ISI Inspection 2025 – exceptional parent and student feedback
Last week, the Independent School Inspectorate (ISI) conducted a comprehensive review of our provision and compliance. As is customary with ISI inspections, the lack of advance notice ensured that inspectors observed our daily practices as they naturally occur. While the final report will be released in several weeks, I am pleased to report that the initial survey responses have been overwhelmingly positive.
The questionnaires provided inspectors with comprehensive insight into our school's culture and offered an accurate assessment of how our community perceives learning, support, and overall life at Radnor House Sevenoaks.
I want to share some of the key themes with you because your feedback is one of the most useful tools we have for understanding what matters most and for shaping our next steps.
Parents - strong progress, strong teaching, strong preparation
One of the clearest messages from parents is confidence in the academic experience at Radnor. An overwhelming 92% of you told us that the school helps your child make good progress. This is one of the most important indicators of quality in any school because progress requires strong teaching, thoughtful curriculum design and a close understanding of each child.
Alongside this, 91% of parents feel they receive regular and helpful information about their child’s learning. That matters. Clear communication about progress builds trust, and it ensures that families and teachers work in partnership.
Pupils - supported, stretched and known
Inspectors often pay close attention to pupil voice, and so do we. The pupils’ responses reveal a school where relationships are strong and where academic help is readily available.
An exceptional 96% of pupils say their teachers treat them fairly and with respect. A similar proportion report that teachers give them the help they need in lessons. These two elements — respect and support — are the bedrock of learning. Pupils work hardest for teachers who know them, believe in them and challenge them.
Older pupils also reported high levels of satisfaction with the advice offered about subject options and future pathways. Whether pupils continue within our Sixth Form or move elsewhere, we want every young person to feel confident and well-informed as they take their next steps.
A culture that supports academic ambition
Taken together, the surveys paint a clear picture of the academic culture at Radnor House. Parents see strong progress. Pupils feel supported and able to improve. Relationships between staff and pupils are consistently positive and these are the foundations of any ambitious school.
Academic confidence matters just as much as academic attainment. A young person who feels known, safe and encouraged is far more likely to take intellectual risks, to ask questions, to stretch themselves and to learn deeply. Your feedback suggests that this balance of challenge and support is very much alive within our classrooms.
A school on the move
The overall results of our parent questionnaire indicated a 93% positive rating, with a corresponding 92% positive response among pupils. While these figures do not quite reach 100%, it is important to note that even top-performing schools generally achieve only just above the 90% mark, widely regarded as the benchmark for an 'exceptional' school.
The ISI surveys confirm that Radnor House is a school on the move, one where children feel safe, supported and academically stretched, and can grow into confident scholars and well-rounded individuals, ready for the challenges ahead.
Once the final report is released at the start of January, I will share it with you. In the meantime, this has been an important affirmation of our efforts to become a school that values academic excellence, community spirit, and strong character-led education. Thank you for the ongoing support and encouragement, it means a huge amount to the whole team.
