Millfield inspection praises rich curriculum and wellbeing focus

Millfield School is celebrating after receiving excellent feedback in a recent inspection.

The school has been praised in multiple areas for placing pupils’ wellbeing at the centre of their decision-making, designing a rich, well-rounded and stimulating curriculum that fosters pupils’ intellectual curiosity, high standards of pastoral care that supports the development of self-esteem and confidence, and its ‘highly attuned’ robust culture of safeguarding.

The school met all five standards of the Independent Schools Inspectorate which focuses on leadership, management and governance; quality of education, training and recreation; physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing; social and economic education and contribution to society; and safeguarding.

Millfield has 950 boarders and 350 day students, from 70 different nationalities, and is well-regarded as the best sports school in the UK, enabling students to balance high level academics with top level sport and co-curricular passions.

The inspection was undertaken by a team of 10 inspectors, over two and half days in March, and involved considering views of pupils, staff and parents.

The report stated that the school embeds its core values consistently across all aspects of school life and that boarders feel supported and well cared for.

On the quality of education, it said “Pupils have structured opportunities to pursue their interests and develop skills in critical enquiry through independent research projects. Through incisive questioning, teachers prompt pupils to probe their reasoning and develop independence of thought.” It also highlighted that the school models the values of tolerance and mutual understanding, offers opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom and praised the knowledgeable SEND and supportive EAL provision.

Inspectors recognised that Millfield provides an extensive range of team and individual sports, including football, karate, swimming, tennis, golf, hockey, rowing, badminton, athletics, fencing and squash, with pupils achieving success in national and international competitions. It praised how the school teaches pupils’ to make informed decisions that support a healthy lifestyle, including in nutrition, mental health and emotional resilience.

The report also recognised the international cultures represented and how the school promotes mutual understanding and respect for others’ heritage and a high level of social responsibility.

The single recommendation from the inspection, for which they must make at least one, focused on ensuring consistency in pupils feedback on their academic work. 

Headmaster Gavin Horgan said: “We are pleased with the report findings, given that the inspection team have such a short period of time to understand our multi-faceted and extraordinary offer at Millfield, as one of the largest boarding schools in Europe. Everything that we do is for the benefit of the students so that they go on to have a happy and successful life and most importantly, that they discover what makes them brilliant and enjoy their individual journeys along the way.”