Inspection Highlights

Our latest ISI report highlights two significant strengths: our teaching quality and oracy provision.

Last term, inspectors from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) visited South Hampstead to obtain a holistic view of our Junior and Senior Schools. The inspectors not only judged South Hampstead to be fully compliant, meeting the required standards in all categories, but also identified two significant strengths. Whilst being awarded one significant strength is rare, receiving two is an exceptional achievement, with South Hampstead the first girls’ day school to be awarded this accolade.

Head, Mrs Paul commented: “We are delighted that our excellent teaching and unique oracy programme have been recognised in this way. The quality of our teaching sits at the heart of everything we do. Our intentional, sustained focus on the power of metacognitive strategies and our teachers’ passion for their subjects really help to inspire the girls to ask questions, to think critically, and to develop a genuine love for learning. Our extensive oracy programme is woven through our academic curriculum and is a key principle of co-curricular life; lessons in critical thinking, popular debating clubs, and a new, school-directed course (Scholarship through Speech) are some of the many ways we encourage all our pupils to find their voice. I am thrilled that the inspectors were so positive in their findings and gleaned such a good understanding of what makes South Hampstead so special.” 

A summary of the inspection highlights is available here and our full inspection report is here.