Hall School Wimbledon

Hall School Wimbledon Stroud Crescent, Putney Vale SW15 3EQ and 17 The Downs, Wimbledon SE20 8HF

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  The school’s safeguarding policy meets the requirements of the independent school standards and refers to the latest statutory guidance. However, it is not implemented effectively.  Staff, including designated safeguarding leaders, have completed appropriate safeguarding training, including in relation to the ‘Prevent’ duty. However, leaders have not followed this up with refresher training, or checked staff members’ understanding of the statutory guidance or the school’s own policy and procedures.  Staff, including designated safeguarding leaders, have an inconsistent understanding of the school’s procedure for managing concerns or allegations against senior leaders. The school’s most senior leaders include the proprietor, who is also the school’s headteacher (known as the headmaster) and his brother, who fulfils the role of principal and designated safeguarding lead. While there is

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Main inspection findings

guidance in an annex of the school’s safeguarding policy, staff have not read or remembered it. This is exacerbated by the staff code of conduct which demands loyalty to the headmaster and says ‘staff should say nothing that criticises or implies criticism of the headmaster’. Staff spoken to had not read or remembered this section of their code of conduct. This presents an additional risk in potentially preventing staff feeling confident about referring a concern.  Staff, including designated safeguarding leaders, have an inconsistent understanding of the school’s procedure for photographing pupils. The school has a clear policy on staff members’ use of mobile phones and most staff spoken to said they would not use a personal mobile phone to photograph pupils. However, leaders said that it is acceptable if the images are then deleted. This does not reflect the school’s written guidance, is not clearly understood by staff and presents

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Main inspection findings

unnecessary risk in potentially allowing the photography of pupils using personal devices.  The requirements of this paragraph are not met. Paragraph 10  The school’s anti-bullying policy meets the requirements of the independent school standards and is implemented effectively. Pupils and staff consistently told inspectors that bullying is very rare and dealt with quickly and robustly when incidents arise. Leaders ensure that incidents of bullying are appropriately logged, including any actions taken.  The requirements of this paragraph are met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The school’s risk assessment policy meets the requirements of the independent school standards and is implemented effectively. A range of risk assessments are undertaken to appropriately consider and reduce identified risks. These include risk assessments of residential trips, physical education at local sports centres, daily activity on the school’s premises and individual trips, such as visiting the theatre or an art gallery. While the format and quality of risk assessments vary, the school is taking consistently appropriate action to reduce risks.  The requirements of this paragraph are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  The school’s leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards are met, including standards related to the well-being of pupils.  The school does not meet the standards in this part.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

 Ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school, ensuring that such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)).  Ensure that those with leadership and management responsibilities demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)).

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school's suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £12,501–£16,539

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 21–22 November 2012

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Information about this school

 Hall School Wimbledon is an independent day school for up to 600 boys and girls aged four to 16.  The school is located on two separate sites for primary and secondary pupils in the London boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth.  The school’s sole proprietor is also the school’s headteacher.  The school was last inspected in January 2015, when an emergency inspection identified unmet standards in relation to safeguarding. The school’s last full inspection was in November 2012 when its overall effectiveness was judged to be outstanding.  The schools’ premises include: – Oberon Fields and Pavilion, Wimbledon (for physical education and sports) – Llanbynean Farm, Brecon, Wales (for annual residential trips).  Additional off-site sports are made available to pupils as follows: – badminton and squash at Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club, Wimbledon – climbing at Llangorse Multi Activity Centre, Brecon, Wales and White Spider

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Information about this school

Climbing, Surbiton – tennis at Westside Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon – hockey at Spencer Hockey Club, Earlsfield and Barn Elms, Barnes – golf at World of Golf, New Malden.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.  The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to report on the school’s compliance with some of the independent school standards in Part 3. In particular, inspectors were asked to check that the school’s safeguarding, anti-bullying and risk assessment policies and procedures complied with the standards and were implemented effectively.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  Inspectors reviewed policies and documentation, including those related to safeguarding, bullying and risk assessment. Inspectors met with the school’s proprietor (who is also the headteacher), the principal and a deputy designated safeguarding leader. Inspectors met with three groups of pupils and a group of

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Information about this inspection

staff. Inspectors also toured the senior school’s premises.  There were no recent responses to Ofsted’s online questionnaire, Parent View.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Andrew Wright Her Majesty’s Inspector 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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Inspection team

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child's school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

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

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Inspection team

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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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