LRGS boarding is rated 'outstanding'

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 18th of October 2011

Ofsted inspectors have published a report which rates boarding at Lancaster Royal Grammar School as 'outstanding' across all categories. Their inspection, which had a short lead-in time, summarised boarding at the school as 'an outstanding service in every respect'.

Here are some of the report's key findings:

* Excellent relationships have been established between staff, pupils and parents.
* Pupils' welfare is closely monitored and their health needs are extremely well met.
* Food served is of outstanding quality.
* Pupils benefit from good support and opportunities that encourage them to achieve, both socially and educationally.
* Pupils are consulted on a range of issues affecting their daily lives, including food and boarding routines; each pupil feels that their views are important and taken seriously.
* The relationships between the boarding staff and pupils were observed to be outstanding.

LRGS is currently the only school in the country with Ofsted judgements of 'outstanding' in all 45 categories within the inspection framework.

Headmaster Andrew Jarman was delighted with the boarding inspection report: 'We have worked hard to improve our facilities in recent years. With the excellent new School House and some imaginative updating of Ashton House, our boarding houses are now the envy of most similar schools. However, the report delves well beyond just the fabric, and I am pleased that the inspectors paid particular tribute to the strength and warmth of the relationships between the staff and the pupils. It is a great tribute to the whole boarding team, headed by our four excellent housemasters and the Head of Boarding, Ian Whitehouse.'

Lancaster Royal Grammar School is a selective state school for boys, aged 11 to 18. There are 200 boarders, most of whom are weekly boarders. LRGS is one of 35 state boarding schools in the country; parents pay around £8000 per year for boarding, but tuition is free. LRGS was ranked fifth best state school in the North of England by the Sunday Times in November 2010.