Felixstowe International College

Progress monitoring school report Felixstowe International College Garrison Lane, Felixstowe, IP11 7RF

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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 college has made in implementing its action plan. This is the first monitoring inspection since the school’s full inspection in March 2015. The school received a welfare-only inspection in May 2014, when its overall effectiveness was judged to be adequate.  The Department for Education accepted the school’s action plan on 29 June 2015.  This inspection was conducted without notice.  The principal was abroad at the time of the inspection. Meetings took place with the two vice- principals, groups of pupils and a member of the governing body. The inspector reviewed the school improvement plan, policies and other supporting documentation provided by the school. The inspector also reviewed the school’s records of recruitment checks on staff.

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 In March 2015, the inspection found that the college had not carried out the prohibition of teaching checks on five new teaching staff who started at the college in either September 2014 or January 2015. This information was not recorded on the single central register of recruitment checks on staff. In its action plan, the school indicated that it would carry out the necessary checks to comply with statutory requirements. As a result of implementing its action plan, the college has now completed these checks for all teachers employed at the school.  The previous inspection revealed that the checks on emergency lighting had not been carried out since the last occupants were in the college. Also, there was no evidence that such checks would be carried out routinely in the future. In its action plan, the college indicated that regular checks would take place in line with current requirements. However, although a monthly check

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

took place in April and May 2015, no checks have taken place since, which means that requirements are still not met. This lack of routine and systematic monitoring of the emergency lighting system places the health and safety of the pupils at risk.  The inspection of March 2015 found that leaders had failed to carry out the necessary risk assessments, including a fire risk assessment. Also, the fire alarm system was not fully operational. The college did not have an environmental health certificate for the kitchen where food was being prepared for the pupils’ meals. Hazardous materials were not securely stored. The action plan indicated that leaders would compile a new health and safety policy and conduct risk assessments. In addition, it stated that the fire alarm would be fully serviced, and that fire drills would be conducted regularly, in order to obtain the environmental health certificate. The

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

inspector’s scrutiny of school documentation and his health and safety walk around the school showed that these matters have been addressed. However, the health and safety policy was not being fully implemented due to the lack of routine monitoring of the emergency lighting system.  The previous inspection found that emergency evacuation routes were not clearly signposted. As Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 13 October 2015 2 of 6

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

a result, pupils could access unused parts of the building which were not necessarily safe. In its action plan, leaders indicated that it would display appropriate signage and ensure that ‘out of bounds’ areas would be clearly identified, for pupils. The inspector found that areas not to be used by pupils are cordoned off. Also, clear signage now directs pupils towards the nearest exit, in case of any emergency which requires them to leave the school building.

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Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 The previous inspection found that prohibition from teaching checks on five teachers, who started in either September 2014 or January 2015, had not been carried out. This has now been rectified and checks have been carried out for all teachers appointed since the last inspection.  This inspection found that one governor did not appear on the school’s single central register. Furthermore, despite being given the opportunity to do so, the school could not provide any evidence to show that this person had been subject to the necessary DBS checks. This means that requirements are not met.

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Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 The inspection of March 2015 found that the principal had been absent from the college for much of the year. As a result, the sole vice-principal had to take on too many responsibilities, and was unable to lead the school with sufficient rigour. Hence, some standards relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils and to the suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors, had not been met.  The college has now appointed a second vice-principal with responsibility for teaching, learning and the curriculum. The original vice-principal continues to be responsible for boarding and pastoral arrangements. The leadership and management of teaching in the college has improved since the previous inspection. Leaders have started to consider a wider range of evidence to inform their judgement of the quality of teaching. This includes observations of pupils’ learning; scrutiny of their books; discussions with pupils and an analysis of their

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Quality of leadership in and management of schools

performance. Pupils’ academic targets are also reviewed and updated more regularly. Improvement planning also identifies how standards in written and spoken English are to be improved.  The college’s leaders and governors have addressed some of the weaknesses identified at the time of the previous inspection. However, they have failed to ensure that the single central register is compliant, and that the emergency lighting is checked regularly, to ensure pupils’ safety. Hence, the leaders and governors have not ensured that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

 The proprietor ensures that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the college; and such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraphs 7, 7(a) and 7(b)).  The proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy (paragraph 11).  The proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (paragraph 12).  The proprietor ensures that the welfare of students at the college is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up of a written risk assessment policy, and appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified (paragraphs 16, 16(a) and 16(b)).  The proprietor ensures that the standards about the suitability of staff, supply staff and Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 13 October 2015 3 of 6

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

proprietors are those contained in this Part (paragraph 17).  The proprietor keeps a register which shows such of the information referred to in sub- paragraphs (3) to (7) as is applicable to the school in question (paragraph 21(1)).  The proprietor ensures that the information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation each member of a body of persons named as proprietor appointed on or after 1 st May 2007, whether the checks referred to in paragraph 20(6)(b) were made, the date they were made and the date on which the resulting certificate was obtained (paragraph 21(6)).  The proprietor ensures that the college premises and the accommodation facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured (paragraph 25).  The proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

college demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that independent school standards are met consistently; and actively promote the well-being of students (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)). Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 13 October 2015 4 of 6

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Inspection team

John Daniell, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Felixstowe International College is an independent day and boarding school. The college moved to new accommodation in Garrison Lane, Felixstowe in January 2015. The boarding accommodation remains at the school’s previous site, in Maybush Lane.  The college opened in 1995 and is registered for 32 boys and girls aged nine to 19 years. Almost all students are boarders.  There are no disabled pupils or pupils with special educational needs. All pupils are learning English as an additional language.  The college does not make use of any off-site training.  The college’s values are based on the Christian faith, although pupils from other faiths and backgrounds are welcome. The college seeks to ‘enable students to become fluent in English; to become familiar with English independent education and to give students the experience of living in a boarding community with a family atmosphere’.  The college received a full inspection in March 2015, when its overall effectiveness was judged

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Information about this school

to be inadequate. A material change inspection took place alongside this progress monitoring inspection, as college leaders wished to increase the number of boarding students to 48. The outcome of this request is to be reported separately. Monitoring report: Felixstowe International College, 13 October 2015 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 124899 Inspection number 10007112 DfE registration number 935/6076 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008.

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School details

Type of school Independent School status Independent boarding school Age range of pupils 10–19 Gender of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 54

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form

Number of part-time pupils 0 Number of boarders on roll 49 Proprietor Yong Ho Kim Chair n/a Headteacher Seung Jin Kim Date of previous school inspection 3–5 March 2015 Annual fees (day pupils) £15,000 Annual fees (boarders) £22,500 Telephone number 01394 282388 Email address fic-uk@hotmail.com guidance 'Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . 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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