100 % ‘excellent’
… say Independent Schools Inspectorate We are delighted that the hard work of pupils, parents, teachers, governors and indeed the wider School community has been acknowledged in the glowing 2011 Independent Schools Inspectorate Report on our School. The Independent Schools Inspectorate is the agency responsible for the inspection of schools belonging to the Independent Schools Council. It reports to the Department for Education on the extent to which schools meet the Government’s statutory requirements. The intention of such an inspection is to help schools, their staff and governors to recognise and build on their strengths and to identify and remedy any weaknesses. We are very proud that Felsted Preparatory School was judged to be ‘excellent’ in each of the seven stringent ISI standards – a rare accolade. Each area is judged against four possible standards – ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’ and ‘unsatisfactory’. This is a judgement against an overall standard for independent schools and a statement of where we stand in comparison to others. This is important, given that we are always striving to improve and that we cater to a range of academic ability. Together with an Ofsted rating of ‘outstanding’ for both our Early Years Foundation Stage and the quality of our boarding, we are proud and pleased to conclude that Felsted Preparatory School is clearly achieving its aims.
Achievement:
‘excellent’
Our Young Felstedians impressed the ISI Inspectors with the quality of their academic achievement as well as their accomplishments in all the other essential skills that we seek to encourage here at Felsted Preparatory School. Attainment across the board is judged to be ‘far above national age-related expectations’ and pupils with learning support and the gifted and talented make ‘excellent progress’, the Inspectors say, adding that the ‘quality of the pupils’ overall achievements is excellent and fully meets the school’s aims for pupils to achieve the highest individual standards possible’. Pupils’, parents’ and teachers’ commitment to literacy throughout the School is really paying off, with fluent and imaginative work being produced by all age groups and extensive vocabularies being put to good use. Regular spelling tests, reading practice, quizzes and ‘word of the week’ are really worth the effort! The level of discussion is high and debating is a real strength, exercising not just vocabularies, but knowledge of global issues and growing self-confidence. Similarly, number skills build from an introduction to basic numeracy in Stewart House, through Maths challenges and reinforcement, to readiness for the Felsted Transfer Examination and Common Entrance at 13+.
Impressive academic attainment is made possible through ‘high technical ability’ across all of our Phases and our ‘high standards of ICT’.
Teaching:
‘excellent’
The ‘quality of teaching is excellent’ say the Inspectors and they commend the quality of our ‘excellent lessons, meticulous planning’ and ‘staff development that has successfully modified and improved the quality of teaching’. We are able to use a variety of methods and techniques to promote learning at Felsted Preparatory School and our creative, imaginative, investigative and well-paced lessons keep standards of education high across our Phases. Teachers ask appropriate questions, pupils are engaged, focused and ‘feel rewarded in their learning’ say the Inspectors. Assessment is ‘comprehensive and thorough’, with ‘very highquality marking’. Our Individual Education Plans demonstrate the ‘excellent’ provision for our Very Able Pupils (VAPs) and those who benefit from Learning Support.
Curriculum:
‘excellent’
The Inspectors note our ‘suitably broad’ and ‘innovative and imaginative curriculum’. This gives Young Felstedians a wealth of opportunities to be challenged and shine in all subject areas. Lively, stimulating lessons encourage pupils to ‘engage fully’ in their learning and profit from specialist teaching in History, Geography, Religious Studies, Science, Modern Foreign Languages and Latin. Opportunities for self-expression abound in our enrichment subjects – Art, Design & Technology, Music, Drama, Dance and Public Speaking. Innovative teaching through Critical Skills, Leadership, crosscurricular and Passport programmes is particularly praised by the Inspectors – our pupils are stimulated and challenged at all levels of ability.
Co-curriculum:
‘excellent’
Our ‘wide ranging and intensive’ co-curricular activities are a particular area for the Inspectors’ praise. A feature of life at Felsted Preparatory School is our vast offering of sports and activities in the Arts and Technologies. These complement academic learning and introduce our pupils to new experiences, sparking life-long passions. Sport is an integral part of life at Felsted Preparatory School. As well as the core sports, there are chances to taste a huge range of other active pursuits, from swimming, gym and dance to volleyball, fencing and shooting. ‘A unique experience’ is born out of cross-curricular events. Participation in national academic and charity days, as well as the local carnival and other community events, helps our pupils to understand their role in the world.
Personal development:
‘excellent’
Our commitment to encouraging the personal development of each individual pupil is identified by the Inspectors and described as ‘excellent’. Pupils ‘develop confidence and selfawareness’ they note. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural growth is nurtured and there is a strong moral code throughout the School. Pupils consider themselves ‘involved and equal’, regardless of ability.
Spiritual development is ‘excellent’ and ‘well developed’ and promoted through a range of activities, including the Lent Challenges, music, stories and poetry. Behaviour is ‘exemplary’ say the Inspectors and ‘pupils display very strong moral attitudes and show exemplary behaviour’. Moral guidance is given through initiatives such as the RUBY code and pupil leadership in the Boarding House.
R esponsibility Take responsibility for yourself, your learning, your stuff! Understand others Be kind, well-mannered, friendly and tolerant! B est Achieve your personal best in all you do!
Yourself
Social skills are developed at numerous events Become yourself! Be yourself! Believe in and occasions that are highlights of the Felsted yourself! Preparatory School calendar. Eating together, hosting visiting teams and conducting tours for parents are all valuable life experiences. Understanding of the world’s cultures is promoted through international days and talks, and participation in Felsted’s Model United Nations Conference. The Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education programme is ‘well-structured’ and engages young minds.
Welfare, health and safety:
‘excellent’
Felsted Preparatory School is a ‘happy, caring and inclusive environment’, say the Inspectors. Pastoral care is ‘outstanding’. Crucial policies and procedures for child welfare, health and safety are ‘properly in place and enhanced’ and pupils feel well supported. Relationships within the School community are ‘extremely positive, mutually respectful and most supportive’. Each pupil is ‘known extremely well’. Health education is taken very seriously and all pupils eat well. Meals are social occasions. Healthy Week is an opportunity to review pupils’ personal needs and adapt as necessary. Dietary requirements are catered for and the School is at the forefront of food hygiene.
Boarding:
‘excellent’
We provide an ‘excellent experience for both weekly and flexi-boarders’ who enjoy ‘high-quality, safe accommodation’. The School ‘fully meets its aims’ to provide superb care, say the Inspectors. Relationships between staff and pupils, and older pupils and younger pupils are ‘excellent’. Boarders have fun taking part in after-school activities as well as their own programme of freetime entertainment and there is help with prep and someone to talk to when needed.
Governance, leadership and management:
‘excellent’
The effectiveness and quality of governance, leadership and management is ‘excellent’, say the Inspectors and our vision and ethos are ‘very strong’. This is a huge vote of confidence on the way our School is run and how we plan for the future. Our governors are ‘highly effective’ in their different roles and their commitment to the School is ‘excellent’. The structure of the governing body and the organisation of committees is ‘well thought-through’. The Inspectors note that our policy for safeguarding children and our Central Register are fully in place and monitored. Our strategies relating to the allocation of resources, use of our building, our pupil numbers and our planning are ‘highly effective’. The leadership and management of our School is ‘excellent’, particularly in the areas of achievement, teaching, organisation of resources, curricular and other developments. Selfmonitoring is also ‘excellent’, particularly our ‘rigorous but sensitive’ self-evaluation through book scrutiny, pupil, staff and parent voice, staff appraisal and regular reviews. The development plan is ‘comprehensive and thorough’ and a ‘strong tool for taking the school forward’.
‘excellent’
Parental and community links:
Communication with parents, carers and guardians is vital and our links are ‘very strong’ say the Inspectors. We have ‘very effective’ communication with home via our ‘colourful and very detailed’ weekly newsletter, our well-trained Admissions Registrar, teachers and tutors. Our information evenings, surveys, parents in school afternoon, grandparents’ days and visits all help to keep family members involved in our pupils’ school careers.
‘Plus est en nous‘:
‘there is more in us’
We are determined not to rest on our laurels! This extremely positive feedback from the ISI encourages us to spread excellence through every aspect of teaching and learning at Felsted Preparatory School.
Already we are refining our forms of target setting and giving our Pre-Preparatory pupils more opportunities for outdoor learning with the opening of our wonderful new building, Stewart House. We are constantly seeking to ensure that excellence of teaching is consistent across all subject areas, age groups and abilities. Our annual improvement plan seeks to address issues that are important to pupils, parents, our local community and all who have a connection with our School, with the outcomes shared in our annual achievement report. Our aim is to offer Young Felstedians the very best education imaginable.
Go to www.felsted.org to read the full 2011 Independent Schools Inspectorate Report on Felsted Preparatory School.
Felsted Preparatory School, Felsted, Essex CM6 3JL 01371 822610 prepadmin@felstedprep.org www.felsted.org