The Froebelian School rated as 'Excellent' by ISI

The Froebelian School, Horsforth, Leeds was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in the summer and was judged to be “excellent”, confirming its position as one of the best independent preparatory schools in the country.

The school was founded in 1913 with the distinctive name adopted by the founder Miss L. Hoe, in honour of the then influential German educationalist, Freidrich Froebel. Froebel pioneered early years’ learning and the school still follows this tradition, educating children from the age of three years.

For Educational Quality, the inspection team focused on two areas, which together encompass all aspects of the outcomes for children: the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements, and the quality of pupils’ personal development.

Headteacher Catherine Dodds said: “We are thrilled that we have been judged as ‘excellent’ in both these areas; this is the highest judgement available from the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The inspectors have accurately captured the essence of Froebelian in their narrative and were struck by the children’s high levels of academic performance, their attitudes to learning and the quality, breadth and depth of their personal development. We are incredibly proud of our pupils and the report is an absolute credit to them.”

The Key Findings of the Education Quality Inspection for The Froebelian School Horsforth

The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent

The pupils’ attitudes to learning are exceptional

Pupils display outstanding communication skills

Pupils of all ages and abilities achieve highly and make good, or in some cases, rapid progress

The high quality of the pupils’ study skills is supported by an excellent understanding of their subjects

The quality of the pupils’ personal development is excellent

Pupils display a strong moral code from an early age

Pupils make an excellent contribution to the lives of others

Pupils display high levels of self-esteem and self-confidence

Mutual respect forms a cornerstone of all pupil interactions

Headteacher Catherine Dodds said: “I would like to thank the pupils for their exemplary behaviour, and continuous effort, energy and engagement with their learning; without them we would not have received such a glowing report. I am also grateful to all staff and governors for their hard work prior to and during the inspection, and to the parents for their invaluable input and support. The school motto of ‘Giving a flying start to the citizens of tomorrow’ sums up our determination to provide the best possible start to lifelong education.”