The Fulham Prep School Ltd

School material change inspection report

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Fulham School 200 Greyhound Road, London W14 9SD

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  Detailed policies related to health and safety and to support pupils’ welfare are in place. The policies reflect current government guidance.  Leaders updated their policies and practices to consider the additional safeguarding and welfare challenges posed by COVID-19 (coronavirus), the national lockdowns and online learning.  Leaders ensure that all staff receive comprehensive safeguarding and welfare training as part of their induction and at regular intervals through the year. The safeguarding team and governors meet regularly to review their work and share good practice.  As part of the curriculum, staff teach pupils about risks and how to keep themselves safe.  The school’s safeguarding policy is suitable. Copies of all policies are available on the school’s website. Paragraphs 11, 12  The school has a raft of health and safety policies which leaders implement effectively.

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Main inspection findings

Leaders regularly monitor and review the effectiveness of policy implementation.  Leaders have established cycles for commissioning external specialists to carry out compliance checks and risk assessments across the school. These include checking electrical and gas installations, firefighting equipment and emergency lighting, for example.  Leaders carry out regular safety checks and keep a record of these. These include fire alarm tests, evacuation drills and checks on the general state of repair of the buildings. Leaders rectify any deficiencies that they identify.  Leaders have received certification from the building inspector that the proposed new site is compliant with health and safety requirements and fire regulations.  Premises staff and some subject leaders have attended training from the contractor on the new site’s safety installations and equipment. All staff who will be working in the new building have received on-site training for health and safety, including fire

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Main inspection findings

safety.  Two trained fire wardens will be based at the new site. Leaders have also appointed staff teams as fire sweepers to ensure that, in the event of a fire, all staff, visitors and pupils have evacuated safely. Paragraph 14  Senior leaders are routinely at the gate to meet and greet pupils at the start of each day. Pupils begin the day with form time. This is a pastoral session for staff to check pupils’ well-being, support their mental health and preparedness for learning. There is continuous supervision of pupils throughout the day.  Leaders have made additional arrangements for the return to school following the national lockdown. Leaders have established additional staff supervision rotas to ensure that pupils stay safe in accordance with the school’s welfare COVID-19 practices. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The school’s risk assessment policies are up to date. Leaders use them as working documents. They regularly review, amend and update these as appropriate.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders identify relevant risks and respond in an appropriate manner. For example, the school has a comprehensive risk assessment and action plan for the reopening of the school after the national lockdown.  Leaders have started a programme of risk assessments for the proposed new site. Regular risk assessments will take place according to an ongoing cycle, which is already well established at the other two sites.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the implementation of the material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  Senior leaders and governors undertake appropriate training to ensure that they understand safe recruitment practices. They make all the relevant checks on staff, including temporary staff from supply agencies, contractors and volunteers. Governors ensure that they make checks under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008

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Main inspection findings

to verify the suitability of all those with a management responsibility.  The single central register is in place. It records all the relevant information.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the implementation of the material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(1)(c), 24(2), 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b), 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  The proposed new site has undergone a rebuild. The building is modern, light and airy. Its state of repair, cleanliness, acoustics and lighting are of a high standard.  There are toilets that lock from the inside for the sole use of pupils. These areas have hot and cold running water. The temperature of the water does not pose a scalding hazard.  The medical room meets requirements and is adjacent to a toilet and washing

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Main inspection findings

facilities. Drinking water is clearly marked and readily available.  The classrooms are suitable for the delivery of the curriculum, including specialist subjects.  As with the other school sites, leaders intend to deliver the physical education curriculum at specialist off-site facilities. The outdoor area is small. Leaders plan to take pupils to nearby parks for leisure purposes.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the implementation of the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  The headteacher, governors and senior leaders have a firm knowledge and understanding of the independent school standards. They have robust systems in place to continuously check implementation of all the standards and other statutory requirements.  Policies for safeguarding and health and safety are appropriate for the range of pupils

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Main inspection findings

across the school sites.  Leaders actively promote the mental health, well-being and safety of pupils. Staff ensure that pupils are suitably supervised. They take good care of pupils’ pastoral needs.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the implementation of the material change is approved.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Proprietor Fulham Prep School Holdings Limited

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £18,420–£21,567

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 3–5 March 2020

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 4 to 18 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 670 940 870

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recommendation

Reason for inspector’s recommendations Phase one of the rebuild of the new additional school site has just been completed. There are sufficient classrooms and toilet facilities, at this stage, to accommodate an extra 150 pupils above the school’s current capacity of 720 across its other two sites. The proprietors expect phase two building works to take place in the summer of 2022, when they propose to add three more classrooms and additional toilet facilities.

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 670 940

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 116 150

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan None Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan None Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 71 92

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 13 17

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 16 20

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Information about this school

 Fulham School is a non-selective, co-educational independent school in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The school is registered to cater for pupils aged from four to 18 years.  The headteacher was appointed in September 2020.  The school plans to have its first intake into the sixth form in September 2021.  There are few pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. No pupils are disadvantaged.  The school does not use alternative provision.  The school’s last standard inspection took place in March 2020, when the school was judged to be good. All independent school standards were met.  The school currently operates on two sites. The pre-prep site and the prep and senior site, approximately one and a half miles apart. The pre-prep school is located in Fulham High Street. Pupils aged from seven to 16 years are based in Greyhound Road.  If this material change is approved by the Department for Education (DfE), leaders

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Information about this school

plan to move the senior phase, with the new sixth form, into the additional premises at Chesilton Road, London SW6 5AA, which were visited on this inspection.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the DfE during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Some of the inspection was conducted remotely. This was due to changes made to inspection activity during this period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Owing to the third national lockdown at the time of the inspection, the inspector only visited the school for a limited time.  The inspector gathered evidence to check whether the school is likely to meet the independent school standards by scrutinising documents submitted by the leaders. These included the school’s safeguarding policy, risk assessments and other health and safety documentation. The inspector held several virtual meetings with senior leaders and the chair of governors. He visited the proposed new school for a brief tour of the site and to check the single central register of staff suitability.  This inspection was carried out at the request of the DfE, the registration authority for

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Information about this inspection

independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to check whether the school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards and other requirements in its proposed new additional premises and its request to increase its maximum capacity to educate 940 pupils.  This was the first inspection of the proposed material change.

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Inspection team

David Radomsky, lead inspector Ofsted 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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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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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