The report contains a great deal of positivity regarding the quality of education, the breadth of training and recreation, pupils’ physical and mental health and wellbeing, and pupils’ social and economic education and contribution to society. These are areas of school life of which we are very proud.

I recognise that your attention will naturally be drawn to the elements where the standards were recorded as “not met,” and I want to address these directly.

Both I and Mr Swinton (Chair of Trustees) fully accept the findings relating to the recording of complaints and low-level concerns, as well as elements of staff training which were not sufficiently up to date at the time of the inspection. We are accountable for these areas. At the same time, I want to reassure you that these issues relate to process and documentation rather than to the care or safety of pupils.

Importantly, the inspectors found that our single central record is robust, that staff know how to deal with safeguarding issues, and that we work well with external agencies. These are core pillars of safeguarding and they are strong.

The specific gaps identified around staff training in Cyber Security and Prevent have already been remedied. All staff have now completed the required training, and we have implemented a system called “Staff Safe” which will alert us in advance when any colleague’s training needs to be renewed. Our whole-school safeguarding course (previously described as Level 2) continues to provide a solid foundation for colleagues who work directly with pupils.

In addition, our new safeguarding system, CPOMS (Child Protection Online Monitoring System), will ensure that complaints and low-level concerns are recorded and managed consistently and in line with current legislation.

While it was disappointing that these administrative aspects fell short at the time of the inspection, the visit has provided a helpful opportunity to sharpen our systems further. The regulatory landscape continues to evolve, and we are committed to ensuring that our practice not only meets the required standards but stays ahead of them.

I was delighted that the inspectors also recognised how well the school is doing in so many other key areas of school life, and that my colleagues and our pupils shone in all they did. 

The verbal feedback noted that our “school values run like a golden thread through the school,” which was especially pleasing to hear.

We remain fully committed to reviewing and improving our practice in all areas of school life so that our children are safe, well cared for, and benefiting from an outstanding education and the rich opportunities that will help them build a happy and successful future.

The elements which let us down will be reinspected in due course, and I look forward to updating you once ISI has revisited the school.

As ever, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments. Thank you for your continued support.

- Chris Hattam, Headmaster