PRE-INSPECTION INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL January 2017 For the use of intended recipients only. Any copying or re-distribution of this document without permission is prohibited. © Independent Schools Inspectorate January 2017. All rights reserved. Pre-Inspection Information Note to heads Please complete this Pre-inspection information form, which provides essential inspection information for inspection planning. This information, along with the information provided online regularly to ISI, is necessary to ensure that inspection is appropriately matched to the context of your school. You do not need to revise it continually but, by having it ready completed, it can be updated quickly if necessary, for transmission to the reporting inspector when the school’s inspection is notified by telephone. When the reporting inspector contacts the school, s/he will have consulted the documentation which you have already made available as required to demonstrate regulatory compliance (you will have done this either via your website or through uploading the files to ISI). The information you provide is for use by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). It will be used only in connection with the inspection of the school and will be treated in strictest confidence. However, please note that individuals identifiable in the document may be entitled to obtain any such information under the Data Protection Act 1998. To be completed electronically Pre-inspection information about the school 1 Effective January 2017 For the use of intended recipients only. Any copying or re-distribution of this document without permission is prohibited. © Independent Schools Inspectorate January 2017. All rights reserved. Pre-Inspection Information Contact details for use during the inspection Name of school Yarlet School Name of head Ian Raybould Telephone (direct line): 01785 286569 Head’s contact details Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07525 420519 Name of person coordinating the inspection material Julia Bryan Post in school Headmaster’s Secretary Telephone: 01785 286568 Contact details Email: [email protected] Mobile: Name of person coordinating for EYFS Michelle Fowlie (if applicable) Post in school Head of Pre-Prep Telephone: 01785 286568 Contact details Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07841 873908 Name of person coordinating for boarding Ian Raybould (if applicable) Post in school Headmaster / Head of Boarding Telephone: 01785 286568 Contact details Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07525 420519 Pre-inspection information about the school 2 Effective January 2017 For the use of intended recipients only. Any copying or re-distribution of this document without permission is prohibited. © Independent Schools Inspectorate January 2017. All rights reserved. Pre-Inspection Information Background information About the school Only provide the most significant information in response to the following prompts. Distinctive features of the school Yarlet is an independent, non-selective coeducational school for children aged 2-13 which offers flexi-boarding on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from Year 3. Its location and history Set in Staffordshire countryside, the school is located beside the A34 between Stafford and Stone and is two miles from the M6 motorway. The school was founded in 1873 as a preparatory school for boys in a Victorian house near Stafford which forms the central area of the school today. The school became a charitable educational trust, with a board of governors in 1970 and became fully co-educational in 1994. The Nursery and Pre-Prep, for pupils between the ages of two and seven years, opened in 1993. These departments are accommodated in modern, purpose-built buildings. More recent developments include a sports hall and new science laboratory. Ownership and governance arrangements Give a brief outline of the governance arrangements. Indicate where the responsibility for the school lies. There may be an individual proprietor or proprietors or a trust or company with directors. Give the name of the person holding ultimate responsibility (‘the proprietor’) as declared to DfE (for example at the top of the annual return to DfE in January each year). Indicate whether or not the school is a registered charity. Yarlet is a charitable trust which is governed by a Board of Governors which meets termly. There are a number of sub-committees: Health and Safety, Academic and Marketing and Finance. The chair of governors in Sarah Tennant ([email protected]). Yarlet School is a registered charity. (No. 528618) Changes since the previous inspection Briefly outline any major changes in the nature of the school and its governance. Where relevant, mention changes to the EYFS setting and to boarding. Since the previous ‘quality’ type inspection in May 2012, there have been the following changes: Our EYFS setting is no longer registered with the DfE. (We do not admit pupils under 2 years old.) We no longer have school on Saturday mornings. We now have a Deputy Headteacher. Our flexi-boarding provision has moved from Thursday and Friday evenings to Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Pre-inspection information about the school 3 Effective January 2017 For the use of intended recipients only. Any copying or re-distribution of this document without permission is prohibited. © Independent Schools Inspectorate January 2017. All rights reserved. Pre-Inspection Information What the school seeks to do A brief summary of the school’s aims At Yarlet School, we aim to have: A. pupils who are safe and extremely well cared for and nurtured in an environment which promotes and recognises exemplary behaviour; B. pupils who achieve to the best of their ability in all areas of school life and are thoroughly prepared for the next stage of their education; C. a curriculum which is broad and balanced and designed to challenge all students, develop their academic abilities, and build upon their individual strengths; D. an extensive and high quality extracurricular programme which is particularly strong in sport and music and includes opportunities for pupils to learn by making contributions in the community; E. excellent teaching which is inspirational and enables children to reach their full potential; F. frequent opportunities for pupils to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally; G. a thriving flexi-boarding service which allows pupils to gain valuable boarding experience whilst participating in a range of activities which are well organised and fun; H. outstanding Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision which affords the strongest possible start for our youngest pupils; I. an active Board of Governors which places great importance on child safety and welfare and provides vision, support and guidance to the school’s leadership team; J. a solid leadership and management team which provides clear direction and maintains the highest standards across the board; K. premises, accommodation and resources which are of a good standard and enable pupils to thrive; L. a high quality catering service, a clean and hygienic environment and children who take pride in their appearance by wearing a smart but practical uniform; M. grounds and buildings which are secure, well maintained and attractive; N. the opportunity for past pupils to have a continued involvement in the school by attending special events and being kept up-to-date via social media and the school’s website; O. a first-class reputation in the local community and beyond; P. an effective system of communicating with parents, carers and/or guardians and a commitment to provide regular feedback in relation to pupil effort, progress and attainment; Q. a stable and well managed financial position; R. a commitment to provide public benefit, including the provision of bursaries at 11+ through the R. S. Plant Awards and Combined Scholarship Programme. About the pupils Total number of pupils on roll Approx.20 Boys 80 Girls 73 Day Pupils 153 Boarders (flexi) EYFS 37 Juniors (Y1-6) 90 Seniors (Y7-11) 26 Sixth Form 0 Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) Number of pupils the school has identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities 35 Number of pupils receiving additional support for their special educational needs 35 Number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs 0 Pre-inspection information about the school 4 Effective January 2017 For the use of intended recipients only. Any copying or re-distribution of this document without permission is prohibited. © Independent Schools Inspectorate January 2017. All rights reserved. Pre-Inspection Information Number of pupils with an EHC plan 1 Number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or EHC plan funded by the local authority 1 Does the school produce individual education plans (IEPs)? Yes Brief description of the nature of special educational needs within the school: The school has a part time Head of Learning Support who coordinates the support provided for pupils with learning difficulties. The vast majority of children receiving support have mild, dyslexic type learning difficulties or mild concentration or processing difficulties. However we do have a small number of pupils with more pronounced or complex needs, one of whom has an EHCP. English as an additional language Number of pupils for whom English is an additional language (EAL) 2 Of whom the number of pupils whose English is below a functional level of competence