Rikkyo School-in-England

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Rikkyo School-in-England Guildford Road, Rudgwick, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 3BE

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2A(1)–2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(e)–2A(2) 1. At the school’s last standard inspection, despite compulsory relationships education being provided for primary-age pupils, it was found that compulsory relationships and sex education (RSE) for secondary-age pupils was not covered in sufficient detail or depth. As a result, pupils did not have an age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships or the protected characteristics. Additionally, leaders had not consulted with parents on the school’s written statement for RSE.  The school’s action plan to address the weaknesses identified with the school’s RSE programme has been implemented in full. Parents have been consulted. The consultation included informing parents of their rights in respect of withdrawing pupils from sex education. The school’s policy is published on its website. Secondary-age pupils are now receiving appropriate RSE.

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Main inspection findings

 Discussions with pupils indicate that they find their lessons linked to RSE useful. They were happy to discuss the different aspects they have covered since January 2023. This includes age-appropriate input relating to equality and the protected characteristics.  As part of their work to address the unmet independent school standards (the standards) linked to paragraph 2A, leaders have been proactive in looking further afield at good practice in similar schools. As a result, a new programme for personal, social and health education has been identified and has just been introduced.  The relevant standards found to be unmet in part 1 at the last standard inspection are now met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  At the last standard inspection, safeguarding was judged to be effective and all relevant standards relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils were found to be met.

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Main inspection findings

 The safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website and complies with current guidelines. Arrangements to safeguard pupils remain effective.  These standards continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(b)  At the last standard inspection, it was found that leaders had not ensured that quality assurance practices were sufficiently rigorous. Trustees had not ensured that the school fulfilled its statutory duties. As a result, school policies were not being updated in a timely manner and standards regarding the RSE programme were not being met.  Leaders have started to address the issues identified and are beginning to hold leaders to account for the quality of their work. A new compliance officer (bursar) has been appointed in line with the action plan which was requested and then approved by the Department for Education (DfE).  Five new subcommittees of the governing board have been formed. A ‘special task team’

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Main inspection findings

of trustees is in place to oversee the monitoring and progress in improving the issues identified at the last inspection.  The bursar has been in post for a matter of weeks. His appointment was specifically linked to ensuring that trustees are better informed regarding the implementation of the standards and other statutory requirements.  The second formal meeting of the school’s special task team took place days before this monitoring inspection. This meeting ratified the proposal to change the model of governance at the school. New terms of reference for trustees and committees are being put in place. A new governance handbook is also being drawn up by the bursar. Some policies have been reviewed. Other documents or policies linked to governance, such as the conflicts of interest policy, are being reviewed.  It is clear that trustees have begun the work to improve their oversight of the school.

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Main inspection findings

Much has been done. Leaders’ intent is plain to see. Some aspects of the new model of governance are in place, including the new committee system. Others are not yet fully established. Because of this, it is not yet possible to judge the impact of recent changes on the effectiveness of leadership and management of the school, particularly relating to governance and holding school leaders to account. Therefore, part 8 continues to be unmet.

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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. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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

School status Independent boarding school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 83

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School details

Proprietor Rikkyo School in England Trust

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £28,500 to £32,700

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 18 to 20 October 2022

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Information about this school

 Rikkyo School-in-England is a co-educational Anglican Christian independent boarding school. The school exists primarily to serve the needs of children of Japanese families living and working abroad.  The school was founded in June 1972 and is part of the Rikkyo School in England Trust. It is registered for up to 205 pupils aged from 10 to 18 years old.  The school teaches the Japanese national curriculum. It aims to provide a high-quality education which will enable pupils to achieve their ambitions of securing a place in high- ranking universities in Japan and other parts of the world.  The school’s most recent standard inspection was in October 2022 when it was judged to require improvement and unmet standards were found.  The school does not currently use alternative provision.

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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 independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement with unmet standards at its last standard inspection in October 2022. As a result, the proprietor was required to produce a statutory action plan by the DfE on 20 December 2022. The action plan was assessed by Ofsted on 19 January 2023 and found to be acceptable by the DfE on 21 February 2023.  The inspector held a range of meetings with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the school’s compliance officer and other leaders. He also held an online meeting with

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Information about this inspection

the chair and one other member of the board of trustees.  The inspector also met with the lead inspector of Ofsted’s inspection of the school’s boarding provision, which was being inspected at the same time as this monitoring inspection.  The inspector met formally with two groups of pupils to discuss their views of the school.  The inspector toured the school site, including visiting classrooms and other communal areas.  The inspector considered a range of policies, plans and other documentation linked to the standards. Minutes of meetings relating to governance were reviewed. The inspector also reviewed the school’s single central record and met with the school’s designated safeguarding lead accompanied by other key leaders.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

 2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor-

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

– (a) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with primary education at the school is provided with relationships education;

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

– (b) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with secondary education at the school is provided with relationships and sex education, except in so far as the pupil is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2);

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

– (e) makes and keeps up to date a separate written statement of its policy with regard to the provision of education as required by each of paragraphs (a) and (b);

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

– (f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e).

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

 2A(2) Arrangements made by the proprietor for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) must ensure that where a pupil’s parent requests that the pupil is wholly or partly excused from sex education provided as part of relationships and sex education, the pupil is so excused until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the head teacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused. 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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Part 1: Quality of education provided

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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Part 1: Quality of education provided

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/ofsted .

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

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Part 1: Quality of education provided

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