St Michael's School

Progress monitoring school report St Michael’s School Harts Lane, Burghclere, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 9JW

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Context of the inspection

This inspection was undertaken at the request of the registration authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan. The last inspection of the school was an emergency inspection undertaken in June 2013 at the request of the Department for Education, to check the school’s compliance with the independent school regulations for promoting good behaviour, the prevention of bullying, the implementation of the school’s complaints procedures, and the arrangements for ensuring that balanced views are presented in teaching. It was found that the regulations relating to the need to ensure balanced views in teaching were not met. An action plan was submitted by the school and evaluated as satisfactory in September 2013.

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Spiritual moral, social and cultural development of pupils

At the time of the emergency inspection, the headteacher was unaware of the regulations regarding the promotion of partisan political views in teaching. Reference to this in subject documentation, policies and training or guidance for teachers was absent. This issue has now been appropriately addressed. Curriculum policies have been amended in line with the action plan and teachers have been made aware of the changes through the staff training that took place in September 2013. The school’s approach to training requires all teachers to commit their adherence to its policies in writing. Evidence from lesson plans, conversations with teachers and pupils reflect teachers’ awareness and understanding of this requirement. The school’s new policies reflect the Secretary of State’s guidance and are being implemented effectively. The regulation is now met.

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Spiritual moral, social and cultural development of pupils

At the time of the emergency inspection, no training or guidance had been provided for teachers on ensuring that where political views arise in teaching, pupils receive a balanced presentation of opposing views. This issue has now been addressed in accordance with the action plan. The training that took place in September 2013 provided explicit guidance on how to address such issues, within school or in the context of an educational visit.

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Spiritual moral, social and cultural development of pupils

Policies on trips and excursions for day pupils and boarders have also been appropriately updated and teachers are clear that if they are at all in doubt on this matter they should seek further support from the headteacher. Discussions with teachers, scrutiny of their records and visits to lessons indicate that teachers adhere to these new policies. In general, the school does not engage in the distribution of promotional material to pupils. However, any such material available to pupils is subject to the personal approval of the headteacher who ensures it is suitable and does not promote partisan or extremist views. Actions identified within the action plan are being appropriately implemented and the regulation is now met. Monitoring report: St Michael’s School, 4 December 2013 2 of 5

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The school has made good progress and now meets all regulatory requirements

Monitoring report: St Michael’s School, 4 December 2013 3 of 5

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Inspection team

Lesley Farmer, Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Helen Griffiths Additional Inspector

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Information about this school

 St Michael’s School is located in Burghclere, near Newbury. The school is registered for pupils aged from four to 18 years. It opened in 1991 in order to meet the needs and demands of the followers of the Society of St Pius X. The school is a registered charitable trust and its goals reflect those of the Catholic Society to which it belongs, namely the preservation and continuation of the Catholic faith and tradition. The school aims to instil in its pupils knowledge, virtue and a sense of responsibility.  There are currently 77 boys and girls on roll, of whom 34 boys are boarders. There are five children in Reception in the Early Years Foundation Stage, none of whom are receiving government nursery funding. There are no pupils with a statement of special educational needs.  Accommodation for boarders is in a purpose-built boarding house on the school campus. Fourteen boarders are from overseas. All the overseas pupils speak English as

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Information about this school

an additional language, with varying degrees of fluency.  The school was last fully inspected by Ofsted in October 2011 in an integrated inspection of education and boarding provision. An integrated monitoring inspection visit to check the progress the school had made in implementing its action plan took place in May 2012. This found that the school had made good progress and met all the regulatory requirements applicable at that time.  An emergency inspection conducted in June 2013 found that the school had not addressed the latest regulations regarding the promotion of partisan political views in the school, or the requirement to ensure that where political issues are brought to the attention of the pupils, reasonably practicable steps are taken to offer a balanced presentation of opposing views to pupils. Monitoring report: St Michael’s School, 4 December 2013 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 116594 Inspection number 432666 DfE registration number 850/6062 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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School details

Type of school Independent School status Roman Catholic day and boarding school Age range of pupils 4–18 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 74 Number of part time pupils 0 Number of boarders on roll 34 Proprietor Society of St Pius X Chair Fr Paul Morgan Headteacher Fr Patrick Summers Date of previous school inspection 19 October 2011 Annual fees (day pupils) £6,165–£6,300 Annual fees (boarders) £7,815–£7,950 Telephone number 01635 278137 Fax number 01635 278601 Email address fathersummers@gmail.com Monitoring report: St Michael’s School, 4 December 2013 5 of 5

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School details

guidance 'Complaining about inspections', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 , or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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