THE NATIONAL BOARDING STANDARDS FOR ALL SCHOOLS

National Boarding Standards covering the full range of welfare, health and policy issues were introduced in April 2002. These Boarding Standards are a set of agreed minimum standards for sound practice in independent and state boarding schools. The Standards are the result of three years’ work by the National Boarding Standards Committee, which was convened by the Independent Schools Council and the Boarding Schools’ Association. They are now used by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, which is responsible for inspecting the welfare aspects of boarding schools.

 

The Standards are based both on legislation and on the development of good practice in boarding over the past 20 years. There has been significant growth in good practice in boarding in recent times, and also in the sense of accountability to pupils, parents and society as a whole. Good boarding schools have had that sense of accountability for years, and the Standards have put that accountability into a national format to ensure that all boarding schools promote and meet the highest standards in care, education and development of young people.

There are 52 National Boarding Standards, covering three main areas: -

1. Policies, procedures and practice:
includes bullying, child protection, punishments, complaints, management and leadership, crisis management, role of prefects, confidential counselling and guidance, first aid and sickness discrimination, contact with parents, guardianship and school meals.

2. People:
includes essential employment checks, staff/pupil ratios, staff accessibility, relationships between pupils and staff, pupil privacy.

3. Premises:
includes boarding accommodation, toilet and washing facilities, changing rooms, recreational facilities, provision for sick pupils.

The National Boarding Standards in full can be viewed and downloaded at www.boarding.org.uk under ‘National Standards’ in the main index.