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Epsom College Failed Inspection

23 replies

DownsWalker · 12/10/2022 21:39

Have DD signed up for the applications process this year and love the school but slightly terrified that they seem to have just failed an inspection for concerns about bullying and behaviour... Does anyone have and more info on this?

OP posts:
maskersanonymous · 12/10/2022 21:42

Did you hear this from someone at the school? A friend's child attends and did say she thought it suited a 'robust' child and I did wonder if that meant there were bullying issues.

DownsWalker · 12/10/2022 21:45

Heard it from a friend with a child there and had a nosey around on their website where there's a report about it - apparently it was last year so change of head might be a good thing!

OP posts:
Seemsok · 12/10/2022 21:48

Have NC because I don’t want to be identified.
My daughter friend was at Epsom and staying overnight , her younger sister there .
They are out at the moment. Shall have a chat tomorrow morning and ask what her thoughts are about the school .

hockeygrass · 12/10/2022 22:05

The ISI report is from last year and the school now has a new head. I would be more concerned about the extortionate fees, it is so much more expensive than other Surrey day schools and attracts wealthy parents - not that that is related to the ISI report "issues".

FamSender · 12/10/2022 22:13

It's just won Independent School of the year 2022 (!!)

hockeygrass · 12/10/2022 22:21

FamSender · 12/10/2022 22:13

It's just won Independent School of the year 2022 (!!)

Just shows how little regard is given to ISI reports!

1forward2back · 14/10/2022 06:45

Crazy that the process for those awards doesn’t seem to involve any actual checking or visits to the school! I just read the report and would be too concerned to consider it for DD now. We have one at a local girls private school which we love but younger Dd wants co-Ed. The report is quite damning and a new head will take time to sort it out if bullying and lack of wellbeing is in the culture. oP - there are loads of other local options.

swgeek · 14/10/2022 10:04

Have a DD at the school, chose it for its pastoral care and we are very happy with it. My understanding is that inspectors took issue with some older students' comments that were deemed intolerant towards "protected groups". I don't know what they said, but in this day and age I would not be surprised if a student saying "boys can't become girls" or something similar would be deemed offensive or intolerant.

Either way, inspections are important for all schools and I am sure they will overhaul their procedures that were deemed insufficient. As a parent, I have been very impressed with all aspects of the school, particularly their professionalism and pastoral care so far.

Digimoor · 14/10/2022 12:34

www.isi.net/school/epsom-college-6437

the report is here under Regulatory Compliance 2021

BleuNoir · 14/10/2022 12:41

For anyone who can't be bothered to click on the link and filter:

2.13 The recording of information relating to pupils’ behaviour is not categorised clearly enough to indicate all instances of bullying, sexual harassment, sexual violence and peer-on-peer abuse, particularly those linked to the protected characteristics. This has resulted in those with particular safeguarding responsibilities not receiving information about pupils which is necessary for the effective implementation of the school’s safeguarding policy and procedures. The school’s behaviour and antibullying policies detail high expectations of behaviour linked to clear rewards and sanctions, but implementation of these is currently not fully effective. The behaviour of a small minority of pupils demonstrates a lack respect towards others, in particular those with protected characteristics. This is evident through their use of offensive comments and actions that include bullying, sexual harassment and racism.

2.14 The standards relating to health and safety, fire prevention, first aid, supervision, pupil registration, and risk assessment in paragraphs 11 to 16 and NMS 2–4, 6–10, 15 and 16, the requirement of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 (accessibility plan), and the ban on corporal punishment under section 548 of the Education Act 1996 are met, but those in paragraphs 7 [safeguarding] and 8 [safeguarding of boarders], 9 [behaviour], 10 [measures to prevent bullying] and NMS 11 and 12 are not met.

Action point 1 The school must ensure that behavioural incidents which impact on safeguarding are categorised, recorded as such and managed in accordance with statutory guidance, including those relating to peer-on-peer abuse; sexual harassment and sexual violence; and abusive behaviour towards those with protected characteristics [paragraphs 7(a) and (b), 8(a) and (b); NMS 11.1].

Action point 2 The school must ensure that there is effective overview and monitoring by leaders and governors of all safeguarding incidents, in particular those relating to inappropriate or sexualised behaviour, to ensure timely and appropriate action is taken in response [paragraphs 7(a) and (b), 8(a) and (b); NMS 11.1].

Action point 3 The school must ensure that its written behaviour and anti-bullying policies are implemented effectively enough to improve the behaviour of the small minority of pupils who demonstrate a lack of respect towards those with protected characteristics [paragraphs 9(b) and 10; NMS 11.1, 12.1 and 12.2].

Action point 4 The school must monitor the effectiveness of safeguarding training in order to ensure that all staff understand and implement consistently the requirements of current statutory guidance relating to safeguarding [paragraphs 7(a) and (b), 8(a) and (b); NMS 11.1].

TizerorFizz · 14/10/2022 15:18

Those actions required show a school that has a policy but insufficient mechanisms to monitor them or act on them. It therefore fails Dc. It doesn’t know if the policies work or not. It must ensure all staff and pupils understand the policies snd ensure policies actually work and safeguard Dc. No point in having them otherwise!

omnishambles · 14/10/2022 16:05

plus ca change

XelaM · 14/10/2022 21:00

swgeek · 14/10/2022 10:04

Have a DD at the school, chose it for its pastoral care and we are very happy with it. My understanding is that inspectors took issue with some older students' comments that were deemed intolerant towards "protected groups". I don't know what they said, but in this day and age I would not be surprised if a student saying "boys can't become girls" or something similar would be deemed offensive or intolerant.

Either way, inspections are important for all schools and I am sure they will overhaul their procedures that were deemed insufficient. As a parent, I have been very impressed with all aspects of the school, particularly their professionalism and pastoral care so far.

"Protected characteristics" could be race not just gender and sounds in the report like there might be issues with racism and sexual harassment?

TizerorFizz · 14/10/2022 22:44

It’s not just one comment! It’s about recording and acting on safeguarding information. It’d this was a state school it would be inadequate. It would appear their safeguarding policy wasn’t up to date. Let alone being implemented. The report lists the concerns. It’s more than one pupil making one comment!

TizerorFizz · 14/10/2022 22:45

New head should have sorted this out now. It was very lax though.

diar · 15/10/2022 07:21

There have been a few big name schools which have failed their ISI recently. I think that since the Me Too movement in particular there has been a real shift in the inspection focus. Incidentally, it's not just the private sector - Ofsted is the same. We've had swathes of state schools near us drop from Outstanding to Good recently, and one very highly regarded school went straight from Outstanding to RI because of similar concerns. Of course, I'm not saying that this type of scrutiny isn't important, but I do think it's very hard for parents to meaningfully use these reports to distinguish between schools when they're not all inspected at the same time and under the same framework.

TizerorFizz · 15/10/2022 15:49

@diar
Ofsted used to automatically downgrade to RI or even Inadequate for schools that failed to follow robust safeguarding procedures. There’s so much training available it’s often an attitude issue. ISI have been a pushover in comparison. They seemed to have the “nothing to see here” attitude and looked at policies but not implementation of policies.

diar · 15/10/2022 20:02

Yes, but I feel that might be changing.

Berrylina · 15/10/2022 21:01

How did they win Independent School Of the year? Were the bullying, sexual harrasment, racism and safeguarding concerns overlooked and why?

Is there anyone with a child at the school? I imagine the head is taking it seriously. Does anyone know what they are doing to correct these issues?

CJFJ1 · 15/10/2022 21:38

diar · 15/10/2022 07:21

There have been a few big name schools which have failed their ISI recently. I think that since the Me Too movement in particular there has been a real shift in the inspection focus. Incidentally, it's not just the private sector - Ofsted is the same. We've had swathes of state schools near us drop from Outstanding to Good recently, and one very highly regarded school went straight from Outstanding to RI because of similar concerns. Of course, I'm not saying that this type of scrutiny isn't important, but I do think it's very hard for parents to meaningfully use these reports to distinguish between schools when they're not all inspected at the same time and under the same framework.

Yes, Francis Holland Sloane Square is another independent school that has failed their ISI compliance inspection in the last year - which is very surprising given its pastoral care is generally well regarded.

TizerorFizz · 16/10/2022 09:17

@CJFJ1
It depends who is judging a reputation for pastoral care. That’s a very subjective judgement and it’s usually made by parents who don’t see the whole picture. Just their experience. ISI and Ofsted should look at all
policies, and if they are effective, and also that legal requirements are adhered to.

@diar
I agree that ISI needs to change. Hopefully the legal requirements are now inspected properly.

Rogation · 26/01/2023 17:12

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CiaoParent · 20/04/2025 08:06

from experience the ISI inspections are an utter waste of time and the whole system needs changing. They gave MSM College a ‘pass’ on its leadership then then Head was suspended and sacked. Im told the ISI knew exactly what was going on when they inspected. Check with kids and parents and local knowledge as much as possible instead

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