Uppingham School, a prestigious boarding school in Leicestershire with fees reaching up to £55,000 per year, has been warned that it is falling short in key areas related to pupils’ physical and mental health, emotional wellbeing, and safeguarding, according to a recent inspection.
The inspection, conducted over two and a half days by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI), revealed that the school failed to meet three out of five inspection criteria. The report highlighted serious concerns regarding the school’s approach to the wellbeing of its students, including issues with both physical and mental health, emotional wellbeing, and the overall safeguarding environment.
Concerns Over Student Behaviour and Respect
One of the primary concerns raised by the inspectors was the behavior of senior students toward younger pupils. The report found instances of poor behavior, particularly by older students towards those with protected characteristics, which undermines the culture of respect within the school. The inspectors noted that the school’s efforts to address this behavior were insufficient, and there was no consistent evidence of improvement across the school’s 15 student boarding houses.
The ISI emphasized that Uppingham School had failed to implement policies effectively to promote a culture of respect, urging the school’s leadership to take stronger steps to combat poor behavior and ensure that the values of respect permeate throughout the entire institution. The report called for actions to strengthen these strategies and create a more positive and respectful environment for all pupils.
Concerns About Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
In addition to behavioral issues, the school was also criticized for its failure to adequately support the physical and emotional wellbeing of its students. Although the school has significant resources at its disposal, the inspectors noted gaps in the provision of support, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This shortcoming contributed to some students underachieving in comparison to their peers.
Uppingham School is home to 102 students with special needs, and the report found that these students were not always supported in the manner outlined in their lesson plans. This lack of consistency in support was seen as detrimental to the academic and emotional development of students with additional learning needs.
Leadership and Governance Failures
The inspection also pointed to weaknesses in leadership and governance at Uppingham School. Inspectors found that leaders and governors lacked adequate knowledge and oversight, particularly regarding their statutory duties to report changes in student enrollment to the relevant local authorities. There were also concerns about the treatment of students with SEND, as well as the failure to adhere to proper procedures when students joined or left the school outside of the standard times.
This lack of oversight has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the school’s leadership in ensuring that all aspects of the institution are functioning to the required standards. As a result, the ISI recommended that the school’s leadership take immediate steps to address these governance and safeguarding failures.
The Path Forward for Uppingham School
Despite these serious issues, Uppingham School did meet some key standards, including those related to the quality of education, social and economic education, and the contribution pupils make to society. However, the school’s failure to meet important standards in wellbeing, leadership, and safeguarding has prompted calls for urgent reforms.
Uppingham’s headmaster, Dr. Richard J. Maloney, previously praised the school for its strong boarding program and commitment to holistic education. However, the recent inspection has cast a shadow over those achievements, with the need for immediate action to address the areas of concern becoming evident.
The school has been advised to bolster its systems for promoting a culture of respect, enhance its support for students with SEND, and ensure that leadership and governance structures are fully compliant with statutory requirements. Only by addressing these deficiencies can Uppingham School regain its reputation as a leading institution for the wellbeing and academic success of its students.
