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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:
Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:01

3 reports in as many years indicates that the school is being carefully monitored.

Greyfoot · 04/09/2023 15:01

The LA have no jurisdiction over private schools but OFSTED do. If you have concerns you should report to them.

Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 15:00

fiftyval · 04/09/2023 14:50

Local authorities are not responsible for private schools.

Not totally true. The LADO is responsible and OFSTED are responsible even for ISI inspected schools. In the cases I know of a parent whistleblew and inspectors went in with no notice. In another case the ISI reported the school to OFSTED.

Senior management staff left suddenly.

ThreeFeetTall · 04/09/2023 14:59

I think you can report to Ofsted still?

Araminta34 · 04/09/2023 14:59

Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 14:56

ISI has now made 3 pretty damning reports in a row, each year, but if you Google the school you wouldn’t know it. It’s all quotes from parent stating what a lovely, nurturing small school it is.

What were the concerns of the ISI?

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 14:56

ISI has now made 3 pretty damning reports in a row, each year, but if you Google the school you wouldn’t know it. It’s all quotes from parent stating what a lovely, nurturing small school it is.

OP posts:
Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 14:55

@fiftyval but at a certain point? Private schools are a business, it’s in their interest to keep quiet and take then money, so who is there to protect vulnerable children then? Who decides to close a school based on this kind of thing, or does someone have to actually get caught abusing
A child 1st? Then parents don’t send the kids, then they run out of money then close?

if that’s the case it’s a really shit system.

OP posts:
fiftyval · 04/09/2023 14:50

Local authorities are not responsible for private schools.

Comefromaway · 04/09/2023 14:50

I have some knowledge of this kind of school as my daughter went to a ballet school.

Private schools are not exempt from these checks. Even if they are a school that is inspected by the ISI if serious safeguarding failures are found OFSTED go in and can close down a school. I know a couple of schools that were put on a warning notice (not the official name) and told unless immediate changes were made they would be shut down. DBS checks are one such red flag.

If someone reports them emergency inspections can be made.

Original poster
Perhapsperhapsto · 04/09/2023 14:49

Do private schools just have free rein then?

OP posts: