Rydal Penrhos School is an independent boarding and day school for boys and girls from the age of 3 to 18 years. The school is situated in the town of Colwyn Bay in North Wales. The school operates as a charitable trust, established by the Methodist Church, and is an associate school in the Methodist Independent Schools Trust. There are currently 386 pupils on roll. These include 127 in the preparatory school and 259 in the senior school, of whom 85 are in the sixth form. In the senior school, 42 pupils are boarders. The largest single nationality of boarders is from the United Kingdom and the remainder come from nine other countries around the world. About 13% of pupils come from minority ethnic groups. Most speak English fluently and fewer than 3% speak Welsh as a first language at home. The school offers additional learning support to around 22% of pupils, mainly to support literacy development or learning English as an additional language. No pupil has a statement of special educational needs. New pupils may join the school at any stage depending on the availability of spaces. Many pupils in the preparatory school transfer to the senior school. New pupils who wish to join the senior school in Year 7 are assessed in literacy, numeracy and nonverbal reasoning. The school requires pupils wishing to join the sixth form to have five or more GCSEs at grades A*- C or equivalent. Estyn last inspected the school in 2013. Since this time, the school has restructured its senior management team, which now comprises of an executive headteacher, head of senior school, head of the preparatory school and two deputy headteachers. Each of these appointments were made in 2019. The school describes its ethos and aim in the following way: ‘Rydal Penrhos is an inclusive Christian community, based on a Methodist foundation, dedicated to ensuring that the unique potential of each child and young person is realised.’ 1 A report on Rydal Penrhos March 2020 Summary The school provides a caring environment and supports pupils effectively in developing an understanding of their roles and responsibilities as part of a school community. Pupils’ high levels of wellbeing and positive attitudes to learning make a considerable contribution to the overall progress that they make. The school offers a broad range of activities that give pupils engaging and exciting learning experiences outside of the classroom. Teachers form strong working relationships with pupils. However, learning activities do not always challenge and support pupils of different abilities well enough. In addition, pupils are provided too few opportunities to develop their independent learning skills effectively. This limits the progress they make. The school is emerging from a challenging period and is facing the future with growing confidence. The strategic plans to address issues are at an early stage of implementation. The school meets all of the Independent School Standards (Wales) Regulations 2003. Inspection area Judgement Standards Good Wellbeing and attitudes to learning Good Teaching and learning experiences Adequate and needs improvement Care, support and guidance Good Leadership and management Adequate and needs improvement 2 A report on Rydal Penrhos March 2020 Compliance with the regulations for registration Independent school inspections are governed by the Education Act 2002 and related regulations: the Independent School Standards (Wales) Regulations 2003. These regulations require an independent school to meet an appropriate standard in the following areas: The quality of education provided by the school The school meets the regulatory requirements for this standard. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils The school meets the regulatory requirements for this standard. Welfare, health and safety of pupils The school meets the regulatory requirements for this standard. The suitability of proprietors and staff The school meets the regulatory requirements for this standard. Premises of and boarding accommodation at schools The school meets the regulatory requirements for this standard. The provision of information The school meets the regulatory requirements for this standard. The manner in which complaints are to be handled The school meets the regulatory requirements for this standard.