Boarding School

BOARDING SCHOOL Adcote School For Girls Little Ness Shrewsbury Shropshire SY4 2JY Lead Inspector Jackie Callaghan Key Announced Inspection 20th November 2006 10:00 Adcote School For Girls DS0000020767.V287227.R01.S.d Version 5.2 Page 1 oc The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to: • Put the people who use social care first • Improve services and stamp out bad practice • Be an expert voice on social care • Practise what we preach in our own organisation Reader Information Document Purpose Inspection Report Author CSCI Audience General Public Further copies from 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Copyright This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI Internet address www.csci.org.uk Adcote School For Girls DS0000020767.V287227.R01.S.d Version 5.2 Page 2 oc This is a report of an inspection to assess whether services are meeting the needs of people who use them. The legal basis for conducting inspections is the Care Standards Act 2000 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for this establishment are those for Boarding Schools. They can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or obtained from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop Every Child Matters, outlined the government’s vision for children’s services and formed the basis of the Children Act 2004. It provides a framework for inspection so that children’s services should be judged on their contribution to the outcomes considered essential to wellbeing in childhood and later life. Those outcomes are: • Being healthy • Staying safe • Enjoying and achieving • Making a contribution; and • Achieving economic wellbeing. In response, the Commission for Social Care Inspection has re-ordered the national minimum standards for children’s services under the five outcomes, for reporting purposes. A further section has been created under ‘Management’ to cover those issues that will potentially impact on all the outcomes above. Copies of Every Child Matters and The Children Act 2004 are available from The Stationery Office as above. Adcote School For Girls DS0000020767.V287227.R01.S.d Version 5.2 Page 3 oc SCHOOL INFORMATION Name of school Adcote School For Girls Address Little Ness Shrewsbury Shropshire SY4 2JY Telephone number 01939 260202 Fax number 01939 261300 Email address [email protected] Provider Web address Name of Governing body, Adcote School Educational Trust Limited Person or Authority responsible for the school Name of Head Deborah Hammond Name of Head of Care Age range of boarding 7 - 18 pupils Date of last welfare 15th November 2004 inspection Adcote School For Girls DS0000020767.V287227.R01.S.d Version 5.2 Page 4 oc Brief Description of the School: Adcote School for Girls is a well-established, independent, non-selective day and boarding school for pupils aged 4 - 18. There is also a nursery on site for boys and girls from birth. At the time of this inspection 39 pupils were boarding at the school and there were 56-day pupils. The school is an Educational Trust and has enjoyed charitable status since 1964.The site occupies 27 acres and lies in a very rural setting, but is easily accessible by road and rail. It is set in beautiful countryside, in the village of Little Ness, some 10 miles north west of Shrewsbury. The clearly signposted driveway provides a welcoming approach to the well maintained and attractive grounds and gardens. The school was established in 1907 and moved to its present site in 1927. It is a substantial Grade 1 listed country mansion and all boarding accommodation is provided on the first and second floors of the main house. Younger girls share a room, whilst the older girls have a study/ bedroom of their own. The Head of Pastoral Care and 3 Matrons provide pastoral care and support to boarders. In addition each pupil has a Personal Tutor who also take responsibility for their care, personal development, welfare and general happiness. The Headmistress is ultimately responsible for pastoral care and monitoring of the boarding provision. School fees for boarding currently range from weekly boarding at £11,970 per annum to full boarding at £13,605 per annum for Junior boarders with senior boarding costing £14,415 per annum for weekly boarding and £16,230 per annum for full boarding. For any day pupils who wish to occasionally board overnight there is an additional cost to their day fees. Adcote School For Girls DS0000020767.V287227.R01.S.d Version 5.2 Page 5 oc SUMMARY This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection. Two inspectors went to the School on Monday 20th November the School knew that they were going to visit. The inspectors stayed at the School for two and a half days and were able to spend time talking to the young people that board at Adcote School for Girls. The inspectors also: • Spoke to the Headmistress, Deputy Head Pastoral and some staff • Looked at some files • Watched how the young people and staff got along together To help the inspector to write the report the Headmistress, Ms Hammond sent the inspector information about the School. The inspector also used other information, which she already knew about the School. What the school does well: These are some of the good things that the inspectors saw and the young people and staff told them about. What the young people said • “We have 2 payphones and can use matrons phone and most of us have mobiles”. • “The atmosphere is great you are with your friends and you get good privacy which is respected”. • “It’s a family, but you get your own space”. • Everyone respects each other and tries to respect private times like when you are on the phone to your mom and dad”. • This told the inspectors that the young people are supported to maintain contact with their families and that staff respect their privacy. Adcote School For Girls DS0000020767.V287227.R01.S.d Version 5.2 Page 6 oc • When asked about punishments these are some of things that the children and young people said, “quite often you are given the benefit of doubt and let off with a warning”. • “staff are very fair with you and its not often that they have to punish you. When they do they make it clear why”. • These comments showed that staff only used punishments when it was really necessary. • When asked about support and guidance from staff these were some of the things that the children and young people said, “Matrons are like mothers they care for you, but then they are not like mothers because they do not nag you”. • “We are like a really close family”. • “Staff respect us and treat us as responsible individuals”. • “It’s the same for everyone, even though they recognise that everyone is different”. • These comments showed that staff were supportive treating children equally but supporting them to be individuals”. What parents told the inspectors through questionnaires. • “Standards of behaviour in junior department are very good. I am pleased with the pastoral care. I feel my child is well looked after”. • There is a strong parent, child, school partnership which is exceptional and rare”. • “The pastoral care has helped my daughter improve her academic attainment. A happy child learns more readily”. What the inspectors saw Adcote School For Girls DS0000020767.V287227.R01.S.d Version 5.2 Page 7 oc • There were locks on all the toilet doors and all the showers either had curtains or a cubicle door. • Young people were relaxing in their bedrooms on an evening when the inspectors visited their dormitories. • The bedroom walls were full of posters or interesting articles. • Young people were freely talking to staff and those that needed help were openly asking for staff to assist them. • Young people are well looked after and they also learn about looking after themselves, which helps them to prepare for becoming an adult. What has improved since the last inspection? • All staff have received training on responding to issues where there is concern for children’s safety. • The medication systems have been improved to make sure that medication is taken out of the container when it is given to a pupil and tablets are no longer kept in an envelope. • All staff including any Gap students are given training when they first come to the school to help them settle in. • The School does not allow any adult access to the children unless they have undergone important checks before starting to make sure they have no past criminal record. • Many areas of the School including the bathrooms and toilets have been improved with new furniture and carpets or flooring. • Windows that are on the upper floors have been fitted with restrictors to help keep children safe. Adcote School For Girls DS0000020767.V287227.R01.S.d Version 5.2 Page 8 oc What they could do better: • Not all of the important information was on staff files. There are some things that are useful to know about staff. For example, all of the places they have worked in the past and if there is anything that would mean they should not be supporting young people. These help the people in charge know that they are the right person for the job they are doing. • A written record needs to be kept as to why any medication is given. This will help staff look after the pupils better and help them understand how they can help you and keep you safe.

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