Last month the school received a Regulatory Compliance Inspection from ISI. I am delighted that the ISI inspection of the school affirmed the quality of education and care here at Widford Lodge. Unlike previous inspections, the inspectors were not at school to reach a judgment about the quality of educational provision or management, and so the report contains no qualitative judgments – the inspectors are not allowed to use words such as exceptional or outstanding. Instead, they simply decide whether we comply with all the legislation that applies to schools (The Independent Schools Standards Regulations) in eight discrete areas. You will see from the report that in each of the areas, following a brief narrative, we are told that we have ‘met the standard’ in all areas. This may appear pretty unexciting but it is the highest possible achievement under this current inspection framework and is a huge accolade. Across a large number of requirements and regulations covering everything from health and safety and recruitment to governance and the curriculum, the inspectors found that we complied with every element and that there were no recommendations for the school to do anything differently.
I am enormously grateful to all the staff at Widford Lodge for the consistently high standards they set and to all the pupils for the part they played in making such a successful inspection. I would also like to thank all the parents who took the trouble to fill in the questionnaires that helped the inspectors come to their judgments. I am particularly pleased to be stepping down from my current position at a time when it is clear that Widford Lodge is a healthy and successful school. I know that the school will continue to do everything possible to ensure that our provision remains exemplary.
Regulatory Compliance Inspection Report
Mr S C Trowell
