Top prep school rated ‘excellent’ across the board

FELSTED Preparatory School has been judged ‘excellent’ in all areas following a recent visit by independent school inspectors.

The school achieved a clean sweep - the highest standard possible - in each of the seven categories marked up by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the agency responsible for the inspection of schools belonging to the Independent Schools Council.

Teaching, pupils’ personal development, and management were particularly praised. The report states: ‘The quality of pupils’ achievements and their learning, attitudes and skills is excellent. Literacy and numeracy skills are very high and from an early age the pupils are articulate and numerate.

‘Behaviour is exemplary and pupils come to lessons with an eagerness to learn. The school provides an excellent curriculum that is broad and balanced, and carefully planned to meet the needs of all pupils. It is enriched by a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The quality of teaching is excellent.’

Pupils’ personal development was also described as excellent, and it was noted that Young Felstedians ‘show well-developed confidence and self-awareness’.

‘The pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent. Older pupils become mature and sensitive young people. The school has excellent arrangements to promote pupils’ welfare, health and safety within a very happy, caring and inclusive environment,’ read the report.

‘Managers at all levels have a clear vision of the direction and ethos of the school,’ said the report. The Inspectors could find no points for action, and concluded that ‘at the time of the initial visit, the school met all the requirements of the Independent School Standards Regulations 2010.’

Felsted Preparatory School’s headteacher Jenny Burrett was delighted with the report. She said: “This is a real achievement. We are delighted that the hard work of pupils, parents, teachers, governors and indeed the wider Felsted Preparatory School community has been acknowledged in the glowing 2011 report.

“Together with an Ofsted rating of ‘outstanding’ for both our Early Years Foundation Stage and the quality of our boarding, we are proud and pleased to conclude that the school is clearly achieving its aims and we are offering our pupils the best education imaginable.”

The areas marked for improvement were the sharing of existing excellent practice and refinement of target setting.

There was also a recommendation to make more use of the outside environment for early years teaching when the achool’s new pre-preparatory building is opened in September.