Banstead Prep School Recognised for ‘Significant Strength’ in Exceptional ISI Inspection Report

Banstead Prep School was inspected by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI) in November last year and was thrilled to be able to share the final report with parents this week. Jon Chesworth, Headteacher said “We are exceptionally proud that we received a ‘significant strength’, which sets Banstead Prep apart from other schools in the local area and places us in the top 10% of inspected schools. This is a truly outstanding report, with which we couldn’t be happier and a wonderful reflection of the hard work of our brilliant staff, the amazing progress of our children and the incredible support we receive from our parent community.”

This was the school’s first inspection under the new inspection framework, which does not award a one-word judgement (the school previously achieved Excellent in all areas, the highest standard possible). Instead, the inspection team look to evaluate whether the required standards of independent schools are met and gather evidence from pupils, staff, parents and leaders to support it. Under the new framework, identifying significant strengths is the only mechanism for recognising exceptional performance and if the inspection team propose this judgement, it also must be independently ratified before inclusion in the final report.   

The report recognises Banstead Prep’s success in delivering a modern education for a bright future through the learner powers, highlighting that the children’s “self-knowledge is well-developed through the school’s focus on supporting them to develop the right habits and attitudes to learn successfully such as adaptability, collaboration, curiosity, independence, leadership and resilience” and noting that the children “recognise these characteristics apply not only to their current learning, but to their future lives” Inspectors judged that the children’s “progress and achievements are enhanced by their use of these characteristics when they work individually and in groups” and that “This is a significant strength of the school.” 

The inspectors also saw evidence of the school’s Free to be ME ethos, describing it as “a community of happy, confident and mutually respectful young people who know through experience that their school motto is genuine.”  

Inspectors observed strong academic achievement, noting that “Teachers are ambitious for pupils to achieve” that our children “make good progress and attain highly in comparison to national expectations” and “leave Banstead well prepared for the subsequent stages of their education.”  There is also plenty of evidence of how a broad curriculum and specialist teaching contributes to success – “Teachers use their expert subject knowledge to deliver stimulating well-resourced lessons.” 

They also experienced Banstead Prep’s diverse and inclusive community, noting that “The school’s philosophy recognises the value of diversity and the individuality of everyone” which “successfully generates an atmosphere of mutual respect that permeates the entire school community.” Furthermore, “Pupils enjoy their education and thrive because explicit emphasis is placed on diversity and equality”. 

Inspection reports always include some recommendations for next steps for leaders and Jon was delighted that the inspection team agreed that leaders should continue with plans to “embed strategies in all subject areas that help pupils understand how they learn most effectively”, which the school’s focus on metacognition this academic year will achieve. 

Jon added: “We are thrilled that everything we are striving to deliver has been shown to be evident in all that we do, all the way through the school from Nursery to Year 6.  My personal favourite quote is in the section about the children’s emotional wellbeing: “Pupils of all ages know that their teachers and senior leaders are genuinely interested in what they have to say.” Putting the children at the centre of everything we do is our top priority at Banstead Prep and it’s gratifying that the inspection team saw that so clearly.”

Find out more information and download the full report here. To experience Banstead Prep for yourself, come to our next Open Morning – see upcoming dates and book online here.

Open Morning Thursday 27 February

Our next Open Morning on Thursday 27 February.  You can tour the school on a normal working day and Headteacher Jon Chesworth will share Banstead Prep’s ethos, and vision for the future.

Book a place online now