ISI Inspectors give top marks to St Andrew’s Prep
St Andrew’s Prep is delighted to announce that it has achieved the highest possible descriptor rating in each category of its recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report. The report rates the school as ‘excellent’ throughout with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) receiving the ‘outstanding’ rating that can be applied to this section only.
The full list of categories on which the school was scrutinized and awarded top marks is: the quality of the pupils’ achievements and learning; the contribution of curricular and extra-curricular provision; the contribution of teaching; the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the pupils; the contribution of arrangements for pastoral care; the contribution of arrangements for welfare, health and safety; the quality of boarding; the quality of governance; and the quality of leadership and management, including links with parents, carers and guardians.
The rigorous inspection process, which included interviews with pupils and staff, lesson observations, parent and pupil questionnaires and an examination of pupils’ class work, led to the six-strong inspection team reporting that, ‘Pupils of all ages and abilities are highly successful in their learning and personal development and the school meets its aims most effectively. The pupils’ excellent standards of achievement in academic work are promoted well by a wide and exciting range of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. Pupils are confident and independent.’ The report also talks of the school’s highly effective measures for both pastoral care and welfare, health and safety which supports the pupils’ personal development and points out, ‘The pupils’ spiritual development is strong; they have an excellent sense of morality and an outstanding social awareness.’
In addition to these accolades, the quality of leadership and management of the school was praised by the inspectors who said, ‘Leadership throughout the school is excellent. The strong and collaborative management style supports the pupils’ high levels of achievement and personal development.’ Of the high quality teaching, the report said, ‘This teaching demonstrates quick pace, a range of activities and high expectations which foster high levels of application in the pupils.’
The effectiveness of EYFS at the school was awarded the maximum four ‘Outstanding’ grades and inspectors remarked that, ‘Exemplary teaching strategies and timely support and intervention ensure that all children make excellent progress relative to their starting points and are ready to move on to the next stage of learning.’
Headmaster, Simon Severino said, “It is most satisfying to receive such positive external validation of what we strive to offer the children on a daily basis so I am delighted for our pupils, teachers and support staff who work so hard to make this a very special school. While I am delighted with the report, I also recognise that there can be no room for complacency. Yes, we enjoy the lovely compliments that the report offers but we will also endeavour to build upon these high standards.”
Full report available on: https://www.standrewsprep.co.uk/Inspection-reports.
