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Original poster

To think the local Authority should do something about schoolsLike these?

60 replies

Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 14:46

Friend has discovered that the private school her DS was supposed to go to on a sports ‘scholarship has massive safeguarding issues around the teachers they hire.
Not checking there are allowed to teach kids at all for starters.
The report they have on their website is from 5!years ago when all was okay, different head, different owners.

But 3 reports in the last 3 years have all said the same thing - about welfare, safeguarding, leadership etc. And nothing’s been done.

it’s a private,
part boarding, school - at what point do the local authorities step in to say - kids aren’t safe here because the school
refuse to do basic DBS checks etc???

OP posts:
BlueShoeTwo · 04/09/2023 15:37

OP the reports don’t say they haven’t been checking the barring list. They refer to a lack of evidence, lack of dates when done, only checking after appointment. I’m not saying that’s good, but it’s not the same as staff being employed who are on the barring list (which would be an immediate safeguarding issue).

If I was a parent I would be probably more concerned that they were not able to put in what should be fairly basic systems and checks,

I note the school was bought by Alpha Holdings in 2021. I don’t know the school but these groups often go for schools which were struggling. They were often run by families/religious orders and there is often a lack of modern leadership and recognition of the need for robust processes and systems. Really till 2022 covid was causing major problems for all schools and so it may be they are actively implementing processes. If they have concerns why not speak to the head?

You seem very angry about this OP “for a friend”, is this in fact your child? Are you unhappy with the school and trying to get out of a notice period, argue to recover fees? If that’s the case fine, but the DofE are not going to jump in and shut down this school over this ISI report.

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 15:32

The whole thing makes me queasy. Not sure what I would do if I found this out a couple of days before term started, when I thought D.C. was getting a scholarshiP to a great school.

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 04/09/2023 15:27

Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:24

I tried to link the report but the website puts my real name on the link for some reason

I saw it before the post was removed. It's because you linked to your hard drive, not to the website.

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 15:26

‘What do you mean “not allowed to teach kids”?

The report says they haven't checked the barred register. It is a register of people who are not allowed to teach, sex offenders and the like.’

This. You’charge £18-£30k a year in fees per pupil but no-one has the time to check the new guy, who’s been teaching overseas for a few years ISN’T barred from being around children???

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:24

I tried to link the report but the website puts my real name on the link for some reason

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 15:24

‘Most independent schools are desperate to pass and so will put in changes and actively invite ISI in. ‘

I’d be surprised if they ARE inviting them in given they haven’t actually made any of the changes they were told to make since 2021…

DBS exists for a reason. Safeguarding exists for a reason. Schools or people who try to fudge or avoid these rules and checks do so for a reason.
Normal people, coaches, schools, staff with nothing to hide embrace the checks that are in place.

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/09/2023 15:23

Go to the independent school inspectorate website and look up Beechwood School, Kent
Its 2018 was okay but after that…

Many thanks, OP - will have a look

Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:22

Greyfoot · 04/09/2023 15:21

TBF it doesn't say they're not doing the checks only that some staff haven't been checked, which could be something like the usual person was off for a while and they got missed. Still very poor but not necessarily quite as bad as OP wants to paint it.

IME of state schools Ofsted do a spot check of maybe three staff files. If one of those isn't right the finding with be "some" staff.

If it merely said that in the 2021 report I could agree. But the two short inspections in subsequent years says that some staff have STILL not been checked.

Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:21

What do you mean “not allowed to teach kids”?

The report says they haven't checked the barred register. It is a register of people who are not allowed to teach, sex offenders and the like.

Greyfoot · 04/09/2023 15:21

TBF it doesn't say they're not doing the checks only that some staff haven't been checked, which could be something like the usual person was off for a while and they got missed. Still very poor but not necessarily quite as bad as OP wants to paint it.

IME of state schools Ofsted do a spot check of maybe three staff files. If one of those isn't right the finding with be "some" staff.

Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:19

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

BlueShoeTwo · 04/09/2023 15:19

What do you mean “not allowed to teach kids”?

Does not have a teaching qualification? You don’t have to in the private sector or state academies. I would say it is becoming less and less common that private schools don’t insist on a teaching qualification and I know there are now ways of “teachers” with loads of experience getting formal qualified but not having to do a pgce.

A lot of prep schools have gap year students working as teachers, particularly in PE as it ensures higher staff to pupil ratios. Means you can have more teams (which can also help kids who maybe struggle with sport, they are still in a sports team even if it’s the Es).

DBS has a bar on working with children. Massive safeguarding issue. ISI would fail them and report to OFSTED (and probably social services and police). OFSTED reports to Department of Education. Department can shut down schools and prosecute if they try to reopen.

As others have said the fact ISI have gone in every year for 3 years is concerning (they do go back if they fail the next year). Most independent schools are desperate to pass and so will put in changes and actively invite ISI in.

As others have also said Often it’s poor systems (so you may for example have staff who were employed and they brought a recent DBS, but schools can’t rely on this they have to do their own DBS (to ensure up to date etc) and so while there is no known risk (someone working who shouldn’t be), there is a risk because of poor systems in future they can’t).

Ultimately if your friend is unhappy pull the kid out.

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 15:19

@Puzzledandpissedoff
Go to the independent school
inspectorate website and look up Beechwood School, Kent.
its 2018 was okay but after that…

TBH as a parent I would rather a school
Was having issues over curriculum or exam
results that the safe hiring of staff. Particularly if my kid was boarding.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:18

I have to say, I've done some digging and OP is right here. The school are being very, very sneaky. Putting an ISI inspection report on their website when the last full report was done in 2021 after the appointment of the new headmaster and under the new owners, is very very sneaky. Plus the couple of compliance short reports done since then as well.

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 15:16

‘Are you saying that you believe the teachers don’t have a teaching qualification?’

no, there are many, many things called out around welfare and safeguarding - private schools don’t need to hire qualified staff I know that. weird though it seems,
sometimes the right accent is enough to get you a teaching post.

The school it seems are not even doing basic DBS checks or criminal record checks or background checks on many staff, not keeping records, not checking that the backgrounds or references staff claim they have are genuine. Even as a volunteer in a schooL library, supervised at all times, I still completed an enhance DBS.

there’s other stuff too. But this allowing anyone who looks or sounds right into the school without checks is very worrying. They run a sports academy too there, All of which can leave kids very vulnerable if not managed safely.

whonmnows, perhaps OFSTED are aware. The school are hardly going to advertise their failings when they don’t have to.
As shown by the fact they have an old okay report on their homepage, not any of the ones from the last few years highlighting leadership and safeguarding issues

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:14

I do wonder, however, just how many chances this school is going to get. Most get about a year in order to comply. This has been going on since 2021.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/09/2023 15:14

Any chance pof a link to the school so we can read for ourselves what the reports have said in full?

TheMousePipes · 04/09/2023 15:13

I confess I did a bit of an eye roll when I read your opening post. Then I went and read their isi reports. Fuck me, it’s not rocket science to meet safeguarding responsibilities, particularly the barred register.

Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:11

They are being monitored then. The inspectors have set them a target and are going in often to check on their compliance.

However I can see from the latest report that they are not doing very well so far. Not checking the barred from working with children list for staff is basic.

They will have been given a timescale to comply and if they don't get a move on they will be closed down.

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 15:06

‘What were the concerns of the ISI?’

Too many to mention, leadership inadequate all round but below is a snippet re hiring staff.

Its Beechwood School, Tunbridge. The reports are all public, so I’m not saying anything that’s not already out there for anyone to read.

’The school has not undertaken all the required checks to ensure suitability of staff before the start work in the school. Criminal background checks, checks against the list of those prohibited from teaching, and checks of identity, medical fitness, and qualifications HAVE NOT BEEN completed’

OP posts:
Bluevelvetsofa · 04/09/2023 15:05

Are you saying that you believe the teachers don’t have a teaching qualification? Private schools and academies, as far as I know, don’t have to employ qualified teaching staff.

greenspaces4peace · 04/09/2023 15:04

I guess it depends if it’s a pencil ticking issue, such as DBS check from a different country. Or DBS check needed to enter their field therefore redundant to double check. Or simply the hiring of family.
Hill House in London had some terrible PR a while back regarding fire alarms and doors which on paper sounded dreadful but in the end was not so bad and twisted to make it sound worse.

Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:03

Mind you I'm going to be very interested in the panorama programme on later this month. Some of the things I now now about the things that went on..........

CareBears48 · 04/09/2023 15:02

I think there is some possibility of official agencies stepping in where there are safeguarding concerns. I know of one private school where this was done. The head was dismissed and it was all over the local papers.

I think it’s more of a role for the safeguarding / children’s services team though, rather than the education team.

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 15:02

Who reports? The ISI?

My kids don’t go to the school, they’re state school. But the reports are there to be found for any member of public who digs enough.

school itself has a report 5 years old in there, they know there’s something to hide

OP posts: