INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE
Inspection of
NORTH LONDON COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
February 2008
(summary)
- THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION
- The educational experience provided -
The last inspection concluded that the educational experience provided was good. It is now outstanding.
Senior School
For many years, the school has been one of the leading schools for chamber music, regularly winning the Founders Trophy in the National Schools' Chamber Music competition. Pupils are also regularly involved in the National Children's orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra. The school mounts about twenty dramatic productions a year. Pupils often appear in theatre, radio, television, and film productions. Some have recently contributed to exhibitions at the Saatchi Gallery and the Letchworth Arts Centre. The school currently holds a Gold Level Artsmark Award for its achievements and activities in these areas. Pupils also take part in many sports. Each year, some represent the country, and occasionally their country, in lacrosse, netball, gymnastics, cross-country running and athletics. All these activities provide the pupils with wide-ranging opportunities for individual and team success and cultural awareness.
Junior School
The quality of education in the Junior School meets the aims of enabling pupils to make the most of their abilities and to strive for academic excellence, helped by a highly committed and enthusiastic staff. The school provides a non-competitive environment in which pupils are free to become independent learners and be self-disciplined. Teachers expect high standards and they encourage tolerance of others and individual self- expression, especially through PSHE, drama and music lessons. Continuity in curriculum planning between different sections of the school is a strong feature.
1.1 Pupils learning and achievements
Whole School
The pupils' learning and achievements are outstanding. The pupils are able to demonstrate critical and creative thinking and understanding in every year group and they acquire exceptionally high standards of knowledge and skills, particularly in speaking, listening, reading, writing, mathematical competence , logical and independent thought and use of ICT.
Senior School
They are interested in their subjects and derive considerable enjoyment and intellectual excitement from every aspect of their work.
Junior School
The schools tradition of academic ambition is reflected in the outstanding level of the pupils' learning. The work was challenging and well thought out, extending the pupils' experiences. Pupils enjoy working cooperatively and do so sensibly.
1.2 The quality of teaching
Whole School
The quality of teaching is good and frequently outstanding and has been improved since the previous inspection. Teachers go out of their way to prepare projects for pupils of exceptional ability, of which the school has a significant number, to stimulate them and stretch them intellectually. Teaching fosters in pupils the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and an ability to think and learn for themselves.
Senior School
The overall quality of teaching in the Senior School is good and frequently outstanding. A particular strength is the coordination between academic and pastoral staff to ensure that all pupils, regardless of ability, are given guidance and support.
A notable feature of the teaching is the extent to which it enables pupils to think and learn for themselves. In particular, skilled questioning frequently elicits personal responses and further enquiry from pupils that allows them to work things out for themselves.
The joy of scholarship and the virtue of academic rigour are conveyed to pupils in most lessons.
A distinctive feature of the school's approach to assessment is the absence of any rank orders of pupils by their performance. The focus is on each individual's achievement and their self motivation. Pupils welcome the freedom this brings from the stress of public competition, while acknowledging that they continue to be competitive and treat seriously the assessments they are given.
Junior School
The high quality of teaching encourages pupils to behave responsibly and enjoy learning through the outstanding realtionships that prevail throughout.
1.3 Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development of Pupils
Whole School
The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils is outstanding. Pupils develop spiritually; acquire a sense of identity, self worth, personal insight, meaning and purpose, within a system that gives them opportunities to explore values and beliefs, including religious beliefs, and the way in which they affect pupils' lives.
- THE QUALITY OF PASTORAL CARE AND RELATIONSHIPS
Whole School
The quality of pastoral care and of the welfare, health and safety of pupils is outstanding. The quality of relationships between staff and pupils among the pupils is excellent. Pupils are confident when talking to staff that any concerns they may have will be listened to sympathetically.
Senior School
The quality of pastoral care, support and guidance is outstanding. Tutors and section heads deal promptly with any matters of concern. The deputy head (pastoral) and the section heads are very effective in leading and managing procedures for pastoral care. The pupils value the buddy system for new pupils and peer counselling by members of the Sixth Form.
Courtesy, care and consideration of others are well- understood and underpin community life. Behaviour in the Senior School is excellent, and the school takes effective measures to promote it.
The pupils are very supportive of one another. They say that they have a very constructive, open and friendly relationship with staff and that they are valued as part of the school community. This atmosphere of ease and trust encourages pupils to take a full part in lessons and in extra-curricular activities where they have confidence to show initiative and develop leadership skills.
Junior School
Pastoral care in the Junior School is outstanding. The staff are fully committed to providing support and guidance to the pupils. The importance the junior school places on the pastoral care and welfare of pupils is reinforced through themes in assemblies and topics in PSHE.
2.1 Quality of links with parents and the community
Whole School
The links with the community are also outstanding and continue to be developed. Teachers are approachable and know their pupils well, and parents feel that several members of staff are readily available for them to approach for advice. The excellent link between teachers and parents is a significant factor in the strong pastoral care system
3. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT AND MANAGEMENT
The quality of leadership and management of the school is outstanding. The headmistress provides strong and dynamic leadership, ably supported by her senior management team (SMT). Together they provide clear educational direction that is reflected in the quality of education, the care of pupils and the fulfilment of the school's aims and ethos.
The SMT has adopted an integrated approach to management. The pupils are part of this integrated approach because, through their tutor groups and the School Council, for example, they are able to put forward ideas and suggestions so that they become part of the management process. This could not be achieved without easy and often quite informal relationships between pupils and their teachers. The pupils in both the Junior and the Senior Schools are very mature for their ages.
Conclusions and next steps
Whole School
The quality of teaching is good and frequently outstanding. Its main strengths are in the quality of lesson planning, the effectiveness of the teaching methods, the careful management of time and the teachers' complete command of, and enthusiasm for, their subject. The pupils are keen and effective learners. They respond well to teaching. Relationships between pupils and teachers are excellent. The school is very successful in placing pupils in the universities of their choice. The pupils' spiritual, moral, social, and cultural awareness is outstanding. The quality of the school's pastoral care, welfare, health and safety is also outstanding. The school has excellent links with the wider community. The leadership, management and governance of the school are outstanding. The school development plan shows appropriate short and long term planning. Pupils are able to look forward to their next stage of education with confidence.