International British Online School

International British Online School

On 27 and 28 March 2024, Ofsted visited International British Online School as part of the Online Education Accreditation Scheme . Through this scheme, providers of full-time online education to school-age children in England can apply to the Department for Education (DfE) for accreditation.

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International British Online School

Ofsted visits providers to find out whether they meet the minimum standards for online education set by the DfE. This report sets out what we found during our visit on 27 and 28 March 2024. You can find out whether this provider is accredited by the DfE at Get Information about Schools .

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Key findings

◼ International British Online School meets all the minimum standards for online education. ◼ The principal and the senior leaders have high expectations of pupils and students at International British Online School. They provide a broad academic curriculum and are ambitious for pupils to achieve well. ◼ A particular strength of the school is the excellent relationships that are established between pupils and teachers. These enable pupils to engage well with learning and develop highly positive attitudes. Despite a high turnover of staff, teachers have worked diligently to ensure that a well-designed and effective curriculum remains in place. ◼ Leaders have ensured that the school’s curriculum policy is supported by comprehensive and detailed schemes of work. These take account of the anticipated capabilities of pupils. ◼ The curriculum provides a wide range of subjects, including all areas of learning

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Key findings

that are included in the standards. Pupils gain experience of linguistic, mathematical, human and social, scientific, technological and physical education (PE). They are able to study towards recognised international qualifications at GCSE and A level. Many pupils go on to study at various universities, including Russell Group universities in the UK. ◼ While leaders were able to provide all the required information for inspectors during the visit, initially some of this was not as focused on the online accreditation standards as it should have been. Leaders should strengthen their capacity to ensure that the strategies they use to continuously self-evaluate the school against the standards are consistently effective.

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Who is this online provider?

◼ International British Online School provides education for pupils and students aged six to 19 years. All pupils and students receive their education at home. ◼ International British Online School offers a curriculum that is in line with the national curriculum from key stage 1 to key stage 4. There are also suitable programmes of study for students aged 16 to 19 years. The curriculum is academic in character and includes English, mathematics and science, as well as humanities, computing, and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. Pupils work towards acquiring international GCSEs in a wide range of subjects in Year 11 and international A levels in Year 13. Pupils have some access to PE, for example, through online yoga lessons and dance classes. ◼ International British Online School is based in London and has an office in Dubai. The principal is also the chief executive officer and founder of the company that

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Who is this online provider?

runs the school. ◼ Currently, 62 pupils and students, including 24 in the sixth form, study with International British Online School full time. Three pupils live in England. Very few pupils have an education, health and care (EHC) plan . No pupils or students study with International British Online School part time.

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School?

◼ Teachers at International British Online School teach from classrooms on the premises. Pupils and students join live online lessons in a wide range of subjects. All lessons are recorded, which allows pupils to revisit lessons to help them to consolidate their learning. ◼ The method of delivery is similar to that found in physical independent and international schools but makes use of commercially available online platforms and software. Pupils work together in classes according to their age. They are also members of the school’s house system, which enables them to earn rewards and engage in activities and competitions with pupils from other classes and age groups. ◼ Leaders run an annual trip, during which pupils from around the globe have the opportunity to meet and engage in cultural, academic and social activities. This contributes well to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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School?

◼ The online learning environment supports pupils’ learning well and enables effective communication between pupils and teachers. The use of breakout rooms, for instance, enables teachers to ensure that pupils can share privately any difficulties they may experience in lessons. Highly positive relationships between staff and pupils contribute effectively to strengthening pupils’ confidence, so that, for example, all pupils are comfortable in complying with leaders’ insistence that cameras must always be switched on during lessons. ◼ Pupils attend International British Online School daily from Monday to Friday, from 7.15am to 1.45pm. The timings of the school day are determined by the international nature of the provision. They join an assembly or tutor time every morning until 7.30am, and then attend five lessons across each day. Pupils gain experience of a wide range of subjects, including linguistic, mathematical, human

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School?

and social, and PE. ◼ Pupils receive up-to-date careers education through assemblies and participation in specific events, such as the school’s development day. Here, pupils are able to listen and interact with visiting professionals from universities and companies to learn about possible career choices, including apprenticeship routes. Additionally, pupils receive access to impartial web-based platforms to help them make informed choices about their future educational pathways. ◼ The school has a comprehensive post-16 study programme available for students. This includes a wide choice of international A level programmes, such as English, further mathematics, history and psychology. After students leave the sixth form, many go on to attend university in various countries. Some students gain places at Russell Group universities in the United Kingdom.

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arrangements like for keeping children safe?

◼ Ofsted’s visits to online providers can give only a limited level of

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inspections of schools and other providers of face-to-face education

and training. However, we found that the arrangements for keeping children safe at International British Online School are appropriate. ◼ Leaders have effective systems in place, including appropriate monitoring and filtering of the school’s internet connection, to promote pupils’ safe use of the internet and to help protect them from risk of harm. Leaders understand where their systems have some weakness and have ensured that effective mitigation is in place. They have achieved this through careful monitoring of internet use and clear immediate reporting procedures. Additionally, leaders demonstrate a secure understanding of the threats to children arising from the global context of the school and have provided appropriate advice to parents. ◼ Although leaders have not had to make any referrals related to child protection, they understand the processes for liaising with local authorities if they have any

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inspections of schools and other providers of face-to-face education

safeguarding concerns. Leaders are also beginning to establish effective links with the relevant team in a local authority in connection with recently arranged provision for pupils with an EHC plan. ◼ Leaders have effective systems in place to protect pupils from harm when working online. They provide pupils with the information that they need to stay safe. There are robust processes to enable pupils to report any concerns. Staff and pupils have a thorough understanding of these processes. ◼ Leaders have rigorous systems to ensure that they recruit staff safely. They make all the required checks before interviewing and appointing candidates and keep detailed records.

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International British Online School?

◼ Pupils and parents and carers were highly positive in sharing their views about the education and support provided at International British Online School. ◼ Parents particularly like the effective communication that the school provides and the way that staff support their children’s development. Parents made several complimentary comments, including, ‘The teachers and staff are absolutely amazing.’ ◼ In conversation with the inspection team, pupils were keen to stress their appreciation of the care and support that they feel teachers provide for them. For example, they spoke about how helpful teachers are in adapting their teaching to ensure that pupils fully understand what they are learning.

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About the visit

◼ This is International British Online School‘s first accreditation visit. Mr Mark Quinn, His Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), was the lead inspector, accompanied by Mr John Nixon, HMI.

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standards for online education

This section reports on how well International British Online School meets the standards for online education.

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standards for online education

International British Online School meets all of the standards for online education set out by the DfE (‘the standards’). The standards that are not applicable to International British Online School are listed below.

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standards for online education

The full list of standards can be found in DfE’s guidance on meeting the online education standards .

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The following standards do not apply to this provider:

◼ Standards 5.11, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, 5.16, 5.17, 5.18 only apply where the provider uses supply staff. ◼ Standards 6.5, 6.10 only apply where a report on the provider has been published under the Online Education Accreditation Scheme at the time of the visit. ◼ Standards 6.8, 6.9 only apply where at least one full-time pupil at the provider is wholly or partly funded by a local authority.

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DfE unique reference number

regulates and inspects to 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-government-licence , write to

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DfE unique reference number

the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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DfE unique reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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DfE unique reference number

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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