Al Huda Girls' School

Al Huda Girls School Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

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DfE registration number 330/6088 Unique Reference Number (URN) 103595 Inspection number 363599 Inspection dates 22 October 2010 Reporting inspector Fatiha Maitland achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you

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give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’. Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann’s Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090137 Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

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Purpose and scope of the inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Purpose and scope of the inspection

The inspection was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection.

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Information about the school

Al Huda Girls School is a Muslim secondary day school in Birmingham. It admits girls from 11 to 16 years of age and there are currently 89 students on roll. The vast majority are from Pakistani, Somali and Arabic backgrounds; most were born in the United Kingdom. No students currently have a statement of special educational needs or are at the early stages of acquiring English.

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Information about the school

The school opened in 1992 and is located in a Victorian building in the Washwood Heath area of Birmingham. Provision is a mix of Islamic and secular teaching. The school aims to, ‘promote equality of opportunity for young British Muslim girls, enabling them to understand and become integrated members of British society.’

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Information about the school

The school was last inspected by Ofsted on 13-14 May 2009.

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Context of the inspection

The school was last inspected in May 2009. The inspection judged the school to be providing an inadequate quality of education. The school produced an action plan in July 2009. The action plan was deemed unsatisfactory. A progress monitoring visit was recommended. This took place on 20 November 2009, as many of the aspects of the action plan needed to be seen in implementation. The progress monitoring visit found that the school had failed to make adequate progress overall in implementing its action plan. The school was requested to produce a further action plan for improvement, which was evaluated on 19 April 2010. This was deemed to be generally satisfactory, but needed some improvement.

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Context of the inspection

The purpose of this visit was to check whether the school has taken appropriate steps to address the weaknesses identified in the inspection report and to assess the amount of progress made in meeting regulations. This is the school’s second progress monitoring visit. Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

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action plan

At its previous inspection of May 2009 and at the progress monitoring visit of November 2009, there were weaknesses in the school’s schemes of work and in their use to inform day-to-day planning. The school has now reviewed the curriculum policy and has introduced a new planning template for staff to use, but there are still weaknesses that the school has failed to address. Some schemes of work are still not well planned and do not provide sufficient guidance as to teaching methods, assessment and how the needs of students with differing abilities will be met. The curriculum has yet to ensure that all students are provided with sufficient opportunities to help them develop their literacy and numeracy skills and to make the best possible progress in their learning.

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action plan

The last inspection and the progress monitoring visit found a range of weaknesses in teaching relating to the use of information from assessment to plan lessons and to meet the range of students’ needs. It was not possible during the current visit to observe teaching in progress. Nevertheless, scrutiny of planning and discussion with key members of staff made it clear that many of the weaknesses remain. Lesson planning makes little use of assessment information and does not include a range of activities to meet the variety of learning needs and prior attainments in classes. The students’ performance is beginning to be evaluated using the National Curriculum level descriptors, but the lesson planning does not yet take account of these. The school has introduced a system for assessment, but this still in its infancy. The assessment system is not sufficiently rigorous to inform forward planning or to enable staff to monitor the students’ progress accurately.

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action plan

This visit found that the school has not ensured that the computers and electrical appliances are checked by a qualified electrical engineer for safe use.

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action plan

The progress monitoring visit found that the school did not meet the requirements for checks on the proprietor’s suitability to work with children. A criminal records bureau check on the proprietor has now been obtained, but the single central register does not show all the checks on the proprietor including the dates on which each check was made and the initials of persons making such entries. Applicants for posts in the school are now fully checked for their suitability to work with children. However, the single central register does not record checks on members of staff to confirm their right to work in the United Kingdom.

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action plan

The previous inspection and the progress monitoring visit found weaknesses in the maintenance of the school’s premises. Although the school has decorated some classrooms, other parts of the school are not adequately decorated. Some parts of the school are not well cleaned. The school has laid laminated flooring in all the classrooms and the entrance corridor. However, some of the other flooring, particularly in the carpeted corridors, is in need of replacement. Independent school progress monitoring inspection report The school has failed to make adequate progress overall in implementing its action plan. It still has significant weaknesses, fails to make adequate educational provision for students and fails to safeguard their welfare.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

As a result of this inspection, the school must take action to meet The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 1 (‘the Regulations’), as follows:

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 prepare appropriate curriculum plans and schemes of work and ensure that they are implemented effectively (paragraph 2(1))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 provide sufficient opportunities for students to develop their speaking, listening and numeracy skills (paragraph 2(2)(c))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 provide opportunities for all students to learn and make progress (paragraph 2(2)(i))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 ensure that the teaching methods enables students to acquire new knowledge and make progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subject taught (paragraph 3(a))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 ensure that lessons are well planned, effective teaching methods and suitable activities are used and class time is managed wisely (paragraph 3(c))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 ensure that teachers show a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the students, and ensure that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons (paragraph 3(d))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 ensure that there is a framework in place to assess students’ work regularly and thoroughly and that information from such assessments is utilised to plan teaching so that students can make progress (paragraph 3(g))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 ensure that there are effective measures to ensure students’ health and safety which have regard to the DfES guidance Health and safety: responsibilities and powers (DfES 0803/2001) (paragraph 11)

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 ensure that the single central register shows records of checks on all members of staff to confirm the right to work in the United Kingdom (paragraph 22(3))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

1 www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/1997/contents/made Independent school progress monitoring inspection report  ensure that the single central register shows all the checks on the proprietor including the dates on which each check was made and the initials of persons making such entries (paragraph 22(6))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 ensure that classrooms and other parts of the school are maintained in a tidy, clean and hygienic state (paragraph 23(m))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 provide a satisfactory standard and adequate maintenance of decoration paragraph 23(p))

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 provide appropriate flooring that is in good condition (paragraph 23(r)). Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

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School details

Address of school 74-76 Washwood Heath Road Saltley Birmingham B8 1RD

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