Independent School Standards

Part 3

6

The standards about the welfare, health and safety of pupils at the school are those contained in this Part

7

The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that –

7(a)

arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and

7(b)

such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State

8

Where section 87(1) of the Children Act 1989 applies in relation to a school the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that –

8(a)

arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of boarders* while they are accommodated at the school

8(b)

such arrangements have regard to the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or, where applicable, the National Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools

 

*Boarder means a pupil for whom a school provides accommodation, whether or not the pupil is a pupil at that school

Part 4

17

The standards about the suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors are contained in this part

18(1)

The standard in this paragraph relates to the suitability of persons appointed as members of staff at the school, other than the proprietor and supply staff

18(2)

The standard in this paragraph is met if –

18(2)(a)

no such person is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 where that person is or will be engaging in activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 4 to that Act

18(2)(b)

no such person carries out work, or intends to carry out work, at the school in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction made under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 or section 142 of the Education Act 2002, or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in either such direction

18(2)(c)

the proprietor carries out appropriate checks to confirm in respect of each such person –

18(2)(c)(i)

the person’s identity

18(2)(c)(ii)

the person’s medical fitness

18(2)(c)(iii)

the person’s right to work in the United Kingdom; and

18(2)(c)(iv)

where appropriate, the person’s qualifications

18(2)(d)

the proprietor ensures that, where relevant to any such person, an enhanced criminal record check is made in respect of that person and an enhanced criminal record certificate is obtained before or as soon as practicable after that person's appointment

18(2)(e)

in the case of any person for whom, by reason of that person living or having lived outside the United Kingdom, obtaining such a certificate is not sufficient to establish the person’s suitability to work in a school, such further checks are made as the proprietor considers appropriate, having regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State; and

18(2)(f)

in the case of staff who care for, train, supervise or are in charge of boarders, in addition to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) to (e), the proprietor checks that Standard 19 of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or, where applicable, Standard 24 of the National Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools, is complied with, and in the light of the information from the checks referred to in paragraphs (c) to (f) the proprietor considers that the person is suitable for the position to which the person is appointed

18(3)

The checks referred to in sub-paragraphs (2)(c) and (except where sub-paragraph (4) applies) (2)(e) must be completed before a person’s appointment

18(4)

The checks specified in sub-paragraphs (2)(d), (e) and (f) do not need to be carried out where the new member of staff ('M') has worked in –

18(4)(a)

a school or a maintained school in England in a position which brought M regularly into contact with children or young persons

18(4)(b)

a maintained school in England in a position to which M was appointed on or after 12th May 2006 and which did not bring M regularly into contact with children or young persons; or

18(4)(c)

an institution within the further education sector in England or in a 16 to 19 Academy in a position which involved the provision of education or which brought M regularly into contact with children or young persons,

 

during a period which ended not more than three months before M's appointment

19(1)

This paragraph relates to the suitability of supply staff at the school

19(2)

The standard in this paragraph is met if -

19(2)(a)

a person offered for supply by an employment business to the school only begins to work at the school if the proprietor has received –

19(2)(a)(i)

written notification from the employment business in relation to that person -

19(2)(a)(aa)

that the checks referred to in paragraph 21(3)(a)(i) to (iv), (vii) and (b) have been made to the extent relevant to that person

19(2)(a)(bb)

that, where relevant to that person, an enhanced criminal record check has been made and that it or another employment business has obtained an enhanced criminal record certificate in response to such a check; and

19(2)(a)(cc)

if the employment business has obtained such a certificate before the person is due to begin work at the school, whether it disclosed any matter or information; and

19(2)(a)(dd)

that, where that person is one for whom, by reason of that person living or having lived outside the United Kingdom, obtaining such a certificate is not sufficient to establish the person's suitability to work in a school, it or another employment business has obtained such further checks as appropriate, having regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State; and

19(2)(a)(ii)

a copy of any enhanced criminal record certificate obtained by an employment business before the person is due to begin work at the school

19(2)(b)

a person offered for supply by an employment business only begins work at the school if the proprietor considers that the person is suitable for the work for which the person is supplied

19(2)(c)

before a person offered for supply by an employment business begins work at the school the person’s identity is checked by the proprietor of the school (irrespective of any such check carried out by the employment business before the person was offered for supply)

19(2)(d)

the proprietor, in the contract or other arrangements which the proprietor makes with any employment business, requires the employment business to provide –

19(2)(d)(i)

the notification referred to in paragraph (a)(i); and

19(2)(d)(ii)

a copy of any enhanced criminal record certificate which the employment business obtains

 

in respect of any person whom the employment business supplies to the school; and

19(2)(e)

except for those persons to whom sub-paragraph (4) applies, in the case of supply staff who care for, train, supervise or are in charge of boarders, the proprietor checks that the relevant parts of Standard 19 of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or where applicable, Standard 24 of the National Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools are complied with.
NOTE – A failure of NMS for boarding schools 19.1 or the National Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools 24 in relation to boarding supply staff triggers a failure of this ISSR 19(2)(e) (as a minimum)

19(3)

Except in the case of a person to whom sub-paragraph (4) applies, the certificate referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(a)(i)(bb) must have been obtained not more than 3 months before the date on which the person is due to begin work at the school

19(4)

This sub-paragraph applies to a person ('P') who has worked in –

19(4)(a)

a school or a maintained school in England in a position which brought P regularly into contact with children or young persons

19(4)(b)

a maintained school in England in a position to which P was appointed on or after 12 May 2006 and which did not bring P regularly into contact with children or young persons; or

19(4)(c)

an institution within the further education sector in England or in a 16 to 19 Academy in a position which involved the provision of education or which brought P regularly into contact with children or young persons,

 

during a period which ended not more than three months before P is due to begin work at the school.

20(1)

The standard in this paragraph relates to the suitability of the proprietor of the school

20(2)

Sub-paragraph (3) relates to the suitability of the proprietor where the proprietor is an individual

20(3)

The standard in this paragraph is met if –

20(3)(a)

the individual –

20(3)(a)(i)

is not barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 where that individual is or will be engaging in activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 4 to that Act; and

20(3)(a)(ii)

does not carry out work, or intend to carry out work, at the school in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction made under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 or section 142 of the Education Act 2002 or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in either such direction; and

20(4)

Sub-paragraphs (5) to (8) relate to the suitability of the proprietor where the proprietor is a body of persons corporate or unincorporate

20(5)

The standard in this paragraph is met in relation to an individual who is the chair of the school if –

20(5)(a)

the individual –

20(5)(a)(i)

is not barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 where that individual is or will be engaging in activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 4 to that Act; and

20(5)(a)(ii)

does not carry out work, or intend to carry out work, at the school in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction made under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 or section 142 of the Education Act 2002 or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in either such direction

20(6)

The standard in this paragraph is met in relation to an individual ('MB'), not being the Chair of the school, who is a member of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate named as the proprietor of the school in the register or in an application to enter the school in the register, if –

20(6)(a)

MB –

20(6)(a)(i)

is not barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 where that individual is or will be engaging in activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 4 to that Act; and

20(6)(a)(ii)

does not carry out work, or intend to carry out work, at the school in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction made under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 or section 142 of the Education Act 2002 or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in either such direction

20(6)(b)

subject to sub-paragraphs (7) to (8), the Chair of the school makes the following checks relating to MB –

20(6)(b)(i)

where relevant to the individual, an enhanced criminal record check

20(6)(b)(ii)

checks confirming MB’s identity and MB’s right to work in the United Kingdom; and

20(6)(b)(iii)

where, by reason of MB’s living or having lived outside the United Kingdom, obtaining an enhanced criminal record certificate is not sufficient to establish MB’s suitability to work in a school, such further checks as the Chair of the school considers appropriate, having regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State;

 

and, where an enhanced criminal record check is made, the Chair obtains an enhanced criminal record certificate relating to the individual

21

Single Central Record

21(1)

The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor keeps a register which shows such of the information referred to in sub- paragraphs (3) to (7) as is applicable to the school in question

21(2)

The register referred to in sub-paragraph (1) may be kept in electronic form, provided that the information so recorded is capable of being reproduced in legible form

21(3)

The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is –

21(3)(a)

in relation to each member of staff ('S') appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether –

21(3)(a)(i)

S's identity was checked

21(3)(a)(ii)

a check was made to establish whether S is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

21(3)(a)(iii)

a check was made to establish whether S is subject to any direction made under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 or section 142 of the Education Act 2002 or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction

21(3)(a)(iv)

checks were made to ensure, where appropriate, that S had the relevant qualifications

21(3)(a)(v)

an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained in respect of S

21(3)(a)(vi)

checks were made pursuant to paragraph 18(2)(d)

21(3)(a)(vii)

a check of S's right to work in the United Kingdom was made; and

21(3)(a)(viii)

checks were made pursuant to paragraph 18(2)(e)

 

including the date on which each such check was completed or the certificate obtained; and

21(3)(b)

in relation to each member of staff ('S'), whether a check was made to establish whether S is subject to a prohibition order or an interim prohibition order, including the date on which such check was completed

21(4)

The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation to each member of staff in post on 1st August 2007 who was appointed at any time before 1st May 2007, whether each check referred to in sub-paragraph (3) was made and whether an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained, together with the date on which any check was completed or certificate obtained

21(5)

The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation to supply staff –

21(5)(a)

whether written notification has been received from the employment business that –

21(5)(a)(i)

checks corresponding to those referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(a)(i) to (iv), (vi) and (vii) have been made to the extent relevant to any such person; and

21(5)(a)(ii)

an enhanced criminal record check has been made and that it or another employment business has obtained an enhanced criminal record certificate in response to such a check

 

together with the date the written notification that each such check was made, or certificate obtained, was received

21(5)(b)

whether a check has been made in accordance with paragraph 19(2)(e) together with the date the check was completed; and

21(5)(c)

where written notification has been received from the employment business in accordance with a contract or other arrangements referred to in paragraph 19(2)(d) that it has obtained an enhanced criminal record certificate, whether the employment business supplied a copy of the certificate to the school

21(6)

The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation to each member ('MB') of a body of persons named as the proprietor appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether the checks referred to in paragraph 20(6)(b) were made, the date they were made and the date on which the resulting certificate was obtained

21(7)

The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation to each member of a body of persons named as the proprietor in post on 1st August 2007 who was appointed at any time before 1st May 2007

21(7)(a)

whether each check referred to in sub-paragraph (6) was made; and

21(7)(b)

whether an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained, together with the date on which any check was completed or certificate obtained

National Minimum Standards

NMS 8 (Safeguarding)
NMS 11.4 – 11.6 (Independent listening, contact and advocacy)
NMS 19 (Recruitment and checks on adults)
NMS 22 (Educational guardians)
NMS 23 (Lodgings and host families)