Why would an independent school no longer be a member of the ISI

[Friedgreentomato]

A local independent school is no longer a member of the ISC.They did have a dire ISI inspection in 2014.They also had an unannounced ofsted one in November 2015.This was their first ofsted one in which they failed to meet independent school standard.

After the ISI report came out they did not send a copy to parents.I'm not sure what happened after the ofsted report,as my niece and nephew had left by then.They were issued with a notice to improve after the ISI report.Can they just carry on regardless failing children in this way? If was a state school they couldn't.If anything got worse after the ISI inspection.

[NewLife4Me]

The inspectors are still crawling all over my dd school and did an unannounced last week.
They are given a very short amount of time to make the listed improvements they won't be allowed to continue if these aren't put in place.
My dd school was 3 months, this was a couple of years back now, before she joined the school.
Once it has need for improvements it will improve drastically, ime.
HTH

[Friedgreentomato]

You joined the school after this?

[NewLife4Me]

Oh, sorry. The school I mean needed improvements it did meet iss, but changes had to be made immediately.
It is a brilliant school now, has improved, taken on board all the points except one which is pretty impossible for them, but they still meet the basic requirement for this.
I can't wait to see the new report.

You should have faith because it will either be so dire they close it, or it will improve in leaps and bounds.

[NewLife4Me]

Yes, because I read the report, knew the problems were easy for them to rectify and it suits our dd better than any other school could ever do

[Friedgreentomato]

This school will never improve so I hope it's the latter.The school is not a safe environment for children,it's beyond bad.My sister in law still coming to terms with sending her children there.They are happily settled in a new school which is a different world when to comes to pastoral care,safety,teaching and everything else.

[NewLife4Me]

It sounds like they may close it then, that does sound quite bad.
The improvements had mostly been done when dd joined her school, there were lots of little things wrong but on paper it said pretty much what you said above but was mostly down to admin.
Ours said something about child protection, even though this is pretty drastic it was following guidelines for admin and security of documents.

[Friedgreentomato]

My sister in law came across the ofsted report after her children had left the school and it mentioned bullying along with everything else.When she asked her daughter if she had seen anything she broke down in tears and told her how a little boy was regularly beaten by an older boy with two other boys joining in.Nothing was ever done by the staff.My nephew confirmed her story and said all the children knew about it.The little boy has since left the school too,my sister in law doesn't have the mums number but feel terrible that this was allowed to happen.What they did to this boy is unbelievable in this day and age.It said bullying and bad behaviour was not dealt with no records were kept etc.This was just one of the many failing of the school.

[Takeonestepatatime]

How awful for this little boy and your and your niece and nephew.I am sure by the mother must have got nowhere with the school so moved her son.In my opinion a bad independent school is worse than any state school.What area of I country are you in?Pm me if you wish,schools which allow this kind of behaviour should be closed,I agree with you.It sounds like ofsted and the IS I are on to them though.

[NewLife4Me]

This school sounds terrible, I hope it either improves drastically like it will be expected to or it will close.

[Takeonestepatatime]

You said they are now longer a member of the ISC,I don't know but maybe happens if a school is failing.

[Carrotcrocpot]

I'm intrigued to know, though curiosity, whether the independent school in question with all the supervision/safeguarding/bullying issues comes into the "specialist" category? ( autism, aADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia etc ) I have had first hand experience at an independent where shocking things have gone on, but in our case, having a child with learning difficulties has closed the door to mainstream options there is little choice of provision and schools become complacent. Or there's that element of denial -'it doesn't happen here.... Google Stanbridge Earls!!!

[Friedgreentomatos]

The school is a mainstream school,with falling numbers.It sells itself a small family school.They allowed this child to be punched by one boy with two others join in.Ofsted said they had an anti bullying policy but it is not put into practice in the school.They were inspected in June 2014 by the ISI which was abismol.They never gave a copy to parents which as far as I know they are supposed to.They are no longer a member of ISC and were inspected by Ofsted in November they mentioned bullying.I have no idea why the few parents who are there stay.We are in an 11+ area and it says 66% pass the 11+ on their website.Two children passed this year and two last year,yet parents don't seem to question that.It's a dreadful place and it couldn't exist as a state school.Very few children start at nursery and are still there at the end of year six.The little boy my niece and nephew spoke about was super bright(so totally unsuited to the place) and has now left the school.My niece and nephew told their mother there were long periods of free time in the class,she had concerns for sometime but it was much worse than she thought.I have since heard that the boy was crying at the door of the school some mornings near the end and didn't stay until the end of the term.My niece and nephew had left by then though.They are now happily settled in their new school hopefully he is too.

[Friedgreentomatos]

I just looked at that school and I then I remembered that case.It is unbelievable that children can be treated like this today.I hope your child is settled at another school.Xx It must have been a very difficult time for you all.

[Carrotcrocpot]

A lot of these schools know what they "should " be doing. Ie have the policy in place. When my DCs school was inspected suddenly masses of staff on duty during free time, loads of supervision, so no bullying for the relevant three days!!. As soon as the inspectors go away, can't see them for dust, back to Lord of the Flies during free time. In this schools case, at least it was picked up on and they will either pull their socks up or it will close. It is unbelievable that schools do get away with it but they do!! its only when, heaven forbid, something tragic happens that everyone is wise after the event.

[FrenchmominLondon]

They are no longer a member of the ISC,I don't know maybe they are expelled if standards fall to low.A second report Ofsted fails.A young boy is beaten and they stand by and do nothing.What kind of people are they,what kind of place is it?You are right Friedgreen if it was a state school it would be closed down.

Do children not tell their parents what they see?What type of parent would pay to stay there?If my school displayed false information on their website regarding exam results,I would believe nothing else they said.How long can parents keep their heads in the sand,when ISI and Ofsted are saying RUN,RUN FOR THE HILLS