The Regent School in Nigeria has been adjudged as an outstanding school by a team of British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspectors commissioned by the UK Department for Education (DfE) in England to inspect and accredit British International Schools outside of the UK.
The Regent School is the first and only school in Nigeria and West Africa to achieve the outstanding school status, judged by British Schools Overseas inspectors.
It was adjudged outstanding in all categories after a rigorous inspection, which is the highest judgment that a school can attain.
The school was rated outstanding for offering excellent quality of teaching and learning, innovative curriculum, visionary leadership and governance, standardised assessment, excellent child protection and safeguarding practices and top-end educational facilities.
At an event organised by the school recently to celebrate the achievement, the Headmaster, Mr Joe Labuschagne, said the remarkable accomplishment was as a result of the team work of his staff as well as four years of planning and preparation.
He said achieving a BSO outstanding rating was by no means an easy walk.
In a symbolic gesture, the headmaster presented the proprietress, Mrs Amsa AbdulRazaq, a plaque as memorabilia representing the inspection report at the event attended by staff and parents of the school as well as members of the diplomatic community.
The proprietress, Mrs AbdulRazaq, in her remarks, said: “We are extremely delighted that our objective of being a top-class school has been achieved with a resounding confirmation by the UK government through the Department for Education (DfE).”
Speaking, the Chief Inspector, PENTA International, Dr Mark Evans, said the Regent Primary School is a friendly and vibrant school that provides a very high standard of education and care.
“It has made excellent progress since the last BSO inspection. The students attain high academic standards and have loads of fun as they learn. The teachers, too, clearly love being with their classes and there is much laughter to be heard. The students are safe and confident; this allows them to learn fast. The standard of English writing and language is very high. Relationships between the school and parents are strong, and effectively inform school planning and further the welfare of the students,” he said.
Explaining the achievement, the Head of Assessment and qualified BSO Inspector in the school, Mr Akin Alufa, said schools that are judged outstanding have stringent criteria to meet.
“They must cross all t’s and dot all the I’s in all ramifications. They must also demonstrate through excellent practice across board that they can be relied upon to show glowing examples within COBIS and BSO communities globally,’ he said.
However, to be recognised by the UK Department for Education (DfE), a British School Overseas (BSO) must have an inspection report which shows that their performance against all the BSO standards is at least satisfactory. This reflects the standards required for continuing registration as a school in England.
Meanwhile, the school was judged based on the standards of quality of education provided; spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, welfare, health and safety of pupils.
Others are suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors, premises and accommodation of the school, provision of information to parents, manner in which complaints and grievances are handled and quality of leadership and management of the school.
