Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School

Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School 165–169 The Broadway, Southall, Middlesex, UB1 1LS

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Reason for inspection

This unannounced emergency inspection, requested by the Department for Education (DfE), was made in response to a complaint regarding the condition of the premises. The complaint focused on a number of issues: the unhygienic state of the premises; rodent infestation; health and safety risks to the students; the unsafe nature of the premises during the continual building works and the presence of building personnel who might have access to the school.

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Conclusions

Interviews were held with several teaching and support staff and one of the trustees. The headteacher was not present at school during the visit. A range of documentation was examined. This included the single central register, staff and student files, the attendance and admissions registers, the complaints book, health and safety records, including the recording of fire drills and risk assessments for both the students and activities taking place at the site. A tour of the premises was undertaken.

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Conclusions

The premises are in a state of disarray with major building works still taking place, mainly on the ground and first floors. The presence of building works was noted in the inspection reports of March 2011 and September 2011. The school currently occupies the second and third floors only, while the rest of the building is still being refurbished. There are some building personnel on the premises. They are checked against criminal records by the building company and are strictly forbidden from entering the area occupied by the school while it is open.

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Conclusions

The complaint focused on the general lack of cleanliness in the areas used by the school, the state of the toilets and the lack of fresh air and drinking water available to the students. The premises are adequate in size but some areas are in need of refurbishment; these include the floor covering leading from the stairs into the school area on both floors used by the school. Some areas of the school are in need of redecoration.

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Conclusions

There are sufficient toilets. They are clean but there is neither toilet paper nor paper hand towels available except on request from the office. There is a sanitary bin and soap on only one floor while there are toilets on two floors. Most of the windows at the front of the building are covered in scaffolding and this has been the case for some time while the outside of the building is repaired and marble cladding added. The windows are as a result very dirty and they have not been cleaned for some time. Those adjacent to the scaffolding cannot be opened and these rooms lack fresh air. There is no fresh drinking water available to the students apart from that located in the toilet area.

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Conclusions

There is now no evidence of a rodent infestation. There has been a rodent problem at the school in the past and a specialist company was called in to deal with the problem. There are no medical facilities for students who may be ill or showering facilities for students’ use after physical education lessons. There are no outdoor play facilities and the students are taken to a nearby park only in the summer term for physical education and recreation. A new sports hall has been Emergency inspection: Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School, 25 February 2013 2 of 6

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Conclusions

The school fails to meet a number of regulations to ensure students’ welfare, health and safety. The school has carried out some risk assessments on specialist areas of the school such as the science room and for visits outside of the school. The building company have carried out a detailed risk assessment regarding their building works and the implications for the students’ safety. The admission and attendance registers are not kept according to the regulations. Many of the attendance registers are kept in pencil, not ink as required, and the recognised codes for absence are not always used. The admission register is not up to date.

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Conclusions

The procedures for appointing staff lack robustness, although a member of the support staff has trained in safer recruitment. The school fails to meet all the regulations relating to ensuring the suitability of staff because of the inadequacy of the single central register of staff checks. While it maintains such a register in a suitable format, the register is not up to date. It does not include a number of staff who currently work in the school. The staff files lack some of the required information. While some new staff have not yet had criminal record checks, they are not left in sole charge of students.

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Conclusions

The school has a complaints procedure and confirms that it has received no complaints, but there is no system for recording complaints.

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associated requirements

Maintain admission and attendance registers in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006.

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associated requirements

Verify that no member of staff is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (ISA barred list) or carries out work or intends to carry out work at the school in contravention of any direction made under section 142 of the 2002 Act, or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction. 19(2)(a)

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associated requirements

Carry out and complete appropriate checks to confirm each member of staff’s: identity, medical fitness and where appropriate, qualifications, and for appointments made from 1 May 2007, the additional check of their right to work in the United Kingdom. 19(2)(b)

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associated requirements

Carry out an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check in respect of any member of staff appointed to a position at the school as soon as practicable after the person’s appointment. 19(2)(c)

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associated requirements

Ensure that for each member of staff appointed, the single central register shows that all required checks were made, including the date on which each check was completed or the certificate obtained. 22(3)

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associated requirements

Ensure that suitable toilet and washing facilities are provided for the sole use of pupils. 23A(1)(a)

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associated requirements

Provide suitable changing accommodation and showers for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education. 23A(1)(c)

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associated requirements

Ensure that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical 23B(1)(a) Emergency inspection: Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School, 25 February 2013 3 of 6

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associated requirements

and therapy needs of pupils, including accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils. Provide accommodation for the short-term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility near to a toilet. 23B(1)(b

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associated requirements

Ensure that the school’s accommodation and facilities are maintained to a sufficient standard to ensure the health, safety and welfare of pupils, as far as is reasonably practical. 23C

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associated requirements

Ensure that suitable drinking water facilities are provided and that these are readily accessible at all times when the premises are in use and are in a separate area from toilet facilities. 23F(1)(a)

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associated requirements

Ensure that cold water supplies that are suitable for drinking are clearly marked as such. 23F(1)(c)

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associated requirements

Ensure that there is suitable outdoor space to enable physical education to be provided to pupils in accordance with the school curriculum. 23G(1)(a)

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associated requirements

Ensure that there is suitable outdoor space to enable pupils to play outside. 23G(1)(b)

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associated requirements

Ensure that written records are kept of all complaints, indicating whether they were resolved at the preliminary stage or whether they proceeded to a panel hearing. 25(j) Emergency inspection: Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School, 25 February 2013 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Jill Bainton, Lead inspector Additional inspector

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Information about this school

 Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School is an independent secondary school for Muslim girls. The school opened in April 2007 and is registered to admit up to 200 pupils between the ages of 11 and 16. There are currently 99 pupils on roll. The pupils are of diverse heritages and come from various parts of London. The vast majority are either bilingual or are at an advanced stage of learning English as an additional language. None has a statement of special educational needs.  The school is situated in the centre of Southall, in the London Borough of Ealing, normally occupying two floors of the Islamic Centre. There was an extensive building and refurbishment programme taking place when the school was last visited. From September 2011 the school has occupied the second and third floors.  The proprietors run the school as a charitable trust with a governing body and aim to provide an education for its pupils that conforms to the National Curriculum and incorporates

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Information about this school

religious teachings according to Islam. The school’s last full inspection was in March 2011 and at that time it failed to meet a number of the regulations. A progress monitoring visit took place in September 2011 to check the progress the school had made in implementing its action plan. At that time the school was found to meet all the regulations for independent schools. Emergency inspection: Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School, 25 February 2013 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 135155 Inspection number 420570 DfE registration number 307/6338 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005. Type of school Muslim day secondary school School status Independent School Age range of pupils 11–16 Gender of pupils Girls Number of pupils on the school roll 99 Proprietor Islamic Educational and Recreational Institute Trustee Mr Hafiz Bhatti Headteacher Ms F Liyawdeen Date of previous school inspection 12 SEPTEMBER 2011 Annual fees (day pupils) £2,500 Telephone number 020 88679284 Fax number N/A Email address info@ayeshasiddiqa.org.uk Emergency inspection: Ayesha Siddiqa Girls School, 25 February 2013 6 of 6

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School details

guidance 'Complaining about inspections', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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School details

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School details

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School details

inspects to 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. Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille,

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School details

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School details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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