St Philip's School

School material change inspection report

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St Philip’s School 6 Wetherby Place, London SW7 4NE

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The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4  Leaders have created new policies and curriculum plans for children in early years. They have adapted existing curriculum and assessment policies to meet the needs of pupils aged five and six years old. The school’s curriculum, including for early years, is broad and ambitious. Plans take detailed account of pupils’ different ages, abilities and interests. Leaders have well developed procedures to meet pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The programmes for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education and relationships and sex education (RSE) are suitable. The programmes include age- appropriate coverage of British values, equality and relationships. Leaders ensure they are compliant with the statutory RSE requirements.  The new Reception class is suitably staffed and resourced, in line with all the requirements of the early years foundation stage. Leaders have credible plans to grow

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Main inspection findings

their staff team further and to maintain the quality of education provided to pupils.  The independent school standards (‘the standards’) in this part are met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  The PSHE education curriculum has been developed to teach pupils about how to keep themselves healthy and safe, and the importance of being a good friend and helping others. Topics taught in the early years, for example, include ‘my body, my rules’, ‘understanding me’, ‘understanding others’, and ‘understanding my surroundings’.  The PSHE education curriculum includes teaching pupils about people with different characteristics, and religious education ensures pupils learn about a range of religions, faiths and cultures.  The early years curriculum is enriched with twice-daily visits to the garden and weekly outings to local libraries, museums and parks.  The staff code of conduct is clear that no member of staff may promote partisan

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Main inspection findings

views and balanced points of view must always be presented in the teaching of any political topic.  The standard in this part is met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  Leaders and governors have a secure understanding of the independent school standards and associated requirements. They have planned effectively to extend the school’s age range to include boys aged four and above.  The standard in this part is met. Statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage  Leaders have planned carefully to open the new Reception class. They have ensured they are meeting all the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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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 compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £20,850 to £23,475

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 8 to 10 March 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 13 4 to 13 4 to 13

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 78/110 No change Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 72 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils 0 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 10 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 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 0 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 13 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 0 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 4 Not applicable

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Information about this school

 St Philip’s is a Catholic preparatory day school for boys in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.  Since September 2024, the school has admitted children aged four into a new Reception class. Leaders intend to gradually introduce classes for pupils in Years 1 and 2 over the next three years.  The school’s most recent inspection was a graded inspection in March 2022.  The school makes no use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this inspection to consider the school’s application to change its age range of pupils.  This was the first inspection to consider the school’s material change application.  The inspection was announced with two days of notice.  The inspector considered whether the relevant requirements in parts 1, 2 and 8 of the independent school standards are met in light of the change in age range.  The inspector met with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the head of early years, and a governor. He had a tour of the premises and met with a group of pupils. He considered a range of evidence, including curriculum policies and plans, and documentation relating to the new early years provision.  The inspector also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of checks on adults. The relevant requirements in parts 3, 4 and

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Information about this inspection

6 of the independent school standards continue to be met.

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Inspection team

James Waite, 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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