New Independent School regulations

Heads of School, bursars and others in managerial positions in the independent school sector need to take note of The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2010.  The new Regulations come into effect as of 1st September 2010 and update the previous standards based regulations which the independent schools sector is expected to comply with. 

In regard to what is covered:

. Volunteers, as opposed to staff working under a contract of employment, are now covered separately under the Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education guidance provided by the Department for Education. 

There are new standards including as to:

. the quality of education provided - a written curriculum policy is required supported by plans and schemes of work is to be drawn up and implemented providing for matters specified in the Regulations,

standards as to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils – specified principles are to be promoted.

. Also covered is the welfare, health and safety of pupils, the suitability of school proprietors and staff, premises and accommodation, the provision of information and the handling of complaints. 

. New features include that school proprietors are responsible for ensuring and safeguarding the welfare of pupils.

. Proprietors are obliged to safeguard the welfare of boarders, whether or not they are pupils at the school.  Regard must be had to the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools, or if relevant, Residential Special Schools.

. Previous regulations applying to checks on staff as to previous employment history, character references and professional references are removed as such checks are to be carried out in accordance with the Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education guidance.

. There is new provision for identification checks, checks with equivalent overseas bodies on those who have lived abroad, right to work checks and Criminal Records Bureau checks to be carried out on proprietors.

. The Education Secretary may request a CRB check to determine the suitability of a proprietor.

. Boarding and residential special schools are to send to parents of boarding schools a copy of the 3 yearly boarding school inspection reports.  This puts boarding reports on the same basis as education provision reports.

Hewitsons partner, Colin Jones, says "Hewitsons Education Group advises an increasing number of schools in the independent sector on compliance with a regularly shifting set of legislation and regulations covering commercial and corporate matters, employment, health and safety and construction of premises and accommodation, all of which are areas covered by the 2010 Regulations."

For more information on how Hewitsons can help you click here to visit our Education page or contact Colin Jones by email here or call him on 01223 461155.