St Edmund's School

St Edmund’s School is a co-educational day and boarding institution located in Hindhead, Surrey, catering for pupils aged two to sixteen. Established in 1874, the school became a charitable trust in 1979 and is governed by a board of governors. The school comprises an Early Years Foundation Setting (EYFS), lower prep for Years 1 and 2, prep for Years 3 to 8, and a senior section for Years 9 to 11. It also features a boarding house that accommodates around 30 pupils for occasional themed boarding nights. Since the last inspection, the school has expanded its facilities to include a new sports hall.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the school remained open only for children of key workers from March to June 2020, with no boarders on site. Remote learning materials were provided for all pupils during this period. The inspection process was adapted to include both remote and onsite evidence gathering to minimize contact. The Department for Education (DfE) directed that no evaluations would be made regarding the effectiveness of provisions during the closure period. Public examinations were not held in 2020 and 2021, with centre-assessed grades awarded instead. The school has not externally moderated EYFS profiles since 2020.

St Edmund’s School aims to deliver a broad curriculum within a Christian ethos, focusing on individually tailored teaching and encouraging pupils to engage in diverse opportunities and challenges. The school promotes the development of interpersonal skills, respect, sensitivity towards others, self-discipline, self-respect, and self-esteem. Most pupils come from professional and business backgrounds, and assessments indicate that their abilities are broadly average. The school has identified 121 pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with 91 receiving additional support. No pupils have an education, health, and care (EHC) plan, and only two are identified as having English as an additional language (EAL), neither of whom requires extra support. The school also provides extension work for more able pupils and coaching for those with particular talents in sports and the creative arts.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) conducted a regulatory compliance inspection, which was combined with an educational quality inspection. The ISI is authorized to inspect schools that are members of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and assess their compliance with the Independent School Standards and National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. The inspection focused on the school’s adherence to these standards, which are minimum requirements, and findings are categorized as met or not met.

The key findings of the inspection revealed that the school does not meet all required standards, necessitating immediate action to address deficiencies. The quality of education provided is generally good, with evidence indicating that teaching enables pupils to make good progress. The curriculum is well-documented and covers the required breadth of material, supported by effective behavior management and suitable resources. Pupils receive relationships education in the junior school and relationships and sex education in the senior school, with parental consultation and published policies in place.

The spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of pupils is actively promoted, facilitating their growth as responsible citizens. The school meets standards related to welfare, health, and safety, with good behavior promoted and bullying effectively prevented. However, the school failed to follow proper procedures for the prompt referral of a recent safeguarding concern and did not ensure that staff had suitable references before starting work, indicating a failure to safeguard boarders.

The school makes appropriate checks to ensure the suitability of staff and maintains a register as required. The premises and accommodation meet the necessary standards, providing suitable facilities for pupils’ medical and therapy needs. A range of information is published and made available to parents, including details about the school’s ethos, curriculum, and arrangements for admission and behavior.

Parental complaints are handled effectively through a structured process, and the school demonstrates appropriate leadership and management. However, the leadership has not consistently ensured that standards are met, particularly regarding the acquisition of suitable references and the referral of safeguarding concerns.

The educational quality inspection highlighted that the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent. Pupils develop high levels of knowledge, skills, and understanding as they progress through the school, demonstrating outstanding attitudes towards learning and a determination to succeed. They achieve well across a variety of curricular and co-curricular activities. The personal development of pupils is also excellent, with strong self-confidence and self-knowledge fostered from an early age. Pupils exhibit kindness, compassion, and respect for one another, contributing positively to the school community.

The school is encouraged to further accelerate pupils’ progress in information and communication technology (ICT) and digital literacy through increased use of digital devices in teaching. Overall, the inspection findings indicate that while the school excels in many areas, there are critical compliance issues that need to be addressed to ensure the safety and well-being of all pupils. The school’s commitment to continuous improvement and the nurturing of a supportive learning environment is evident, but it must prioritize compliance with safeguarding standards to maintain its reputation and ensure the safety of its pupils.