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INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE LEICESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL STANDARD INSPECTION © Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE Leicester Grammar School Full Name of School Leicester Grammar School DfE Number 856/6006 Registered Charity Number 510809 Address Leicester Grammar School London Road Leicester LE8 9FL Telephone Number 0116 259 1900 Fax Number 0116 259 1901 Email Address [email protected] Head Mr Christopher King Chair of Governors Mr Ian Patterson Age Range 3 to 18 Total Number of Pupils 1193 Gender of Pupils Mixed (583 boys; 610 girls) Numbers by Age 3-5 (EYFS): 71 5-11: 362 11-18: 760 Number of Day Pupils Total: 1193 Number of day pupils Total: Head of EYFS setting Mrs Margaret Redfearn EYFS gender Mixed Inspection dates 08 Mar 2011 to 09 Mar 2011 04 Apr 2011 to 06 Apr 2011 © Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011 PREFACE This inspection report follows the STANDARD ISI schedule. The inspection consists of two parts: an INITIAL two-day inspection of regulatory requirements followed by a three-day FINAL (team) inspection of the school’s broader educational provision. The previous ISI inspection was in March 2005. The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is the body approved by the Government for the purpose of inspecting schools belonging to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Associations and reporting on compliance with the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010*. The range of these Regulations is as follows. (a) Quality of education provided (curriculum) (b) Quality of education provided (teaching) (c) Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils (d) Welfare, health and safety of pupils (e) Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors (f) Premises and accommodation (g) Provision of information (h) Manner in which complaints are to be handled *These Standards Regulations replace those first introduced on 1 September 2003. Legislation additional to Part 3, Welfare, health and safety of pupils, is as follows. (i) The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA). (ii) Race, gender and sexual discrimination legislation. (iii) Corporal punishment. The inspection was also carried out under the arrangements of the ISC Associations for the maintenance and improvement of the quality of their membership. ISI is also approved to inspect the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which was introduced in September 2008 and applies to all children in England from birth to 31st August following their fifth birthday. This report evaluates the extent to which the setting fulfils the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and follows the requirements of the Childcare Act 2006 as subsequently amended. The inspection of the school is from an educational perspective and provides limited inspection of other aspects, though inspectors will comment on any significant hazards or problems they encounter which have an adverse impact on children. The inspection does not include: (i) an exhaustive health and safety audit (ii) an in-depth examination of the structural condition of the school, its services or other physical features (iii) an investigation of the financial viability of the school or its accounting procedures (iv) an in-depth investigation of the school’s compliance with employment law. © Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011 CONTENTS Page 1 THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL 1 2 THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL 2 (a) Main findings 2 (b) Action points 3 (i) Compliance with regulatory requirements 3 (ii) Recommendation(s) for further improvement 3 3 THE QUALITY OF ACADEMIC AND OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 4 (a) The quality of the pupils’ achievements and their learning, attitudes and skills 4 (b) The contribution of curricular and extra-curricular provision (including community links of benefit to pupils) 5 (c) The contribution of teaching 6 4 THE QUALITY OF THE PUPILS’ PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 7 (a) The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the pupils 7 (b) The contribution of arrangements for welfare, health and safety 8 5 THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 9 (a) The quality of governance 9 (b) The quality of leadership and management 9 (c) The quality of links with parents, carers and guardians 10 6 THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE 12 (a) The overall effectiveness of the early years provision – how well the school meets the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage 12 (b) The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the Early Years Foundation Stage 12 (c) The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 12 (d) Outcomes for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage 13 INSPECTION EVIDENCE 14 © Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011 Leicester Grammar School (standard inspection) 1 1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL 1.1 Leicester Grammar School is a co-educational day school founded in 1981 in response to the demise of the maintained grammar schools in the area. Its junior school came into existence in 1992 when a local convent primary school was taken over. In 2008 the whole school moved to a purpose built site in Great Glen, south east of the city, where pupils aged from three to nineteen are educated. Governance is in the hands of the Leicester Grammar School Trust, a registered charity. The school has a Christian foundation but also admits pupils of all faiths, and of none. 1.2 In pursuit of all-round excellence, the school aims to develop the academic potential of every pupil. It seeks to enrich each pupil’s experience through music, sport and other interests. It wishes to allow the moral and spiritual well-being of pupils to grow and to nurture the individual in a co-educational school with a Christian ethos. 1.3 On roll in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), 14 boys and 14 girls are in the Nursery, with 21 boys and 22 girls in the Reception classes. There are 362 pupils in Years 1 to 6, 564 pupils in Years 6 to 11, and 196 in Years 12 to 13. Entry to the school is by selective assessment, usually at the ages of 4 and 10. Approximately six-tenths of those entering Year 7 in the senior school come from the junior school. A number of pupils join at sixth form level. 1.4 The ability profile of the junior school is above the national average, with almost all pupils having of at least above average ability, and over a quarter having an ability that is far above average. The ability profile of the senior school is above the national average. Most pupils are at least of above average ability, with a significant proportion of far above average ability. The ability profile of the sixth form is a little wider than in the rest of the senior school. Thirty-six pupils in the junior school have been identified as having learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD), 25 of whom receive learning support from the school. In the senior school, of 49 pupils identified, 27 receive specialist help from the school, one pupil has a statement of special educational needs (SEN), and five receive specialist help for English as an additional language (EAL). 1.5 Pupils come primarily from professional and business homes and over a third of pupils are from ethnic minority families. Pupils travel to school by bus, coach or car from the surrounding area. Approximately ten pupils per year leave after completing GCSE examinations. Virtually all sixth-form pupils proceed to higher education, a few after taking a gap year. 1.6 National Curriculum nomenclature is used throughout this report to refer to year groups in the school. The year group nomenclature used by the school and its National Curriculum (NC) equivalence are shown in the following table. Early Years Foundation Stage Setting. School NC name Kinders Nursery Reception Reception © Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011 Leicester Grammar School (standard inspection) 2 2. THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL 2.(a) Main findings 2.1 From the EYFS onwards pupils achieve excellently in their learning and personal development. The school fully meets its aims. Attainment levels are high and all pupils make excellent progress both within and outside the classroom. Their overall success is promoted by excellent teaching. Marking and assessment are generally good. Pupils’ achievement is supported by their excellent attitudes to learning and their exemplary behaviour. The breadth and richness of the curricular and extra- curricular experiences ensure a broadly based education. 2.2 Pupils’ personal development is excellent and supported by outstanding pastoral care. The school fully meets its aim of developing every pupil’s academic potential, providing wide-ranging extra-curricular activities and enhancing their moral and spiritual development. They constantly strive to meet challenges and fulfil high expectations. Their care for one another, often across age groups, is evident in all aspects of school life. They have a clear understanding of right and wrong and a good knowledge of the wider world. Pupils appreciate the spiritual dimension in chapel and assemblies, and in subjects such as music and art, and are sensitive to the beliefs and values of others. Their awareness of those less fortunate than themselves is demonstrated through their charity fund-raising and involvement with the wider community. Compliant welfare, health and safety procedures and policies underpin the pupils’ development. 2.3 Governance is excellent and the trustees are totally committed to meeting the aims of the school. They have shown vision and oversight, and have demonstrated outstandingly skilled financial management. Governors and senior managers have addressed fully the recommendations of the previously separate inspection reports on the grammar and junior schools, and the school has taken considerable care to meet all statutory requirements. Library, ICT and other facilities are excellent, but ICT resources are still to be fully integrated into teaching and learning.