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

[Perhapsperhapsto]

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???

If anything, given the levels of abuse in church schools over the years, and the protection of pedophiles within the Catholic Church, you’d think they’d be keen to prove they do care about the welfare of the children. Not have the same issues years after they were first raised, and clearly be trying to disguise the lack of safeguarding

Precisely, OP, which is what makes it such a huge red flag for me

We all get it wrong at times and paperwork/record keeping is a pain, but when something like this is raised you don't let it drift for years; you make sure it's right - or at least you do if you consider it an issue which matters

Perhaps the explanation is the simplest one. The reason that this school
has done nothing in 3 years to make the changes required is because they do not prioritise child safety and there is a case to answer.

I think it's a parent company that makes their money from buying up old schools, rather than anything to do with faith - other schools in the group include Anglican ones. And there's no mention of any active Trustees or Directors with even the slightest religious designation.

It's quite common for schools that were founded by religious orders to now be snapped up because there aren't many Women (or Men) Religious around to take an active part in Trusteeship anymore.

It's quite common for schools that were founded by religious orders to now be snapped up because there aren't many Women (or Men) Religious around to take an active part in Trusteeship anymore

This is true, but it does still say on the Independent Schools' Directory that its affiliation is catholic

https://www.ukindependentschoolsdirectory.co.uk/listing/beechwood-sacred-heart-school/

If it gets bad then they do - Ampleforth was ordered by the education secretary to stop accepting new students in 2020
oger safeguarding breaches https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ampleforth-college-ordered-to-stop-admitting-new-pupils-over-safeguarding-failures/

The lado person at the local authority should be informed

What’s ‘lado’. ??

Local Authority Designated Officer, OP ... here you go:

https://national-lado-network.co.uk/the-role-of-the-lado-local-authority-designated-officer/

Ah,ok thanks

This thread has been enlightening! I’ve checked and another ISI inspection and report was conducted in October 2023 - they didn’t meet the requirements again