St Albans Independent College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 March 2024

Pupils are very happy to attend this school. Many describe the hugely beneficial impact the school has for their achievement and well-being. Pupils really enjoy the excellent relationships they have with their teachers and their peers. They like the fact that the very small class sizes allow them to receive a high level of individual support. Pupils can study different combinations of subjects over different time periods. For example, if appropriate, they can complete an A-Level qualification in one year. Pupils like that there are lots of subjects that they can choose to study. This bespoke approach benefits the pupils. Pupils' education is very tailored to their needs. The culture of the school is one of kindness and understanding. Pupils consistently behave well. They listen respectfully to each other's views. They engage with alternative viewpoints and are interested in what others have to say. Pupils benefit from the fact that their teachers give them the knowledge and skills to engage in interesting and relevant discussions. This helps to ensure that they are well prepared for their next stage of education or training.

What the school should improve

• The school's systems for monitoring and improving pupils' attendance need to be further refined. Leaders must raise their expectations of what all pupils' attendance should be, particularly vulnerable pupils. If pupils' attendance falls below these high expectations, the school must ensure that they act swiftly to support all pupils to attend well.
• In some areas, leaders are not sufficiently knowledgeable in order to identify where improvements are needed. Some leaders have not been supported well enough to know how to monitor their areas and intervene if standards are not high enough. Although this has not impacted the quality of education that pupils receive, the school needs to establish a robust system for staff training to allow all leaders to fulfil their role well.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)