Ofsted Boarding Inspection Report
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL OFSTED BOARDING INSPECTION FOR
ST. LAWRENCE COLLEGE JUNIOR SCHOOL
The boarding and pastoral facilities at St. Lawrence College are regularly inspected by OFSTED and on 10th March 2008 the latest boarding inspection took place. The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that the College complies fully with the Care Standards Act 2000 and the Children Act 2004. It is a very wide-ranging inspection, which takes place over a 3-day period, in which senior management, pupils, parents, boarding, medical, teaching and non-teaching staff are interviewed at length.
Results were excellent,ranging from ‘Outstanding’ (provision of exceptionally high quality) to ‘Good’ (provision is strong) in the various inspection categories - extracts are included below from each and a full copy of the report can be obtained from the Head of the Junior School on request.
Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do
Provision: OUTSTANDING
· The pupils are provided with a range of activities throughout the week, including physical and non-physical activities, and are supported to participate.
· There are good pupil support systems in place and these are used effectively.
· The pupils confirm that ‘there is always someone to go to’ and mentioned a range of staff that they could approach
· Parents have commented on the success achieved by the boarding staff in addressing welfare issues and supporting their children with pastoral concerns.
Organisation
Provision: OUTSTANDING
· The school’s mission statement clearly sets out its aims and shapes the philosophy and practice implemented within the school.
· There is a good management structure and an effective staffing structure with all staff provided with clear job descriptions and clear lines of accountability.
· There are systems in place, properly implemented, which record and inform staff of the whereabouts of the young people at all times.
Helping children make a positive contribution
Provision: OUTSTANDING
· Excellent relationships were observed between the staff and the boarders.
· The staff use their knowledge of the various cultures to good effect and have developed an excellent understanding of the needs of the young people in their care. They demonstrate their commitment to supporting pupils to meet those needs through meaningful relationships.
Achieving economic wellbeing
Provision: OUTSTANDING
· The junior pupils benefit from an excellent living environment which encompasses all the elements of quality living including design, comfort and equipment.
· Bedrooms have modern en-suite facilities, prime quality furniture and provide a large quantity of space for the children to play and relax.
· The pupils benefit from the opportunity to mix with the older Middle School pupils and this supports their transition from the Junior to SeniorSchool .
Helping children to be healthy
Provision: GOOD
· The structure of each day, incorporating academic programmes, purposeful physical activity, healthy eating and reasonable sleep patterns, encourages a healthy lifestyle.
Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe
Provision: GOOD
· The pupils made very favourable comments about the prefects and acknowledged the positive impact they have on their lives as boarders.
· Pupils’ privacy is respected and boarding staff acknowledge the pupils’ desire for personal space.
· The construction of Kirby House, which includes boarding and classroom facilities for the junior and middle school pupils, has greatly enhanced the provision of the school.
Summary
(an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection)
Overall quality rating: GOOD
· This school continues to offer a high quality of care to the young people placed there. It is commendable that the school embraces so many different cultures within its pupil population and succeeds in promoting diversity whilst achieving and maintaining harmony.
· The relationship between the staff and the pupils is excellent and is a major contributory factor in the school’s success.
· It is a well run school with a clear management and staffing structure that operates effectively
· The school has made significant progress in improving the pupils’ living environment through the construction of Kirby House.
