An independent school has been bumped up from ‘inadequate’ to ‘requires improvement’, after striving to make real change, according to the Hastings Observer
Buckswood School in Guestling has been identified by Ofsted as having made improvements, after low ratings coincided with it losing its ability to sponsor international pupils.
The school, located just outside Hastings, provides education for day and boarding pupils between the age of 10 and 19.
While the most recent report graded Buckswood as ‘requires improvement’, it was also rated ‘good’ in terms of personal development, behaviour and welfare.
A spokesperson for Buckswood School said:
“During our most recent Ofsted visit, the improvements that the school had made in just a few months were recognised – gaining two good standards in sixth form provision and personal development, behaviour and welfare, acknowledgement for prioritising the most important aspects for improvements and some great feedback.
“As a school, we believe in striving for continuous improvement and value the feedback we have received from external agencies, which has allowed us to continue in developing our provisions.
“The school’s management team are continuing to act on feedback received and are dedicated to offering the highest possible standards for our students.
“We look forward to our next inspection which will highlight our continuous improvements and progression.”
In March 2017, the school was rated ‘inadequate’, which was followed by two progress monitoring inspections in June 2017 and January 2018. It was found to have ‘not met all of the independent school standards and national minimum standards for boarding schools during these inspections’.
On Buckswood’s re-inspection this Summer, the school was told it required further improvements in four out of six categories, but was doing well in the remaining two.
Ofsted added in its report:
“Leaders have not kept enough oversight of arrangements to ensure that boarding accommodation is safe.
“The school does not meet the independent school standards and the national minimum standards for boarding schools.”
The report also acknowledged that ‘new co-principals have established a culture of sustained development and collaboration’, which bodes well for Buckswood’s future.
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