Felixstowe International College

Boarding progress monitoring inspection report

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Felixstowe International Boarding School 5 October 2017 Maybush Lane, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7NA

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Main inspection findings

The overall experiences and progress of children:  On 29 November 2016, Ofsted undertook a full inspection of this school. At that inspection, the school was judged as requires improvement to be good. Seven national minimum standards were unmet.  On 5 October 2017, a progress monitoring visit was undertaken. This visit was aligned with a full inspection of the school. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the progress made in meeting the unmet national minimum standards, and to consider the school’s request for an increase in the registration number for boarders.  Some refurbishment work has been undertaken in the boarding accommodation. New windows have been fitted throughout. The new windows have improved the room temperature and the appearance of the building. Despite this, the decor is in need of attention. Linoleum flooring is not sealed at the edges and is curling up, allowing water to gather at the edges. The shower tiling grout has brown edges,

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Main inspection findings

and there are flaky paint patches on the walls that have bubbled at the back of the sinks and the bathroom pipework. A wall light has come away from the wall in the dining room, exposing wires. A window catch and restrictor bar is missing from a first-floor dining room window. The environment is not maintained well and does not provide a consistent standard of good-quality accommodation. This does not comply with national minimum standard 5.4. How well children are helped and protected:  Previously, a number of health and safety checks had not been signed off as completed because identified actions following external contractor visits had not been carried out. The actions raised regarding water checks have now been carried out.  Although broadly compliant with the fire recommendations, an action to ensure that fire door strips were fitted to all fire doors has not been addressed. Five doors that protect escape routes on the first floor of the accommodation have not had

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Main inspection findings

strips fitted and, therefore, are not effective fire doors.  The small electrical appliances that the children bring from overseas or purchase on arrival in the country are not checked. This means that the school is not able to ensure that these electrical items are safe.  The electrical domestic appliances have not been checked. There has been no appliance testing of any item in the boarding house since 2014. Therefore, the appliances may be electrically unsafe and pose a health and safety risk. This does not comply with national minimum standard 6.2.  At the last inspection, the risk assessments failed to identify all potential hazards to young people and staff or the action required to reduce the risk. The school has since devised a safe ‘walking to school’ policy that clearly guides the staff and the children and young people on how to be safe and visible to traffic. There are clear expectations about a designated route and wearing high-visibility clothing. This

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Main inspection findings

approach is working in practice, and senior staff monitor it. Therefore, this standard is met.  Previously, the school’s safeguarding policy was not followed in regard to managing allegations. The policy has been amended to reflect clearly what to do in the event of an allegation. A new policy clearly sets out the procedures for the staff to follow in the event of an allegation. Safeguarding is high on the agenda, and individual welfare is discussed regularly. The staff and managers use supervisions and staff meetings to ensure that all of the staff understand how to implement this policy. Therefore, this standard is met.  Previously, a member of staff had started working at the school prior to the receipt and verification of all pre-employment checks. Recruitment checks are now carefully monitored. Check sheets and application forms are in place to ensure that there is a record of the safe recruitment of staff. Personnel files include an action

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Main inspection findings

plan list that details all of the checks that are undertaken and verified prior to employment start dates. Therefore, this standard is met.  The previous practice of children and young people moving between the school and the boarding accommodation posed a number of concerns because the system to enable the staff to account for the children and young people at all times was inadequate. The staff now know the children’s and young people’s whereabouts at all times. The school prefects, who report to the deputy principals, implement and maintain a signing in and out system, to account for each boarder. There have been no instances of the children being unaccounted for or missing from the school site. This standard is met. The effectiveness of leaders and managers:  Five previously unmet minimum standards are now met. However, two national minimum standards remain unmet. These are primarily related to health and safety

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Main inspection findings

and the maintenance of the accommodation.  At the last inspection, the appraisal system had been implemented, but staff did not receive regular supervision. Regular group supervision now takes place with all of the staff. The sessions are recorded, and the staff sign the records. Supervisions include discussions about the safeguarding policies and procedures, in line with each staff member’s job description and role. All of the staff, including the ancillary staff, have had an appraisal which considers their professional development and training needs. Therefore, this standard is met.  The material change visit concluded that the boarding accommodation is not yet in a state of readiness to provide good-quality accommodation for the additional number of boarders that has been requested by the school.

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boarding schools

 Boarding houses and other accommodation provided for boarders are appropriately lit, heated and ventilated, cleaned and maintained, and reasonable adjustments are made to provide adequate accessible accommodation for any boarders with restricted mobility. (NMS 5.4)  The school premises, accommodation and 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. (NMS 6.2)

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Standards that were not met at the previous inspection

 Boarding houses and other accommodation provided for boarders are appropriately lit, heated and ventilated, cleaned and maintained, and reasonable adjustments are made to provide adequate accessible accommodation for any boarders who have restricted mobility. (NMS 5.4)  The school premises, accommodation and 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. (NMS 6.2)  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 appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. (NMS 6.3)  The school ensures that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school and such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. (NMS 11.1)

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Standards that were not met at the previous inspection

 Schools operate safe recruitment and adopt recruitment procedures in line with the regulatory requirements and having regard to relevant guidance issued by the Secretary of State. (NMS 14.1)  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 boarding. (NMS 15.1)  Staff know the whereabouts of boarders (or know how to find their whereabouts) in their charge at all times. (NMS 15.5)

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schools

 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 appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. (NMS 6.3)  The school ensures that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school and such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. (NMS 11.1)  Schools operate safe recruitment and adopt recruitment procedures in line with the regulatory requirements and having regard to relevant guidance issued by the Secretary of State. (NMS 14.1)  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

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schools

boarding. (NMS 15.1)  Staff know the whereabouts of boarders (or know how to find their whereabouts) in their charge at all times. (NMS 15.5)

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School details

Unique reference number 124899 Social care unique reference number SC024579 DfE registration number 935/6076 Inspection number 10043331 The inspection of boarding provision 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. Type of school Boarding School School status Independent boarding school Age range of pupils 9 to 19 years Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 24 Number of boarders on roll 26 Headteacher Rev. Seung Jin Kim Head of boarding Ms Chaerin Lee

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School details

Telephone number 01394 282388 Website ficedu.org Email address fic-uk@hotmail.com Date of previous boarding 29 November 2016

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Information about this school

 Felixstowe International College is an independent boarding school, located in a residential area on the outskirts of Felixstowe. The boarding accommodation is in a designated house a short journey from the school. The college accommodates up to 45 students, aged nine to 19 years. At the time of the inspection, the college had 41 boarders and four day students. The last full inspection of the boarding provision was in November 2016.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the national minimum standards that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The purpose of the welfare progress monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress made in meeting the previously unmet national minimum standards that were identified at the last inspection on 29 November 2016.

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Inspection team

Deirdra Keating, lead inspector Social Care Regulatory Inspector Trish Palmer Social Care Regulatory 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. 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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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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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