INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE
BADMINTON SCHOOL BOARDING WELFARE
INTERMEDIATE INSPECTION
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE
Badminton School
Full Name of School Badminton School
DfE Number 801/6003
Registered Charity Number 311738
Address
Badminton School Westbury Road Westbury-on-Trym Bristol BS9 3BA
Telephone Number 0117 905 5200
Fax Number 0117 962 3049
Email Address reception@badminton.bristol.sch.uk
Head Mrs Rebecca Tear
Chair of Governors Mrs Alison Bernays
Age Range 11 to 18
Total Number of Pupils 325
Gender of Pupils Girls
0-2 (EYFS): 5-11: 5 Numbers by Age 3-5 (EYFS): 11-18: 320
Number of Day Pupils
Total: 146
Total: 179 Number of Boarders
Full: 171 Weekly: 8
Inspection dates 2nd to 4th October 2012
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. 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 www.ofsted.gov.uk
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) an exhaustive health and safety audit
(ii) 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.
INSPECTION EVIDENCE
The inspectors conducted formal interviews with boarders, held discussions with senior members of staff and with governors, 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
Mr John Dunston Reporting Inspector
Mrs Ruth Coomber Team Inspector for Boarding (Housemistress, HMC School)
Mrs Linda Smallwood Team Inspector for Boarding (Former Deputy Head, GSA School)
1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL
1.1 Badminton School aims to provide a rich educational experience, in which intellectual development, academic success and pastoral care are complemented by high performance in the arts, sport and other extra-curricular activities. It intends to prepare girls for the world beyond school and in a global society by a commitment to an education that is challenging and enjoyable, by celebrating an international ethos and by emphasising individuality within a mutually supportive community. Badminton School is non-denominational. The school seeks to offer a distinctive boarding school context in which its aims can be realised for full and weekly boarders and for day girls. The governing body, whose members are drawn mostly from the professions and the academic world, has oversight of both the senior and the junior schools, its work being supported by five sub-committees. The school is a registered charity and also a registered company limited by shares owned by the Badminton School Trust.
1.2 The school was founded in 1858 as a proprietorial girls’ school. Originally located in Clifton, it moved to its present location in Westbury-on-Trym on the outskirts of Bristol in 1924, a site that also incorporates the junior school for girls aged three to eleven. The senior school is a boarding and day school for 320 girls aged between eleven and eighteen, including 179 boarders accommodated in three houses: Bartlett, for pupils aged between eleven and thirteen; Sanderson for pupils aged thirteen to sixteen; and the sixth form centre. Five pupils aged nine, ten and eleven from the junior school also board in Bartlett. Each house has its own character and is led by a housemistress and a team of assistants and tutors. All houses are located on the central campus. Since the previous Ofsted inspection in 2009, there have been no major changes to the boarding accommodation, but common room facilities have been extended in Bartlett.
1.3 The school has identified ten pupils as having special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), of whom none has a statement of special educational needs, and of whom two receive specialist language support. In total, 53 pupils have English as an additional language, of whom eighteen receive support for their English. Boarders come from a variety of international and British backgrounds.
1.4 National Curriculum nomenclature is used throughout this report to refer to year groups in the school.
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 arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of boarders have regard to government guidance in respect of safe recruitment practices; that all teaching and non-teaching staff undergo required checks before appointment; and that all checks are recorded on the single central register of appointments [National Minimum Standard 11, under Child protection; and, for the same reason, Standard 14.1, under Staff recruitment and checks on other adults].
(ii) Recommendations for further improvement
2.2 In addition to the above regulatory action points, the school is advised to make the following improvements.
1. Centralise the keeping of pupil records and care plans in order to facilitate an overview by relevant staff of the welfare of each pupil.
2. Ensure that the current location of the medical centre provides appropriate separation from the adjacent boarding house at all times.
3. Enhance facilities for boarders’ on-line communication with parents in order to improve privacy.
(iii) Progress since the previous inspection
2.3 The previous boarding welfare inspection was undertaken by Ofsted in October 2009. The school has implemented almost all the recommendations of the previous inspection report. Regular refresher training on safeguarding issues including the whistleblowing policy has been implemented and boarding handbooks have been updated. Consent forms for guardians have been clarified and contain the necessary information. Nurses do not secondary dispense medication. Appropriate assessments are completed in order for pupils to be able to administer their own medicine. Older pupils follow standard procedures to obtain consent for medical services. Detailed records of the disposal of medication are kept. A thorough audit takes place regularly of the maintenance of first aid boxes. Procedures for the contents of staff files have been significantly strengthened but do not contain records of all required checks. Nurses in the health centre do not share the pupils’ toilet and bathing facilities.
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 Appropriate induction and guidance are provided for new boarders. Every boarder has a choice of staff to whom they can turn for personal guidance or help. Boarders may contact the independent counsellor directly. Boarders are provided with several external helpline numbers. [NMS 2]
3.3 The school implements comprehensive healthcare policies including procedures for the dispensing of all medication. Nursing staff provide guidance to staff and suitable arrangements are made if a boarder is unwell overnight. Medical centre provision is complemented by access to local medical services. Boarders’ confidentiality is maintained. The current location of the medical centre does not always provide appropriate separation from the adjacent boarding house. [NMS 3]
3.4 Boarders can contact their parents easily in a variety of ways. When necessary, additional arrangements can be made to enhance boarders’ privacy when using online methods of communication. Appropriate safeguards are in place to monitor the use of electronic communications. [NMS 4]
3.5 Boarding accommodation is spacious, clean, welcoming and suitably furnished, and incorporates adequate toilets and washrooms. Sleeping areas are comfortable and boarders personalise their own space. Suitable facilities support organised and private study. Although day pupils use study rooms in the sixth form centre, this does not detract from boarders’ privacy. Effective security measures are in place. [NMS 5]
3.6 Boarders’ meals are varied, nutritious, sufficient in quantity and quality, and prepared in hygienic facilities. Particular dietary needs are accommodated. Drinking water is always available and boarders in each house are able to prepare snacks and drinks at reasonable times in addition to main meals. [NMS 8]
3.7 Appropriate laundry provision is available to all boarders. Personal and stationery items are easily purchased locally or in school. All boarders are provided with a lockable drawer and padlock. Inconsistent use of these by boarders puts some possessions at risk, a situation noted by pupils in a pre-inspection questionnaire. Pupils are able to deposit their own money and valuables with a member of staff in the house for safekeeping. [NMS 9]
3.8 A wide range of activities is available for boarders during the day and in the evening with a special programme of activities at weekends. There are numerous safe areas where boarders can be alone. There is sufficient opportunity for free time each day. Pupils are encouraged to keep abreast of world events through newspapers and magazines available in the library and in the houses. [NMS 10]
3.(b) Arrangements for welfare and safeguarding
3.9 The school does not meet two of the NMS under this section.
3.10 Arrangements for health and safety ensure that boarders are protected from harm. Policies are reviewed annually. Electrical equipment is regularly checked. Boarding staff know and understand how to implement safe working practices and what to do should there be an incident. Traffic safety is a priority across the school site. [NMS 6]
3.11 The school complies with all current fire safety legislation. All staff receive training. Checks on fire-fighting equipment take place as appropriate. Fire drills are held regularly including during boarding time. Records are maintained and boarders are familiar with relevant procedures. [NMS 7]
3.12 The school has implemented suitable child protection procedures. Appropriate arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of boarders. However, in a number of cases, the school had not followed its policy in carrying out all the required recruitment checks on staff before they began their employment. Regular training in child protection is carried out for all staff at the appropriate level. Designated child protection officers receive additional training. Senior pupils receive training in peer mentoring. Individual boarders’ records are maintained though these are often located in different parts of the school, making an overview difficult to obtain. Governors are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities including an annual review of safeguarding. [NMS 11]
3.13 Written policies designed to promote good behaviour amongst the pupils are implemented, and known and understood by pupils. Bullying is very rare. Any incident causing concern is dealt with promptly. Sanctions are seen by the pupils to be fair and appropriate. Pupils enjoy boarding and get on well with each other in the house, which was reflected in the generally very positive responses to a preinspection questionnaire. [NMS 12]
3.14 Recruitment of staff is supported by appropriate procedures. However, there have been omissions in some of the pre-appointment checks required to be carried out on staff and the single central register has not been consistently maintained. When the school was made aware of this, immediate steps were taken to ensure that these issues were addressed. Suitable procedures are implemented for any adults living in boarding accommodation but not employed by the school. Arrangements for the control of visitors entering the boarding houses are rigorously implemented and all visitors are supervised. The school has no involvement in the appointment of guardians. [NMS 14]
3.(c) Leadership and management of the boarding provision
3.15 The school meets all of the NMS under this section
3.16 The school’s statement of boarding aims is clear, and known to boarders and also to parents who were overwhelmingly positive in response to a pre-inspection questionnaire. The aims are in evidence daily in the courtesy shown by pupils to each other and to staff, and in their ready acceptance of all members of the community. [NMS 1]
3.17 Boarding is primarily the responsibility of the director of boarding, supported by housemistresses and house staff. Liaison takes place between boarding and nonboarding staff. House handbooks reflect values consistent with the school’s boarding aims. Boarding staff receive regular training. Policies are regularly reviewed and updated. Records of boarders’ welfare are maintained and monitored. [NMS 13]
3.18 All boarding staff have appropriate job descriptions. An induction programme is provided. At least one adult member of staff sleeps in each boarding house at night and boarders know how to contact them easily. Boarders do not have access to staff accommodation. Boarders are appropriately supervised outside teaching time. There are clear staff duty rotas known by boarders. Checks are made to ensure that staff know the whereabouts of boarders. Boarding and ancillary staff know and implement the school’s policy should a boarder be missing. [NMS 15]
3.19 The boarding community integrates many overseas boarders. Staff give individual attention to all the boarders in their care. A detailed policy for pupils with special educational needs is in place. Boarders do not experience any inappropriate discrimination. [NMS 16]
3.20 Boarders find their house staff approachable, and they have many opportunities to voice their views and ideas. Boarders are encouraged to contribute to the development of the houses and there is evidence of changes made at the request of pupils. [NMS 17]
3.21 The school has a clear complaints procedure which meets all regulatory requirements. The policy is available from the school’s website. Parents are very satisfied with the handling of issues raised. [NMS 18]
3.22 The school does not have prefects. Three head girls have regular meetings with senior staff. They have a clear leadership role in the community and contribute effectively to its pastoral atmosphere, but they have no disciplinary role. [NMS 19]
3.23 The school does not accommodate any boarders in long-term lodgings. [NMS 20, not applicable]