Simply Outstanding!

Repton has been officially rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted following their inspection in October.

Over four days the Inspectors immersed themselves into the life of the School, visiting all ten Houses and meeting pupils and staff right across the Repton community.  The School was then judged in six key welfare areas, ranging from helping pupils to remain healthy and safe to enabling them achieve to their highest potential.

The Inspectors clearly enjoyed their Repton experience and were fulsome in their praise, highlighting the impressive quality of care and excellent relationships between staff and pupils, ‘characterised by a sense of trust, respect for and tolerance of others within a relaxed and open community’.  The team commented that ‘all pupils feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect’ by ‘energetic, enthusiastic and dedicated’ staff.  There is ‘an outstanding staff awareness of the individual needs of pupils’ and their ‘sensitive and caring approach’ is indicative of the ethos of the School:  ‘Pupils receive outstanding support in a school that values both the spiritual and moral development of each person and fosters a supportive, caring community.’

They also recognised the central role of the house community: ‘Pupils are happy, show great loyalty to their houses and speak warmly of the care and guidance they receive from staff. The ethos of the houses is very positive and relaxed; pupils refer to an environment that promotes mutual trust, respect and friendship.’

Pupils of all ages and backgrounds were consulted on their views and reported very positively on their experience of school life.  One Sixth Former commented that Repton was “the best school!  I could not have had a happier, more fulfilling time here...  It feels like home.”  Another said: ‘Boarding life is fantastic. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else’.

Sarah Tennant, the Deputy Head (Pastoral), said: ‘The welfare of our pupils is the very heart of what we as a school set out to secure and it is very gratifying to receive such unreserved affirmation from a very experienced team of Inspectors.  I am particularly delighted for our house staff – the Housemasters, Housemistresses and Matrons who work tirelessly to ensure that Reptonians are safe, healthy and happy – and we are grateful to the many parents who responded to Ofsted’s request for feedback.’

Delighted with the results of the Inspection, Headmaster Robert Holroyd commented: ‘This achievement reflects the efforts and contribution of every single member of the team throughout the organisation.  Indeed, the inspectors paid particular tribute to the way in which staff and pupils at all levels were dedicated to the School and fully integrated partners of the Repton family.’

To read the full report please click here.