St Anselm's School

S. Anselm’s School is an independent co-educational institution located in Bakewell, Derbyshire, catering for pupils aged between two and thirteen years. The school offers both day and boarding options, with boarding available from the age of seven, including flexible boarding arrangements. The school is situated on extensive grounds and is organized into two sections: a pre-prep for children aged three to seven and a prep for pupils aged eight to thirteen. The school operates under a charitable trust managed by a board of governors and has a single boarding house that provides separate accommodation for male and female pupils.

Since the last inspection, there has been a change in leadership with the appointment of a new headmaster, and the school has ceased its provision for pupils aged thirteen to sixteen. The school aims to foster individuality, creativity, perseverance, and tolerance among its pupils, encouraging them to develop inquisitive thinking and a love of learning. It seeks to instill moral courage and inner strength in each child while promoting awareness of the wider community.

The pupil demographic includes children from various professional and farming backgrounds within the local area. Currently, the boarding population primarily consists of pupils who opt for flexible boarding arrangements. The school reports that the overall ability of its pupils is broadly average, with 21 pupils identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities, including conditions such as dyslexia and autism. Additionally, the school has identified 30 pupils as more able or talented, providing them with extension tasks and a range of extracurricular activities, including a scholarship program for older pupils.

The regulatory compliance inspection conducted by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) revealed that the school does not meet all the required standards set forth in the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. The inspection focused on various aspects of the school's operation, including the quality of education, spiritual and moral development, welfare and safety of pupils, suitability of staff, premises, provision of information, handling of complaints, and quality of leadership and management.

The inspection found that the school’s framework for assessment confirms that teaching enables pupils to make good progress. The curriculum is well-documented and supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, covering the required breadth of material. The school provides a suitable program of activities for boarders and ensures that relationships education is delivered in accordance with statutory guidance. Overall, the standards relating to the quality of education were deemed to be met.

In terms of spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, the school actively promotes principles and values that facilitate the personal development of pupils as responsible citizens. Boarders are encouraged to express their views, and their opinions are considered by staff. The standard relating to this area was also met.

The inspection highlighted that the school promotes good behavior and takes measures to prevent bullying. Health and safety requirements are generally met, and appropriate provisions for first aid and supervision of pupils are in place. However, while safeguarding arrangements are well-managed in most respects, the school has not consistently adhered to statutory guidance regarding safer recruitment practices. Specifically, not all required checks on staff were completed prior to their employment, including checks against the barred list and for prohibition from teaching. This deficiency indicates that the standards related to safeguarding were not fully met.

The school has established a suitable induction process for new boarders and provides adequate medical and health care provisions. Boarding staff are appropriately trained and deployed, and boarders have suitable contact with family and friends. The standards relating to welfare, health, and safety were generally met, but the issues surrounding recruitment checks necessitate immediate action.

Regarding the suitability of staff, the school conducts checks to ensure the appropriateness of supply staff and proprietors. However, it has not consistently undertaken necessary checks of qualifications or prohibitions from management for boarding staff. The standards related to the suitability of those in contact with pupils were met, but the requirements for staff recruitment checks were not fully satisfied.

The premises of the school provide suitable facilities, including adequate toilet and changing facilities, and the accommodation for boarders is deemed adequate for their needs. The standards relating to the premises and accommodation were met.

The school publishes a range of information for parents and inspectors, including details about the proprietor, the school’s ethos, curriculum, and arrangements for admission and behavior. The standard relating to the provision of information was met.

Complaints from parents are handled effectively through a structured process, and records of complaints are maintained appropriately. The standard for handling complaints was also met.

Leadership and management at the school demonstrate good skills and knowledge in most areas, ensuring that required policies and records are maintained. However, the leadership has not consistently fulfilled its responsibilities regarding safer recruitment practices, which is a significant area for improvement.

The inspection concluded with several action points for the school to address. These include ensuring that all required checks on staff are completed before they commence work, maintaining suitable oversight of safeguarding, and demonstrating effective leadership and management in relation to recruitment procedures. The school is required to take immediate action to remedy these deficiencies to ensure compliance with the relevant standards.

In summary, while S. Anselm’s School meets many of the educational and welfare standards, significant areas related to safeguarding and recruitment practices require urgent attention. The school must implement the necessary changes to ensure the safety and well-being of its pupils and to comply with regulatory requirements.