A THRIVING, ENERGETIC AND OUTWARD-LOOKING SCHOOL WITH A UNIQUE, CARING, ASPIRATIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE ETHOS.
When the Governors, Principal and Leadership team set out to transform the school from a small independent day and boarding school into a large, thriving Free School in 2016, they set out with a passion to develop the whole person in a truly holistic manner.
The first Ofsted report confirms their success: ‘personal development and welfare is outstanding’. The Royal School transitioned from a small independent school to become a thriving, energetic and outward-looking school community in a very short space of time.
The Royal School is an all-through (four to 19) day and state boarding school. The student population increased dramatically, doubling with each year, going from about 400 students in 2014 to over 1,450 in 2022.
“However, throughout the conversion to a Free School, staff have enhanced the values and ethos held as an independent school. Children’s experiences are further augmented through an extended day programme of some 170 weekly wider enrichment activities.
With the arrival of the scheduled Ofsted inspection in education and the boarding provision, the school now has external validation of the vision in practice.
A spokesman said: “Could we maintain the unique caring, aspirational and supportive ethos of The Royal
when we were more than three times as large?
“Could we maintain the extended day for pupils, with a large range of extra-curricular activities to help
develop self-confident, committed, articulate, employable leaders of the future?
“Would we be able to attract international and UK boarding pupils to maintain the international flavour,
which is so valued, and would they continue to contribute so much to school life?
“Would a much larger group of pupils and parents buy into what we offer: an all-through, non-selective,
non-denominational, four to 19, day and international boarding school for boys and girls from all ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds?
“According to our first Ofsted report… YES!”
