Elizabeth College has passed its independent private schools inspection, meeting all five of the required standards.
The school is evaluated by the Independent Schools Inspectorate for British Schools Overseas and must meet the five key criteria to be judged to have met the required standard.
Eight inspectors looked into all aspects of services from pre-school to sixth form year groups, finding that students are “well prepared” for the next stages of life, teaching is “effective” with a “well planned curriculum”, “positive relationships” are evident between staff and students, and the “school is an inclusive environment”.
Safeguarding measures were deemed to be “robust” with staff dealing with students’ concerns “sensitively” and “appropriately”.
Meeting junior students’ needs and completing refurbishments to the premises “in a timely manner”, referring to a back gate on Upland Road, were recommended by inspectors as improvements.
Principal Jenny Palmer said the report “confirms the strengths of our provision”.
“We welcome the recommendations, which align with internally identified development priorities, and we remain focused on continuous improvement to ensure the very best outcomes for every child at Elizabeth College,” Mrs Palmer said.
“This report reflects the commitment of our outstanding staff, the support and challenge provided by our directors, and the engagement of our pupils, students and parents. I am grateful to them all.”
Elizabeth College was assessed on leadership, management and governance, education, training, and recreation, physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, social and economic wellbeing, and safeguarding.
“Leaders in the junior school have successfully embedded strategies to develop pupils’ awareness and understanding of their emotions. A combination of ‘golden rules’, ‘decider skills’ and ‘learning powers’ consistently enables pupils to ‘aim high, be kind and be brave’,” the report says.
“Leaders in the early years promote children’s wellbeing through a well-planned and resourced curriculum.”
SEND students were found to be well supported with similar educational outcomes to their peers.
“Pupils develop a secure understanding of right and wrong through lessons and activities that extend their understanding of moral and ethical choices,” the report adds.
Directors were found to maintain and apply a safeguarding policy with precision, and the large number of support staff trained in line with local requirements was praised.