ELLESMERE College has been accused of 'not always acting in the best interests of pupils' following a review of its safeguarding measures.

The college was recently visited by the Independent School Inspectorate (ISI) for a Regulatory Compliance Inspection Report after concerns were raised over safeguarding at the Ellesmere Titans swimming club.

Earlier this year the director of swimming and programme coaches at the club were suspended by the sport's national body following welfare concerns.

This led to the ISI inspecting the school.

The ISI report said: "Arrangements are made in most areas to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils by means that pay due regard to current statutory guidance but the school does not always act in the best interests of children.

"The school fails to ensure that it provides a safe environment in which children can learn while they are taking part in the activities of the swimming club which the school permits to use its facilities and which it enables pupils to join.

"The annual review of safeguarding does not include adequate consideration of the safeguarding of pupils while they are taking part in the swimming club.

"The school does not make effective assessment of the potential risks relating to pupils' participation in the swimming club including those relating to staff involvement in the club."

This initial inspection took place in May with a subsequent visit in June.

While the club is separate from the school, the two hold a close partnership, with the club using the school's facilities and training many of its students.

A spokesman for the school that that the judgment had been taken seriously and that a plan of action was now in place.

They said: "As a college, we take any judgment of non-compliance very seriously.

"The issues relate specifically to procedural matters in respect of the relationship between the college and the swimming club.

"We are required to produce an action plan, to address these areas identified it the report and this has already been completed and is now with the relevant review bodies."

The ISI has laid out three 'action points' the school needs to address.

They said: "The school must ensure that those pupils who the school enables to participate in the swimming club's activities do so within a safe environment.

"The school must ensure that the annual review of safeguarding gives adequate consideration to the safeguarding of pupils while they are taking part in the swimming club.

"The school must ensure effective assessment of the potential risks relating to pupils' participation in the swimming club and of any involvement of school staff in the club, and take appropriate action to reduce any risk identified."