A prestigious Merseyside private school could be removed from the Independent Schools register, following an official warning from the Department of Education.
A critical report found Merchant Taylor's Boys' school in Crosby does not meet certain standards for safeguarding and leadership and faces problems in the areas of welfare and suitability of staff.
If 'serious regulatory failings' are not rectified - the letter says - the Secretary of State may remove the school from the Independent Schools register.
The warning comes after an Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection carried out on February 27 & 28.
Following the inspection, the school - which costs £11,000-a year to attend - has been instructed to comply with fire safety regulations and to carry out appropriate staff checks (and in light of checks consider if the person is suitable for employment).
The school also must ensure its leaders 'demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so the independent school standards and met consistently', and 'fulfil their responsibilities effectively'.
Mr D Wickes, headteacher of the boys' school, said: "The inspection was overwhelmingly positive and praised many facets of the school, including its educational standards, academic results and the quality of facilities.
“A relatively small number of issues were identified as requiring improvement, including ensuring fire doors are not propped open and changes to how we check the health and fitness of staff prior to their employment.
“Our Action Plan consisted largely of measures that we had already begun implementing prior to the ISI inspection, and the inspectors were content that we had made great efforts to improve our recruitment process and that we had rectified a number of historic oversights.”
