The Quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is Excellent.

The Quality of the pupils’ personal development is Excellent. 

Following a full Focused Compliance and Educational Quality Inspection with the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI – the Ofsted equivalent for Independent Schools) in September, we are delighted to have been graded ‘EXCELLENT’ - the highest possible grade – in both key outcomes: the pupils’ academic and other achievements; and the pupils’ personal development. This is an extremely impressive achievement for Shebbear College and places us as the top Independent School in the local area based on ISI ratings.

Throughout the school pupils generally have outstanding attitudes to their learning and are determined to succeed. They respond positively to teaching which aims to help each child make progress, discover their own passions and have aspirational goals.

The Inspection Team spent four days at the school earlier this term, when they observed a wide range of lessons, interviewed a large number of pupils and staff and sent out questionnaires to parents, staff and pupils. Pupils’ work was submitted for scrutiny and the school’s policies and procedures were assessed in detail.

The Reporting Inspector remarked that it was extremely rare to see such overwhelmingly positive questionnaire responses from parents, pupils and staff . Our school community really did come together to show our fantastic school off with pride and I know that we will continue going from strength-to-strength in the coming months and years.

The ISI framework changed in 2018 when the regulatory body merged the then nine key outcomes to just two, meaning it is increasingly difficult to achieve Excellent in both and making the Shebbear College report even more significant.

In addition, the school met every single standard set in the Regulatory Compliance part of the Inspection, with no action points to follow up on and no improvements needed. This section covers all aspects of school compliance, looking closely at the quality of education provided, the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, the safeguarding, health and welfare of pupils, the safe recruitment of staff, the boarding accommodation and the quality of the Leadership and Management to name just some of the requirements and standards set.

Pupils believe in their ability and take every opportunity to praise each other, thus increasing the self-esteem of their peers. In doing so they respond well to the college’s culture of mutual respect and celebrating success.

You can read more and access the full report here.