Hill House School

Hill House School 17 Hans Place, London SW1X0EP

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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.  This was the school’s second monitoring inspection. The first took place in September 2015 when numerous standards were still not met following the full inspection that took place in December 2014.  The school submitted a second action plan to the Department for Education (DfE), which was judged to require improvement by Ofsted in November 2015. There were insufficient details regarding timescales, responsibilities and resources.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  The purpose of the inspection was to monitor how much progress the school has made in meeting the requirements of the independent school standards relating to the quality of education provided, pupils’ welfare, health and safety, the premises, the quality of leadership

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Context of the inspection

and management and the early years statutory requirements.

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Main findings

 The school has made significant progress since the two previous inspections. Senior leaders and managers have made the improvements necessary to ensure the school now meets all the independent school standards in Parts one, three, five and eight. The statutory requirements for early years provision are also now met.

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Main findings

 The school has a clearly written curriculum policy underpinning the curriculum framework purchased from an external provider in the spring term of 2015. The framework is now in place and has been appropriately adapted to meet the needs of pupils. The two recently appointed directors of studies have ensured that all staff have had the requisite training and development to teach all the different subjects to the required standard.  Senior leaders and subject managers monitor the quality of teaching. Accurate records of lesson observations are used to provide effective feedback to teachers.  Senior leaders have not held back from giving difficult messages to staff who have not been able to improve their practice. As a result, some changes of staff have taken place.  Provision for those children who have special educational needs or disability is now secure. The special needs coordinator is well supported by an external consultant. Consequently, a team of

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Main findings

staff is in place to provide appropriate support for pupils in each of the school’s houses.  The policy and schemes of work for pupils’ personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) are in place throughout the school.  All subjects have schemes of work in place. The curriculum is enhanced by the provision of music, drama, physical education, Latin and French.  The school has worked closely with the local authority’s early years team to ensure that the youngest children are taught the appropriate skills, knowledge and understanding required to Monitoring report: Hill House School, 8 June 2016 2 of 6

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Main findings

meet the different areas of development. Children are making at least expected progress in all areas.  The school has established a framework for assessing pupils’ progress from Year 1 to Year 7. The framework has key ‘assessment points’ in each academic year providing senior leaders with information about whether or not pupils are on track. The information and pupils’ work indicates that their progress matches that expected nationally.  Senior leaders have ensured that teachers’ planning is in line with the schemes of work. The plans provide a long-term overview, termly requirements and detailed weekly plans.  The directors of study monitor teachers’ use of pupils’ progress information to make sure that pupils are given work that matches their needs. Work seen and the school’s assessment information indicates that pupils are covering all the work expected of them.

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 An extensive health and safety review has been carried out. The school has an appropriate policy and set of procedures in place ensuring that the appropriate independent school standards are met. Staff training has ensured that their awareness of health and safety risks is secure. Risk assessments for the different sites and school visits are in place and meet requirements.  Suitable records of the very few incidents of serious misbehaviour are in place. Staff follow these up promptly with parents. The school’s behaviour policy has been well developed to take into account rewarding the positive behaviour of the vast majority of pupils.  The school has made notable improvements which now meet the independent school standards regarding fire safety. These improvements include better signage, commercial checks of fire safety equipment, fire alarm tests and regular fire drills for the pupils and staff.

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 Arrangements for supervising pupils meet requirements. The school has reorganised classes to ensure that the number of pupils is appropriate for the size of the rooms.  Attendance registers are appropriately completed by staff and checked by senior leaders.

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Premises and accommodation

 There are well-advanced plans to provide changing rooms and showering facilities for older pupils following physical education lessons. The facilities are on track to be completed during the summer holidays in 2016. In the meantime, suitable alternative arrangements are in place through the use of facilities at the local swimming pool and leisure centre following sports activities.  Pupils have appropriate access to outdoor play spaces; this is especially the case for the younger pupils. The outdoor provision provides suitable and safe equipment and space.  Early years provision meets the requirements of the early years foundation stage. The indoor and outdoor learning environments and safeguarding arrangements are in line with the statutory requirements for the early years.

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Leadership and management

 The proprietors and senior leaders are ambitious for the school to continue to improve and have made the appropriate changes necessary to meet the independent school standards. Pupils are safe and are making progress. Suitable procedures are in place to hold teachers to account for their work.  An independent consultant was employed on a part-time basis from January 2016 and his advice has been acted on to good effect. A new development plan is in place which meets requirements and is a useful tool for senior leaders to continue to develop the school. Monitoring report: Hill House School, 8 June 2016 3 of 6

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and associated requirements

Monitoring report: Hill House School, 8 June 2016 4 of 6

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Inspection team

John Seal, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Brian Oppenheim Her Majesty’s Inspector Flora Bean Ofsted Inspector

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Information about this school

 Hill House School is an international preparatory school located in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The school was founded in Switzerland in 1949 and opened in London in 1951.  The founding family of the school are the proprietors and also lead and manage the school.  There are four proprietors. One proprietor is the headmaster, and his two sons are also senior leaders. Their mother is the fourth proprietor.  Pupils are taught at four local sites. The main school and administrative offices are in the school’s Hans Place building. The school has an annex in Switzerland which is visited by groups of pupils and staff during the year.  The school provides full-time education for boys and girls aged four to 13 years.  All children attend the Reception classes on a full-time basis. None of them are in receipt of government funding.  There are no pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and

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Information about this school

care plan (EHC).  There are no pupils eligible for free school meals. Monitoring report: Hill House School, 8 June 2016 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 100518 Inspection number 10017551 DfE registration number 207/6188 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 Preparatory School status Independent school Age range of pupils 4–13 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 811 Number of part-time pupils 0 Proprietors Richard, Janet, Edmund and William Townend Headteacher Richard Townend Date of previous school inspection 15 September 2015 Annual fees (day pupils) £10,650–£14,550 Telephone number 020 7584 1331 Email address headmaster@hillhouseschool.co.uk 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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School details

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School details

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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School details

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School details

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School details

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