ISI Inspection 2025: Exceptional Parent and Student Feedback Highlights Strength of School Community
Last week, Radnor House Sevenoaks welcomed the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for a full educational quality and compliance inspection. As is standard practice, the inspection was unannounced, ensuring that inspectors were able to observe daily school life exactly as it is - authentic, dynamic and rooted in our values. While we await the full published report in January, the initial feedback, particularly from the parent, pupil and staff questionnaires, offers an encouraging early indication of the school’s performance.
The surveys form a crucial part of the ISI’s evaluative process, providing inspectors with a detailed picture of the school’s culture and the lived experiences of its community. The responses captured in these questionnaires reflect the strength of relationships, the quality of teaching and learning, and the overall wellbeing of pupils at Radnor House Sevenoaks.
Strong Parental Confidence in Academic Progress
One of the clearest themes emerging from the parent survey is a high level of confidence in the academic provision at Radnor. An impressive 92% of parents believe that their child makes good progress at the school - an essential benchmark in any educational setting. Progress of this calibre reflects excellent teaching, carefully planned curricula and the commitment of staff to knowing every child as an individual.
In addition, 91% of parents reported that they receive regular, useful information about their child’s learning. Effective communication is a cornerstone of strong home–school partnership, enabling families to feel informed, involved and reassured about their child’s educational journey.
Pupil Voice: A Community Built on Respect, Support and Challenge
The pupil survey results were similarly positive, highlighting a school environment where children feel respected, supported and encouraged to achieve. An exceptional 96% of pupils said their teachers treat them with fairness and respect, with a comparable proportion stating that teachers provide the help they need in lessons.
These findings underscore the centrality of strong relationships in fostering academic motivation. Pupils are more willing to take intellectual risks, seek clarification and push themselves further when they feel known and valued by their teachers.
Older pupils also expressed high levels of satisfaction with the guidance they receive about subject choices and future pathways - a key indicator of the strength of our pastoral and academic support as they move into Sixth Form and beyond.
A Culture of Academic Ambition
Together, the survey responses present a cohesive picture of a school with a purposeful academic culture. Parents report strong progress; pupils feel supported and challenged; and staff–pupil relationships are consistently positive. These foundations enable young people not just to achieve, but to thrive.
Academic confidence is a powerful predictor of future success. When pupils feel secure, encouraged and academically stretched, they engage more deeply in their learning, develop resilience and cultivate curiosity - qualities that sit at the heart of our ethos.
A School Moving Forward
The overall satisfaction ratings - 93% positive among parents and 92% positive among pupils - place Radnor House Sevenoaks comfortably within the range typically associated with top-performing independent schools. Schools that achieve over 90% are widely regarded as exceptional in terms of community confidence and satisfaction.
These results reaffirm that Radnor House Sevenoaks is a school characterised by momentum, ambition and a deeply embedded commitment to pupil wellbeing and academic excellence. Our pupils feel safe, supported and challenged; our families feel informed and confident; and our staff remain steadfast in their dedication to nurturing scholarship, character and community.
We look forward to sharing the full ISI report with you in early January. In the meantime, this feedback serves as a powerful endorsement of the collective efforts of our pupils, parents and staff. Thank you for your ongoing support - it is both deeply appreciated and vital to our continued success.
