AN emergency inspection has raised concerns about pupil welfare standards at a top school near York.

A report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate said its unannounced inspection at Queen Ethelburga's College - which was carried out earlier this year at the request of the Department for Education - identified a series of specific issues.

It also said the school was using 700 CCTV cameras. The school said the figure was 501 and said it had carried out improvements since the inspection.

Specific issued raised related to the use and monitoring CCTV, the training and practice of staff in safeguarding, record keeping and the role of the proprietor/provost and governors. The concerns prompted a second, announced inspection in the summer so inspectors could clarify the issues.

The report said some pupils expressed concern over the number of cameras around the site, 'and the fact that they were sometimes used to catch pupils behaving inappropriately (e.g. kissing or queue jumping).'

It said: "The extensive use of CCTV surveillance across the school beyond usual security practice is an approach which is causing some pupils and parents concern. The use of cameras in the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) without sufficient controls and as observed on both visits is inappropriate.

"At the time of the inspections, around seven hundred CCTV cameras were located around the school, including in the EYFS, though not in boarding houses or designated pupil changing areas.

"In the EYFS, it was school policy for staff to cover or stand in front of the cameras to shield the children when the children are changing."

The report said regulations and standards were not met over the welfare, health and safety of pupils at the school, which is situated at Thorpe Underwood, between York and Harrogate, with some staff uncertain about the level or frequency of safeguarding training they had received.

Nor were regulations and standards met over the suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors. The report also criticised the quality of leadership and management in relation to safeguarding policies.

Headteacher Steve Jandrell told The Press yesterday that, following the inspection, the school agreed an improvement programme covering 15 areas raised by the inspection team and it implemented all these changes over the summer prior to the start of term.

"Specifically every member of staff received updated safeguarding training and we continued our programme to amend the management structures for the future governance of the school," he said.

"We also used this as an opportunity to review all the school policies ready for the new school year, working with specialist advisors to put in place significantly enhanced management and operational controls which are over and above the improvements agreed with ISI."

He said that like most independent schools, Queen Ethelburga’s made use of CCTV cameras for security reasons but their use was tightly restricted.

He said there were actually 501 CCTV cameras across the whole 200 acre site, of which 451 were specifically used by the school, and no cameras in the boarding houses, none in the EYFS or kindergarten areas,changing areas or toilets.

"At the time of the inspection, there had been cameras in EYFS classrooms, but not in designated changing areas. However, on occasion the children used these classrooms to change, and on those occasions it was the practice for the teacher present to cover the camera. However, following the review, all seven cameras were removed from the EYFS classrooms and our policy on changing facilities was reinforced with staff."

He said all the cameras were in open view, in public areas, not in areas which might pose a threat to privacy, and the school had a CCTV policy, and carried out a full review and audit in the autumn, consulting with parents and all members of staff.

"The CCTV system is registered under the terms of the Data Protection Act with the Information Commissioner and fully complies with all the requirements of the Act," he added.