By Lucy Caulkett-
The exclusive Wiltshire college attended by Kate Middleton has been rapped by inspectors after it was found staff background checks were not carried out properly.
An Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report found that Marlborough College fell short of meeting all of the required standards and should take immediate action to “remedy deficiencies”.
The £39,930-a-year college is known for being attended by the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge, Jack Whitehall, Ghislaine Maxwell and Sally Bercow.
However, a recent report which found that recruitment checks on staff were not always completed before they started work.
The main problem included not making sure teachers were being checked properly against barred lists for prior criminal offences or lists of persons prohibited from working in schools, as well as ensuring they had satisfactory references before beginning employment.
Failings included checking new teachers against barred lists for prior criminal offences, or against lists of those banned from working in schools, as well as making sure they had satisfactory references before they started work. “When criminal record checks have been delayed the school has not always ensured that an appropriate system of supervision is in place,” according to the ISI.
Hull Live reports how processes for safe recruitment were not “sufficiently robust” to protect pupils, and the school had “significant difficulty evidencing the required checks”. The report added: “Whilst many checks were ultimately found to be in place, the processes involved were not sufficiently robust to ensure the welfare of pupils, particularly boarders”.
The ISI said the school “should take immediate action to remedy deficiencies” and standards relating to leadership and management had not been met. “The proprietor does not ensure that the leadership and management demonstrate good skills and knowledge and fulfill their responsibilities effectively, so that the other standards are consistently met and they actively promote the well-being of the pupils, including boarders. In particular, the oversight of robust recruitment processes,” it said.
A school spokesperson said: “Since our compliance inspection, the college has upgraded the record-keeping processes highlighted in the ISI report. We have been
ISI stated in the report: “Recruitment checks on staff are not always carried out before staff commence employment at the school.”
This includes barred list checks; checks against the lists of those prohibited from teaching in schools and against the lists of those prohibited from the management of schools; and receipt of satisfactory references.
When criminal record checks have been delayed the school has not always ensured that an appropriate system of supervision is in place, the report said.
There were also some concerns over the welfare of pupils.
The report noted: “The school’s procedures for safer recruitment, including systems for record-keeping and accurate recording of data within the single register (SCR) are not sufficiently robust to support the welfare of pupils fully.”
However, it was not all bad news for the school, which was praised for the quality of education provided, with the report stating that this was met sufficiently.
The standard of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils was also met, with the report stating: “Principles and values are actively promoted which facilitate the personal development of pupils as responsible, tolerant, law-abiding citizens.
“Boarders’ views are actively encouraged, and their opinions and concerns are appropriately considered by staff.”
The overall level of welfare, health and safety of pupils was largely praised.
The report added: “In most respects arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils.”
A spokesperson for Marlborough College told ITV News: “Since our compliance inspection, the college has upgraded the record-keeping processes highlighted in the ISI report.
“We have been keeping our parents informed and are looking forward to an early re-inspection.”