The King's School

The King's School in Witney is an independent co-educational day school that operates under the auspices of the Oxfordshire Community Churches, a registered charity. The school caters to a diverse age range, serving pupils from two to sixteen years old, and currently has a total enrollment of 206 students. This includes 21 in the Early Years Foundation Stage, 81 in primary education, and 104 in secondary education. The school has a commitment to inclusivity, with 50 pupils requiring support for special educational needs and/or disabilities, and 19 pupils who speak English as an additional language. The principal, Mrs. Lynne Weber, has been in her position since September 2023, and the school’s last inspection occurred in May 2023.

The recent unannounced progress monitoring inspection, conducted on January 16, 2024, was initiated by the Department for Education to assess the implementation of the action plan developed after the previous inspection. The focus of this inspection was to evaluate the school's compliance with the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and the Early Years Statutory Framework. The inspection team found that the school met all the relevant standards.

In terms of the quality of education, the school has successfully revised its curriculum for personal, social, health, and economic education, as well as relationships and sex education. The curriculum is now well-structured and effectively implemented, supported by detailed plans and schemes of work. The school ensures that its RSE curriculum aligns with statutory guidance, adequately preparing pupils for future life experiences. The promotion of spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is a priority, with the school actively fostering respect for others, including in matters of sex and sexual orientation. This commitment is reflected in the planning documents and confirmed through discussions with school leaders, staff, and pupils. The governing board has taken steps to ensure robust monitoring of the curriculum's implementation, including commissioning external audits.

The safeguarding policy at The King's School is comprehensive and effectively promotes the welfare of pupils. The school has established a culture of safeguarding where pupils feel safe to report concerns, including through anonymous channels. Staff and pupils confirmed that there is an open environment for discussing safeguarding issues, and pupils know they can approach trusted adults with any concerns. The school has enhanced its online safety measures, ensuring that technology use is monitored and filtered appropriately. The designated safeguarding lead maintains secure oversight of safeguarding arrangements, ensuring that concerns are addressed in a timely manner and in accordance with local inter-agency procedures.

The designated governor for safeguarding conducts an annual review of the school's safeguarding arrangements, which meets local partnership requirements. All staff, including leaders and governors, receive appropriate training in safeguarding, covering a range of topics including signs of abuse and mental health issues. Regular updates and quizzes help reinforce staff understanding of safeguarding protocols. The school has a clear Prevent strategy in place, which is effectively implemented.

In terms of leadership and management, the school demonstrates the necessary skills and knowledge to consistently meet all standards. The leadership team has fully implemented the action plan from the previous inspection, taking appropriate actions supported by effective oversight from the governing body. Leaders apply their skills to promote the well-being of pupils actively, ensuring that the school's environment is conducive to learning and personal development.

The inspection concluded that The King's School meets all the requirements of the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and the Early Years Statutory Framework. No further action is required as a result of this inspection, indicating that the school is on a positive trajectory following the previous inspection. The inspectors engaged with senior leaders, staff, and the chair of governors, and they visited various areas of the school, speaking with groups of pupils and reviewing documentation to gather evidence of compliance and effectiveness.

Overall, The King's School has made significant progress in addressing the areas identified for improvement in the previous inspection. The school is committed to providing a high-quality education and a safe environment for all its pupils, ensuring that they are well-prepared for their future endeavors. The leadership team’s proactive approach to implementing changes and fostering a culture of safeguarding and respect is commendable, and the school is well-positioned to continue its development in the coming years.