As an independent boarding school, Shiplake College is visited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) to ensure that we are meeting statutory requirements, including the Independent Schools Standards and the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools.
Our last inspection was in September 2025, which was a routine inspection under the updated framework for ISI inspections. There is now a single type of routine inspection and after a summary of key findings the report also states whether the relevant standards are met in the following areas:
- Section 1: Leadership and management, and governance
- Section 2: Pupils’ education, training, and recreation
- Section 3: Pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional well-being
- Section 4: Pupils’ social and economic well-being and contribution to society
- Safeguarding
Routine ISI Inspection, September 2025
We am pleased to share the ISI Inspection Report following our routine inspection from 9-11 September 2025. Despite ‘getting the call’ on the first Monday of our new academic year, when teachers were looking forward to meeting their classes for the first time and adjusting to alarm clocks going off earlier than usual, we are delighted to report that the inspection went extremely well and we met all the standards by which we must operate, both the Independent School Standards Regulations (ISSRs) and also the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for boarding.
While inspection is inevitably a rather stressful experience, it was a positive and collaborative process and perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the inspection was the pupil, parent and staff surveys which so many kindly completed. These are not detailed in the inspection report but are shared with me by the Reporting Inspector during the inspection. It is terrific that overall satisfaction rates are extremely positive – 93% for pupils, 97% for parents, and 98% for staff. Notably these are all higher than our 2022 inspection when we received ‘Excellent’ in all areas.
The changes in modern inspection reports means that one-word descriptors are a thing of the past and reports can tend to be rather bland. That said, I am reassured that there are many observations held within the report that demonstrate that the inspection team recognised the spirit of Shiplake and the key aspects of what make it such a positive learning environment.
Most importantly, the first line of the summary of findings acknowledges that “pupils’ wellbeing is the consistent focus of leaders’ decision-making”. Other comments note that “through modelling and consistency of expectations, leaders have established a school culture where relationships between staff and pupils, as well as between pupils themselves, are constructive, embodying mutual respect, kindness, and inclusivity”.
An outstanding feature of the report is that Shiplake has been awarded a ‘significant strength’, which currently only a small minority of independent schools achieve. It states how “pupils who participate in sports, such as rowing, are given guidance in balancing their academic, sporting and wider commitments in a way which effectively promotes their wellbeing”.
All modern inspections must propose at least one recommendation. Our first recommendation required the updating of a small number of policies to reflect some changes in practice for this academic year – this was completed at the time of inspection. The second is related to appropriate challenge for all pupils. This is often cited as a recommendation for schools, and while I am sure that the early timing of the inspection did not make this straightforward to demonstrate, it continues to be a core principle of our teaching and learning strategy.
The outcome of this inspection report is particularly pleasing given that it provides a positive endorsement of the successful transition that Shiplake is making on its journey to full co-education. I would like to thank our staff and pupils who continue to be a credit to the school. Over the course of their three-day visit, the inspectors were struck by the warmth, positive attitude and engagement of everyone they met – a true reflection of our Shiplake College community.
Download ISI Routine Inspection Report, September 2025
Previous Inspection Reports
Download ISI Inspection Report, May 2022