Posh Coventry schools failed to vet new staff...

[dutchman]

King Henry VIII School, which charges fees of £6,416 a year, was found not to have met safeguarding standards relating to recruitment processes



Two independent schools in Coventry have been criticised over safeguarding failings, according to newly published reports.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) found that King Henry VIII School and Bablake School did not always carry out pre-employment checks on new members of staff.

Inspectors visited the schools, both part of the Coventry School Foundation (CSF), in April and found that of the two schools, more improvements were required at King Henry.

The report said King Henry did not maintain an admissions register in line with existing regulations and did not on a consistent basis report to the local authority (Coventry City Council), when a pupil joined or left the school outside of traditional transition times.

It also said leaders at the school on Warwick Road did not make sure that the appropriate checks on new members of staff were carried out.

"Leaders and staff with responsibility for pre-employment recruitment processes do not demonstrate appropriate knowledge to ensure that all of the reference checks required are carried out as required," the report stated.

"They do not ensure that all references have been verified by a suitable person. Governors do not have effective oversight of this area."

Inspectors found a similar issue at Bablake School.

The ISI said while the physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing of pupils at Bablake were being met, the same could not be said for those at King Henry VIII.

Inspectors said the school's failing in this area was down to the admissions register not being maintained in line with statutory guidance.

They recommended that the CSF ensured references had been completed by a person with appropriate authority and that the school-based reference system at King Henry was confirmed as accurate by the headteacher, especially with disciplinary action.