Elizabeth College gets top marks

Monday 10 January 2022

Elizabeth College has received the highest grades possible in its latest inspection report.

In the educational quality section of the report, the College was rated ‘excellent’ for the quality of pupils’ learning and achievement and the quality of pupils’ personal development. Excellent is one of four grades available – the others are good, sound and unsatisfactory.

In the compliance section, the College met all eight standards expected of British schools overseas.

The College is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Eight inspectors visited the pre-school, junior school and upper school for four days in November. It was the College’s first inspection since 2015.

The College said the inspectors had provided “an outstandingly positive report” which was “generous in its praise of the overall quality of the education provided by the College".

Following release of the inspection report this afternoon, Principal Jenny Palmer paid tribute to her colleagues and students.

“I am really pleased with the outcome of our Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection and the very positive way it reflects on our students and all of the hard work that our staff do to support them,” said Mrs Palmer.

“When the inspectors visited us in November, their focus was on students’ outcomes and all we do as a school community to facilitate those outcomes, from pre-school through to the sixth form.

“It is great to see our academic, extra-curricular and pastoral provisions recognised as excellent and it is really helpful to be provided with recommendations on what we can do to improve still further, something we have already made a start on.”

Pictured: The Dean of Guernsey, The Very Reverend Tim Barker, is Chairman of the Board of Governors and Jenny Palmer is Principal of Elizabeth College, which has received the highest grades possible in its latest inspection report.

Inspectors were impressed with the College’s curriculum and quality of teaching, pastoral care and students’ outcomes and opportunities for leadership.

“Pupils of all ages and abilities develop comprehensive subject knowledge, skills and understanding across all areas of learning, appropriately challenged by teaching that addresses linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative aspects of learning,” said the inspectors.

“Pupils respond well to a thoughtfully constructed curriculum and to teaching that demands active engagement by pupils.

“Pupils’ excellent commitment to success is strongly inspired because teachers set high expectations and consistently model highly positive attitudes to learning and achievement.

“Pupils' achievements in external competitions, in gaining other intellectual distinctions and their successes in sport and the arts are outstanding.

Pictured: After visiting Guernsey in November 2021, the Independent Schools Inspectorate provided a glowing assessment of the quality of education and pastoral care at Elizabeth College. 

“Older pupils commented that, though the school encourages excellence, it does not mean perfection and that they are helped to take a balanced approach to life.

“Pupils can be themselves and respect one another for their individuality. Pupils are kind to each other and considerate to their teachers.

“Levels of attainment…show that pupils in all parts of the school, including those with SEND and the most able, make excellent progress whatever their starting points.”

However, inspectors also noted that “on occasion, progress is more limited because teachers set tasks which are insufficiently interesting or appropriate for the age and ability of all the pupils”.

They also commented on the relatively high percentage of students in the junior school – at Beechwood – who were making expected or less than expected progress, particularly in 2018 and 2019, but praised leaders’ use of assessment for recent swift improvements in progress and attainment.

Inspectors made three recommendations for improvement:

• ensure all pupils make equally strong progress across all areas of the school, through the consistent application of marking, oral feedback and suitable challenge in all lessons;
• strengthen junior school pupils’ ability to apply information and communication technology skills proficiently across the curriculum;
• strengthen upper school pupils’ ability to reflect on the philosophical and spiritual ideas to which they are exposed.