Family & Education
Immanuel College receives thumbs-up from inspectors
Pupils are encouraged to become ‘helpful and effective’ members of society, the Independent Schools Inspectorate says
November 5, 2024 11:30
Pupils are encouraged to become ‘helpful and effective’ members of society, the Independent Schools Inspectorate says
November 5, 2024 11:30Immanuel College has received a positive inspection report which recognised that most pupils make good academic progress — some rapid — and are helped to become “effective” members of society.
In first inspection for five years, pupils at the independent school in Bushey — which has 467 children from four to 19 — were reported to “generally benefit from teachers who understand their needs well”.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate, which conducted the visit over three days in September, no longer awards single-grade overall judgments. In 2019, it rated the school’s education as excellent.
Governors made sure that “leaders have suitable knowledge and skills so that pupils’ wellbeing at the centre of the decisions they make,” the ISI said, while pupils appreciated the support and guidance they received from teachers.
Children also appreciated a revised behaviour policy where “a focus on consideration and kindness alongside clear expectations promotes pupils’ positive behaviour”, inspectors found.
They were prepared to be “helpful and effective members of both contemporary society and within the full range of their Jewish heritage”, the ISI said.
The school’s policies supported its vision to “equip pupils with the attributes of kindness, aspiration, responsibility and curiosity”.
Governors and leaders worked together to provide “a high-quality education” where most achieved GCSE and A-level results either in line with or above expectations.
“Most pupils, including those with SEND, make good progress in relation to their individual starting points,” ISI. “Some pupils make rapid progress.”
Pupils were encouraged to be “actively engaged, self-motivated learners, who enjoy academic challenge”. They were “keen to debate and discuss” and encouraged to present ideas “that benefit the school community”.
However, a few lessons were found to be “not sufficiently engaging or challenging”.
A culture of safeguarding was prioritised and rare instances of bullying were quickly and effectively addressed, the ISI said.
Activities to promote civic responsibility included weekly volunteering for gardening in the local community, while pupils were able to “pursue a suitable range of sports”.
Immanuel, which charges fees of nearly £24,000 a year for its second, has 203 pupils with identified special educational needs or disabilities.
It had a clear and effective complaints procedure but received “very few” formal complaints.
On its website, the school welcomed the “overwhelmingly positive” report and acting head master Dan Endlar described it as “a fair and accurate assessment”.