King’s celebrates inspection excellence

We have ended the 2021-22 academic year on a high as we celebrate an excellent inspection report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), securing the highest possible rating in all areas.

The inspection took place over the course of a week in May during which inspectors observed lessons across the whole school, met with pupils and staff, and questioned parents.

Headmaster Mr Hartley is delighted that the school was judged to have achieved the highest possible category of Excellent across the board.

He said: “This is a fantastic achievement, and I am hugely proud of our staff and pupils for having impressed the inspectors so much.

“Everyone in the King’s community plays an important role in supporting the values and ethos of the school and I am delighted that the inspectors recognised this in their report.”

Key findings of the report include:

• Pupils demonstrate excellent knowledge, skills and understanding in all areas of the curriculum throughout the school
• Pupils are highly articulate, confident and resilient
• Pupils show excellent levels of self-knowledge, enabling them to reflect maturely on their learning and improve their performance
• Pupils make a significant contribution to the life of the school, demonstrating a strong awareness of the needs of others

The school’s digital strategy, resulting in what inspectors described as ‘a high degree of confidence and expertise’ in pupils’ use of technology in the classroom, was also highlighted. 

The inspectors commended the broad curriculum in Willow Lodge and Junior School, attributing the rapid development of pupils’ knowledge and skills to the specialist teaching in the school. 

Head of Willow Lodge and Junior School, Mrs Ainsworth, said: “We have always been proud of our broad and varied curriculum and I am delighted that the inspectors singled this out in their report.

“We are committed to our specialist teaching in science, music, modern languages, maths and English, and it is wonderful that the inspectors recognised the huge benefits of this.”

In addition to the excellent rating for academic outcomes, the report also recognises the school’s impressive co-curricular programme, which gives pupils numerous opportunities to excel in sport, music, drama, public speaking and academic challenges. 

Mr Hartley added: “I am also incredibly proud of the fact that provision of pastoral care across the school has been judged as excellent.

“Our pastoral care programme allows pupils to develop into self-assured, thoughtful and high-achieving individuals.

“It is a reflection of our commitment to pastoral care that the inspectors have recognised the culture of mutual support, respect and perseverance that we see and encourage every day in school.”

The full report is available to read here.