Felixstowe International College

Progress monitoring school report Felixstowe International College Maybush Lane, Felixstowe, IP11 7NA

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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 revised action plan following a material change inspection in April 2013. A full inspection of accommodation took place at the same time as this inspection but the events were not integrated. This was an education-only monitoring inspection. The welfare-only report will be published separately. In April 2013, an education inspector and a social care inspector made a joint visit at the request of the Department of Education in response to the college’s proposals to increase the number of pupils and boarders from 32 to 45 and extend the age range of pupils and boarders from 9 to 18 years to 9 to 19 years. The college’s plans were found to be, in principle, feasible. However, significant amendments were required to the education plans.

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Context of the inspection

They needed to be progressed further in order that the likelihood of compliance with requirements could be assessed. The college revised its action plan which was evaluated and accepted by Ofsted in August 2013. It was judged to be satisfactory subject to further clarification of the college’s intentions and planned provision. Further information from the school was evaluated and accepted by Ofsted on 23 December 2013. Subsequently, the college received confirmation from the Department for Education that it could increase the age range to 19 years but it could not extend the number on roll to 45 students.

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Standards in Part 1 – curriculum, teaching and assessment

The college’s plan to extend the age range and introduce AS-level and A-level courses from September 2013 was accepted with a recommendation that implementation was seen at a further visit. The college has made good progress on implementing its action plan to extend the age range from 9 to 18 years to 9 to 19 years. The first group of four Year 12 students are studying AS-level mathematics, further mathematics, history and economics. An examination board has been selected and students are due to take their first examinations this month. All courses are supported with comprehensive schemes of work which are implemented and being followed. Resources to support learning have been carefully selected taking into account students’ learning needs as learners who speak English as an additional language. Objectives for each topic feature in teachers’ planning for individual lessons. Assessment is frequent. Students are encouraged to self-assess

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Standards in Part 1 – curriculum, teaching and assessment

during lessons and have the option to request extra tuition in the topics they find most difficult. Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 8–9 May 2014 2 of 6

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Standards in Part 2 – spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

The action plan did not contain details of necessary revisions to the policy for personal, social, health and economics (PSHEC) education. It was recommended that these were checked at a further visit to evaluate their suitability for sixth formers. The college’s ethos encourages students to grow and flourish as confident individuals. Opportunities for the post-16 group to self-assess and engage in extra-curricular and community activities are plentiful. Students are self-motivated and aspire to achieve highly. They expect to acquire university places, for example, and work hard to achieve this. The college has updated its policy for PSHEC to include relevant topics for sixth formers such as personal issues relating to entrance to university. Even so, there is insufficient detail for each topic. Teaching of the subject is further constrained by the recent departure of the teacher who was responsible for the subject and coverage is currently patchy as a consequence. The

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Standards in Part 2 – spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

college is seeking to recruit a new teacher as soon as possible. Students in the sixth form have access to suitable guidance through the sixth form handbook which covers many aspects of PSHEC, including the school’s anti-bullying policy and advice on e-safety. Students showed a good understanding of these issues during the inspection.

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Standards in Part 3 – welfare, health and safety of pupils

The action plan did not contain details of revisions to the behaviour policy for sixth form students. The behaviour policy is appropriate and fit for purpose for students of all ages. Expectations for sixth formers are explicit in the sixth form handbook. There is no mention of relaxing the rules for sixth formers in the policy. Students behave very well.

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Standards in Part 4 – suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

The college’s proposals included reference to the required checks being made on new staff. All new staff have been checked and vetted suitably. Details are transferred in full on to the single central register. Arrangements for the safe recruitment of staff meet the Department for Education’s requirements.

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Standards in Part 5 – premises of and accommodation at the school

The proposals included plans for additional accommodation to increase the number on roll from 32 to 45. It was recommended that a further visit be made to the school so that clarification can be given and compliance checked at first hand. Premises for teaching and learning are suitable for the current number on roll. However, classrooms are small and the age range has now been increased to 19 years. Sixth form students are young adults and more than seven in a classroom plus a teacher would not be viable. The current Year 10 cohort is 11 in number and they cannot be taught together as a group in the general classrooms: they learn in the common room. Furniture is suitable for study. Nonetheless, the same students use this room in the evening for leisure activities and therefore they do not have a different space to relax in. The medical room has facilities for students to lie down if they are unwell. A toilet is not

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Standards in Part 5 – premises of and accommodation at the school

close by. However, the college arranges for students to use their bedrooms under supervision and isolate a toilet for their sole use. Day students are sent home. The college is actively seeking to rent another building in the locality for the sole purpose of education to leaving the current building for accommodation use only. The Deputy Principal agrees that the request for a material change to increase the number of students on roll cannot be recommended until new premises are acquired. The college’s plans for this increase are on hold while options for alternative premises are being Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 8–9 May 2014 3 of 6

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Standards in Part 6 – provision of information

No specific proposals were made in the action plan. It was recommended that information for parents should be updated to include sixth form provision and this should be checked on the next visit to the college. Information for parents meets the standards fully in Part 6. It has been updated to include sixth form information.

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

Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 8–9 May 2014 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Linda Killman , Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Felixstowe International College (FIC) is an independent school for day students and boarders located near the centre of Felixstowe. It was established in 1995 and currently caters for up to 32 students aged nine to 19 years. Most are placed there by families from other countries.  Students attend to learn English and many stay on to undertake GCSE, AS-level and A-level courses to prepare them if they wish to continue at British schools or universities following their time at Felixstowe.  All students speak English as an additional language, most are Korean and none has a statement of special educational needs.  The college’s values are based on the Christian faith, although students from other nationalities and religions are welcomed.  The college states that its aims are ‘to enable pupils to become fluent in English; to become familiar with English independent education; and to give students the

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Information about this school

experience of living in a boarding community which has a family atmosphere’.  The last full inspection of education took place in December 2011 with a follow up monitoring inspection in June 2012. A material change inspection was made in April 2013 by education and social care inspectors. Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 8–9 May 2014 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 124899 Inspection number 433717 DfE registration number 935/6076 Type of school Independent school School status Independent boarding school Age range of pupils 9–19 years Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 26 Number of part time pupils 0 Number of boarders on roll 24 Proprietor Dr Yong Ho Kim Chair Doreen Savage Headteacher Seung Jin Kim Date of previous school inspection 1 December 2011 Annual fees (day pupils) £15,000 Annual fees (boarders) £22,500 Telephone number 01394 282388 Fax number N/A Email address fic-uk@hotmail.com Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 8–9 May 2014 6 of 6

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille,

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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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