Up until 2016 Sands School was inspected by Ofsted. In 2018 Sands School joined the Independent Schools Association and we have since received our regular inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). Below is a summary of our recent Inspection reports.
ISI
Material Change Inspection Report, July 2025
The school applied to the Department for Education in the summer of 2025 to change our student age range from 11-17 to accommodate students up to the age of 18. This request was brought about by the number of requests we receive from students who have previously dropped down a year group or need a little more time to complete their GCSEs. The school is not adding an extra year group or changing the courses on offer, but becoming more flexible in when and how our students move through their learning journey. As a result of the request the DfE commissioned ISI to conduct a Material Change inspection in July 2025, the outcome of which was to recommend that the change be approved.
Progress Monitoring Inspection Report, December 2024
Following the School Inspection in February 2024 where the school was found not to have met all of the required schools standards, with specific issues in the areas of Health and Safety, the school submitted a detailed action plan to the DfE in the summer of 2024. This action plan included extensive improvements to the school’s premises, policies, training and oversight of Health and Safety. In December 2024 we received a Progress Monitoring Inspection to review the work undertaken. The Inspection focused on the standards that were not met in the previous inspection and also reviewed the school’s Safeguarding, the Inspection found that all of the relevant standards were met.
School Inspection Report, February 2024
This was the first full inspection of the school since Sands joined ISI and the first under the new framework introduced in September 2023, covering all aspects of compliance with the standards including quality of education.
The report describes the many reasons we believe Sands to be such a special school. “Pupils direct their own learning. They have the freedom to choose which activities and lessons to attend and consequently develop their personal interests and passions. Pupils learn through the choices they make and the consequences of those choices and this coupled with the individual attention they receive develops self-confidence, self-awareness and a love of learning.”
The report also found areas for improvement within Health and Safety. As a result of these issues the report found that the school did not meet all of the standards at the point of inspection. The vast majority of the points raised by the inspectors were remedied within two months of the inspection taking place, with the remaining work completed before September 2024. In December 2024 we received a progress monitoring inspection which confirmed that the school has met all of the required standards.
Regulatory Compliance Inspection, November 2019
This was a compliance inspection only and therefore only looked at whether the school was meeting the Independent Schools Standards, not at the quality of education. Until September 2023, ISI conducted inspections in two cycles looking at compliance in one inspection and quality of education at the next inspection. In this inspection the school was found to be meeting all of the standards in full.
Ofsted
Standard Inspection, November 2016 – Outcome GOOD
In their last report, November 2016, Ofsted inspectors found that “Pupils’ emotional well-being and personal development are at the heart of this school” and that “Behaviour and attitudes in lesson are outstanding”. The school’s democratic principles help students find “renewed energy and inspiration in a school that allows them to take responsibility for their learning in a new way.” They also found that “…the approach taken by the school builds confidence and makes pupils feel safe so that they enjoy school and want to learn.”
The findings are very much in line with the school’s previous inspection reports: Sands School is found to be a ‘good’ school across the board and ‘outstanding’ in the areas of personal development, behaviour and welfare. This is a fair reflection of how we see ourselves: actively supporting each child’s personal growth and well-being within an effective learning environment. This balance of priorities makes us different from other schools and is why our students and parents choose this school.
Previous Ofsted reports can be found here.