Sexey's School

Progress monitoring inspection boarding report

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Sexeys School Sexeys School, Cole Road, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0DF

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Context of the inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the progress made to improve the boarding provision at the school. This visit follows an inspection in October 2016, when the boarding provision was judged to be inadequate. This monitoring visit was aligned with an inspection of the education provision.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

At the full inspection in October 2016, serious and widespread safeguarding failings were identified and the boarding provision was judged as inadequate. Following that inspection, leaders and managers provided Ofsted with an action plan detailing how they would seek to address the weaknesses. The actions are being implemented, but some aspects not rapidly enough. In addition, it is too early to evaluate the impact of these actions. This monitoring visit, which aligned with a full inspection of the education provision, identified that senior leaders and managers have focused on strengthening the safeguarding systems and procedures. Progress has been made, but the management of known risks affecting vulnerable pupils has not been assessed rigorously enough by senior leaders. As a result, weaknesses remain in how well pupils are protected. Since the last inspection, the head of the pastoral team has taken on responsibility as

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

the designated safeguarding lead. He has completed the required training to undertake this role. Since his appointment, improvements are emerging in how effectively the school consults with external safeguarding agencies and in the quality of records pertaining to child protection concerns. A missing from home and children missing education policy has now been produced and records of these incidents are recorded centrally. As a result, senior leaders are beginning to have improved oversight of these incidents. At the last inspection, senior leaders were asked by the inspectors to retrospectively report three child protection concerns. To date, one concern has been reported. Urgent action is required to report the remaining two concerns. Weaknesses remain in the effective identification and management of bullying. Although Inspection Report Sexeys School, 19/01/2017–20/01/2017 Page 2 of 7 records of incidents are now centralised, some staff still report incidents of bullying only

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

as poor behaviour. As a result, it remains difficult for senior leaders to understand the prevalence of bullying, to identify patterns and trends or to effectively apply lessons learned from previous incidents. Boarders who are identified as having high-risk needs or are vulnerable, now have a boarding information plan. In addition, some boarders also have individual risk assessments. The quality of information recorded in these plans varies significantly, including omissions of important information about boarders’ needs. As a result, these plans require improvement to ensure that they contain specific information about how staff should support boarders and mitigate the risks. A process to assess the risks that boarders may present to each other when living together has started. However, staff are not using all of the information that they know about boarders to inform these assessments. As a result, they are not yet effective.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Since the last inspection, there have been changes in the nursing team. In the short time since her appointment, the senior nurse has taken action to ensure that medication is securely stored. The nursing team has plans to improve how medication is administered and recorded. Until this action is completed, weaknesses remain. Action has not yet taken place to improve the quality of individual healthcare plans for boarders who need them. Boarding staff have started to have appraisals of their performance and there are plans to provide them with regular supervision. The director of boarding has started to identify the training that boarding staff require to equip them with the skills to meet boarders’ needs.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Older boarders who have responsibility as a prefect for supporting younger boarders now receive regular opportunities to meet with boarding staff and to share any worries or concerns that they have about the prefect role and/or about boarders. The privacy and confidentiality of boarders who visit ‘The Sanctuary’ has improved as a result of removing the closed-circuit television monitoring systems in the room. Boarders now have better opportunities to tell boarding staff about their experiences of boarding and to make suggestions for how they can improve.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

A further full inspection will be undertaken to assess the impact of the improvements made so far, and to evaluate the action taken to remedy the weaknesses in the national minimum standards that are not yet met. Inspection Report Sexeys School, 19/01/2017–20/01/2017 Page 3 of 7

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(residential special) schools

 3.1 The school has, and implements effectively, appropriate policies for the care of boarders who are unwell and ensures that the physical and mental health and emotional well-being of boarders is promoted. These include first aid, care of those with chronic conditions and disabilities, dealing with medical emergencies and the use of household remedies.  3.4 All medication is safely and securely stored, and proper records are kept of its administration. Prescribed medicines are given only to the boarders to whom they are prescribed. Boarders allowed to self-medicate are assessed as sufficiently responsible to do so.  5.1 Suitable sleeping accommodation is provided for boarders. It is well organised and managed, with risk assessments undertaken and findings acted on, to reduce risk for all boarders. Where boarders are aged eight years or over, sleeping accommodation for boys is separate from sleeping accommodation for girls.

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(residential special) schools

 6.3 The school ensures that the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy and that appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.  11.1 The school ensures that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school and that such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  12.1 The school has and consistently implements a written policy to promote good behaviour among pupils. This policy includes: measures to combat bullying, including cyberbullying, and to promote positive behaviour; school rules; disciplinary sanctions; when restraint, including reasonable force, is to be used and how this will be recorded and managed; and arrangements for searching pupils and their possessions.  12.2 The policy complies with relevant legislation and has regard to guidance, and is

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(residential special) schools

understood by staff and pupils.  13.3 The school's leadership and management demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role.  13.4 The school's leadership and management consistently fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the standards are met.  13.8 The records specified in Appendix 2 are maintained and monitored by the school and action taken as appropriate.  13.9 The issues specified in Appendix 3 are monitored, and action is taken to improve outcomes for children as appropriate.  15.1 Any staff member or volunteer employed or volunteering in a position working with boarders has a job description reflecting their duties, receives induction training in boarding when newly appointed and receives regular reviews of their boarding practice, with opportunities for training and continual professional development in Inspection Report Sexeys School, 19/01/2017–20/01/2017 Page 4 of 7

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(residential special) schools

boarding. Inspection Report Sexeys School, 19/01/2017–20/01/2017 Page 5 of 7

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Inspection team

Sharron Escott Lead social care inspector Paula Lahey Social care inspector

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Information about this school

Sexeys School is a mixed gender boarding school in Somerset for boarders aged 11 to 18 years. The school admits pupils from all over the United Kingdom and has a small number of pupils from overseas. It offers both day and termly boarding places. The boarding accommodation is provided in three houses, all of which are located on the school site. The school has the capacity for accommodating 261 boarders. At the time of this monitoring visit, there were 197 boarders. Inspection Report Sexeys School, 19/01/2017–20/01/2017 Page 6 of 7

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School details

Unique reference number 137313 Social care unique reference number SC039847 DfE registration number

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School details

This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for boarding schools.

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School details

The inspection was conducted 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 following the previous inspection.

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School details

Type of school Boarding school Number of boarders on roll 197 Gender of boarders Mixed Age range of boarders 11 to 18 Headteacher Irfan Latif Date of previous boarding inspection 12/10/2016–14/10/2016 Telephone number 01749 813393 Email address headmaster@sexeys.somerset.sch.uk Inspection Report Sexeys School, 19/01/2017–20/01/2017 Page 7 of 7 guidance 'raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.co.uk/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.co.uk/ofsted

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School details

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 and 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.

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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

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