Progress monitoring inspection boarding report Bellerbys College Bellerbys College, Bounty House, Stowage, LONDON, SE8 3DE Inspection dates 19/05/2014 to 20/05/2014 Context of the inspection At the emergency welfare inspection undertaken on 29 January 2014, it was found that the college did not meet a number of the national minimum standards for boarding schools (NMS). Eight recommendations relating to five NMS were made in the report. The Department for Education (DfE) asked the college to forward an action plan explaining the actions they were going to take in order to address the shortfalls and to ensure full compliance with the NMS. On 20 March 2014, Ofsted evaluated the college s action plan as satisfactory subject to satisfactory implementation which must be checked. The DfE gave the college until 16 May 2014 to implement the action plan. The main purpose of the visit undertaken on 19 and 20 May 2014 was to evaluate the progress that the college has made against its action plan and the effectiveness of these actions in securing improved boarding provision that meets the NMS. Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan The college has taken the recommendations seriously and has fully implemented its comprehensive action plan. A new principal and a new director of student services have been appointed to manage change and to drive improvement. There is strong management and leadership of the development of boarding and a high commitment to integrated practice across both academic and boarding aspects of the college. A comprehensive review of boarding practice has taken place and a number of policies and procedures have been reviewed and appropriately revised in respect of best practice. Through meetings at various levels, staff have been kept informed of the changes. They were also given opportunities to engage in reflective discussions and to contribute to the development of the policies and practice. Boarding staff are very positive about the changes that have taken place. They receive clear direction and guidance from the leaders and managers whose expertise and motivation they trust. Boarding staff report that the new leaders have brought a student-centred culture to the college. The welfare of each individual student is paramount for everybody at the college. The profile of safeguarding and child protection has been significantly raised and permeates all boarding activities. The child protection referral form has been revised to include less significant safeguarding concerns. This change was made to encourage the staff to report any safeguarding concerns they have, however small, to the principal. The principal is the designated child protection
officer for the college. Both he and the welfare officer have recently received updated child protection and safeguarding training on an appropriate level for their roles. The college is able to demonstrate that it takes protective actions more proactively, to ensure that any safeguarding concerns are addressed at an early point and that each boarder receives the support they need. The transparency and communication within the college has been enhanced, as well as the information sharing with the external agencies. For example, the college has had several meetings with the Local Authority Designated Officer for dealing with child protection allegations. The college has also initiated the development of links with the local police and health services. Professionals are sharing information and working together effectively to ensure the welfare and development of boarders and other students at the college. Boarding staff have received training that promotes consistency of good safeguarding practice and enables them to support individual boarders effectively. All boarding staff have had training in child protection, first aid, self-harm and eating disorders, crisis management and drugs awareness. Their individual practice has been reviewed through an annual appraisal system and also, through frequent one to one supervision meetings. The college has created and recruited to a new post of a residential supervisor manager. This ensures that extra resources are available for the management, supervision and support of boarding staff. The boarding team has also been strengthened by the creation and appointment to an additional post for a permanent boarding staff member who works only at weekends. This means that the college relies less on agency staff and ensures more consistency and continuity for boarders. Another newly created post is that of a nurse. A registered nurse has set up an effective clinical practice within the college. This means that boarders have easy access to health advice. The arrangements for the care of boarders who are unwell or those with chronic conditions and disabilities are much stronger. All boarders have had their health needs assessed by the college nurse. Comprehensive written health care plans have been developed for the boarders with significant health needs. These individual plans contain clear information on any daily care requirements; what constitutes an emergency for the individual boarder and the actions for staff to take. The arrangements for dealing with medical emergencies and the use of medicines, including household remedies are robust. Each boarder s ability to self-medicate has been appropriately assessed. Boarders are supported to take responsibility for their health and for any medicines they take. The arrangements for safeguarding boarders and promoting their health and welfare have become more comprehensive, more robust and more effective. There have been no significant incidents. Boarders report feeling safe and well looked after. They talk positively about the college and about the support they receive from staff. They know that there are many people they can turn to for help and support. The college has appointed an independent person whom boarders can contact directly about personal problems or concerns at the college. Boarders know who this person is and how to contact them. The principal has created or enhanced the existing systems for maintaining records and monitoring the effectiveness of the provision. He has also established additional quality assurance processes to ensure that the college meets the NMS and that it continues to improve. The college is taking steps to replace the interim appointments with suitable permanent staff. A comprehensive training plan has been developed to ensure that staff have good opportunities for continual professional development. The leaders, managers and staff have demonstrated a drive and capacity for continual learning, and improvement of the service that is firmly centred on what is best for the students. Inspection Report Bellerbys College, 19/05/2014 Page 2 of 6
National minimum standards The school has made good progress and now meets all the national minimum standards for boarding schools. Inspection Report Bellerbys College, 19/05/2014 Page 3 of 6
Inspection team Seka Graovac Angus Mackay Lead social care inspector Social care inspector Information about this school Bellerbys College is an international independent college based in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London. It is owned by Study Group which provides English as a foreign language schools and international colleges in the UK, Australia and the USA. There are 432 students at Bellerbys College, from 14 years old upwards. There are 250 boarders, 84 of whom are under 18 years old. The large majority of students are resident at the McMillan Student Village, which is on the same site as the college or in home-stay accommodation with host families. Inspection Report Bellerbys College, 19/05/2014 Page 4 of 6
School details Unique reference number 134827 Social care unique reference number SC063056 DfE registration number 203/6376 This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for boarding schools. The inspection was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection. Type of school Number of boarders on roll 250 Gender of boarders Independent Mixed Age range of boarders 14 to 31 Headteacher Mr Paul McGregor Date of previous boarding inspection 03/02/2011 Telephone number 0208 694 7000 Email address pmgregor@studygroup.com Inspection Report Bellerbys College, 19/05/2014 Page 5 of 6
Any complaints about the inspection or the report should be made following the procedures set out in the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection. You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk, or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to Subscribe. Piccadilly Gate Store St Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk Crown copyright 2013 Inspection Report Bellerbys College, 19/05/2014 Page 6 of 6