be
confidential on-line pupil and
parent questionnaires as required
by DfE, but ISI is working on
improved communication and
other modifications to improve
feedback from parents and
pupils—and, hopefully, staff.
Self-evaluation will be expected
although the use of a simplified
ISI form will be voluntary. Peer
review will be retained with
the number of inspector days
in school based on a published
tariff depending not just on pupil
numbers, but also staff numbers
and the particular characteristics
of the school. The distinctive
ISI framework of inspection is
retained, taking as its starting point
the aims of the school. In line
with the consultation feedback,
the distinctions between ISI and
Ofsted reports will be made clearer.
So there will be some significant
differences for schools from
January 2012. Boarding schools
will no longer have to deal with
two different inspectorates, often
arriving at different times, and
experience the frustrations which
occurred when education and
boarding welfare inspections
could not be properly aligned.
The inspection of EYFS will also
be fully integrated into the main
school inspection process and
reports. Schools will no longer
have to complete three sets of
documentation for the main
school, for boarding and for EYFS
or prepare for multiple visits.
Checks on documentation will be
completed in advance so freeing
time in the visit for more first hand
observations.
As indicated in the minister’s letter
to school proprietors about the
criteria relating to the frequency of
inspection, some schools deemed
to be ‘low risk’ will go longer
between inspections than others
where concerns have been raised.
Much of the change being brought
about has reflected the responses
to the consultation exercise we
undertook in the summer, and
feedback received throughout
the last inspection cycle, and so
we know that much of it will be
welcomed. But it isn’t all about
change: many things will remain
the same. Reporting inspectors
will continue to work with the
school to support improvement.
Peer review will still be at the heart
of an inspection process which
will seek to help schools maintain
high standards of provision and
outcomes (there will be more
professional dialogue than was
possible under the last regime).
And team inspectors will continue
to do just what they have always
done: spend their time seeking to
make judgements based on first
hand evidence of the observation
of lessons and activities, scrutiny
of work and interviews with pupils
and teachers. Reports will continue
to reflect the particular ethos of
each school and there will be no
sense of ‘one size fits all’.
This is the third time in 6 years
that I have had to introduce a new
inspection model to schools. And, as
before, ISI will seek to assist schools
in their preparation. We have kept
them informed of developments this
year through our regular Updates
and the next one will give more
information about the framework.
We shall produce streamlined
documentation designed to be as
user friendly as possible for schools.
We shall hold briefings for schools
on a regional basis and provide
re-training opportunities for team
inspectors who will be able to share
that professional development with
other colleagues in their schools.
While it may appear that change
is coming at breakneck speed,
there is much to embrace about
the integrated inspections and
stakeholders should be reassured that
the best aspects of ISI inspections
will remain constant, and help will
be at hand to ensure that all are
ready for the changes ahead.
More information about the new integrated inspections can be found on the ISI website www.isi.net and schools and inspectors have access to latest developments through regular Updates
which they can access through the ISI portal. ISI welcomes feedback on this article and related issues to durell.barnes@isi.net.
Losses spell closure
Amberfield School, Suffolk, closed at short
notice at the end of last month (October) ‘due to
unsustainable financial losses’. Founded in 1927, it
is now in the hands of the liquidators.
The 157 pupils (girls aged 2 – 16 and boys aged
2 – 7) have found places at other independent
schools in the county, and in the state sector.
Chairman of Governors, Alistair Lang said: “This
is a very sad day which I know will be a body blow
to our pupils, parents and staff. Amberfield is a
small school which has been a real strength for its
many pupils over the years. But its small size and
its particular style in this difficult economic climate
has made it increasingly difficult to keep afloat.
Despite a great deal of effort behind the scenes in
recent weeks we have reluctantly accepted we have
no option but to close the school.”
Amberfield had seen a ‘significant number’ of
pupils leave during 2009/10, and the expected
recovery in numbers failed to happen.
A management statement said: “In June 2011 the
Board considered the prospects for the 2011/12
financial year, the expectations of pupil attraction
and attrition, the willingness of the school’s
New life for bells in
aid of flood victims
Eight old hand bells are being given a new lease of life by children at a Cornish
school and helping raise funds for victims of the St Austell floods of a year ago.
The bells have belonged for many years to Truro Women’s Institute and are
now on “permanent loan” to Polwhele House School where Truro Cathedral’s
choristers are educated.
Deputy Head Nick Hawker, himself a member of the Cathedral Choir and
music specialist, arranged the loan and prepared Year 6 pupils for their part in a
charity concert at the Cathedral earlier this month (November).
With the bells, they added an extra percussive element to the Cathedral Choir’s
performance of “Cloudburst” by Eric Whitaker, which is an international bestseller
and topped the classical charts in 2008.
“The bells had been silent for quite a while,” says Mr Hawker. “Polwhele pupils
have changed all that – as anyone within the vicinity of the school may have
heard recently!”
bankers to continue funding losses and the strong
desire to continue providing the unique style of
education offered by Amberfield. The budget then
prepared illustrated an ability to trade appropriately
until July 2012 and was agreed by the Board, its
own advisors, the school’s auditors and the bank.
The school’s income at the beginning of the current
term did not meet the June 2011 expectations. The
School had made strenuous efforts to attract more
pupils, including offering bursaries. Despite this,
pupil numbers increased only marginally but the
overall level of fee income was reduced by the level
of bursaries awarded. When the bank’s advisors
extrapolated the trend evidenced by the September
management accounts it became clear the funding
available per the June budget would be insufficient
to take the school through to July 2012. At that
point the school had to consider how best to
continue pupils’ education, in particular the GCSE
years. The decision then taken was to close as soon
as possible to allow those pupils the best possible
chance to relocate.”
The largest creditor is believed to be the bank who
had been supporting the school in its efforts to
turn the business round.
New head
Mrs Kate Leiper has been
appointed Head of Berkshire’s
Hurst Lodge School.
Following a successful career as a
professional flautist, Kate entered
the teaching profession and has
since worked in several independent
boarding schools.
She succeeds Ms Victoria Smit, who
remains at Hurst Lodge as Principal
to concentrate on developing the
schools sustainability programme and
its connection with the Eden Project.
T 0118 935 6707
E info@holroydhowe.com
T 0118 935 6707
holroydhowe.com
E info@holroydhowe.com
T holroydhowe.com
0118 935 6707
E info@holroydhowe.com
holroydhowe.com
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Independent Schools Magazine 7