Jamia Islamia Birmingham

Jamia Islamia Birmingham Islamic College, Fallows Road, Birmingham, B11 1PL

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Context of the inspection

 This progress monitoring inspection visit was made at the request of the Department for Education registration authority for independent schools, in order to monitor the sschool’s progress in implementing its action plan.

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Context of the inspection

 The school’s last inspection was in March 2014 as part of an unannounced emergency inspection. This was because concerns had been raised about the students’ welfare and the curriculum. The inspection found that the quality of the curriculum, the quality of teaching, students’ achievement and behaviour were all inadequate, as was the quality of leadership and management. In addition, the inspection found that the provision for students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural and the arrangements for welfare, health and safety were inadequate. As a result, a significant number of school regulations were not met. The school drew up an action plan to address these shortcomings, and this was judged to require improvement by Ofsted on 21 July 2014. This was the first visit to the school to check its progress in making the necessary improvements to meet regulatory requirements. This visit was made without notice.

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Main findings

 The inspection of March 2014 found that the school’s curriculum was inadequate. The curriculum policy did not cover all the required areas of learning. The schemes of work for the areas of learning, particularly in physical, aesthetic and creative aspects, and some elements of the mathematics and linguistic areas were inadequate. There was insufficient time allocated to teach the secular curriculum. The curriculum was not adapted well enough to meet the needs of different ability groups, resulting in students making inadequate progress.  In its action plan, the school indicated that the curriculum and schemes of work had been reviewed in the summer term 2014, that the timetable had been adjusted so that students had more time to study secular subjects and that they were now being planned effectively.  The action plan has been successfully implemented. The curriculum is now broad and balanced. Students have more time to study more secular subjects, including music, art and

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Main findings

physical education. Students also have time to study subjects in greater depth, including using their literacy and numeracy skills in a variety of contexts. Students say they enjoy their learning more because it is relevant and interesting.  Observations of teaching, checks on students’ work, and school data indicate that students are now making adequate progress.  At the time of the March inspection, the provision for career guidance and ensuring students were being suitably prepared for the responsibilities and experiences of adult life was judged to be inadequate. The action plan identified relevant strategies in order to secure effective provision for these two areas. Students are now being taught about career choices and taught key skills in lessons i n citizenship and personal, social and health education, and in the extra-curricular careers club for Year 11 students.  The March inspection found that the quality of teaching was inadequate. Teaching was not

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Main findings

Monitoring report: Jamia Islamia Birmingham, 25 September 2014 2 of 6

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Main findings

enabling students to make the progress they were capable of. This was primarily because teachers were not assessing students’ understanding accurately enough to make sure that the work was pitched at the right level. As a result, many students found the work either too easy or too hard. Furthermore, weak teaching was often the root cause of students’ poor attitudes to their learning. The school proposed in its action plan to review lesson planning and assessment procedures, to check the quality of teaching regularly through lesson observations, to provide staff with tailored training and to re-structure and to strengthen the teaching staff profile by appointing further specialist teachers.  The school’s action plan to address inadequate teaching has been implemented successfully. The evidence evaluated at this inspection shows an improving trend in the quality of teaching, where students now have positive attitudes to their learning. This requirement is

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Main findings

now met.  At the time of the last inspection, key aspects of student’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development were judged to be inadequate. These included enabling students to develop self- knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. Students were not encouraged to accept responsibility for their behaviour, to contribute to the wider community, or to develop a broad general knowledge of public institutions and services of England.  The school has been successful in improving students’ self-knowledge, as well as raising their confidence and self-esteem. Leaders have implemented a positive behaviour management policy, which focuses on rewarding good effort, work and behaviour. Students say they appreciate the recognition and rewards they get. As a result, the number of incidents of unacceptable behaviour has reduced significantly.  Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and their learning. They know

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Main findings

their targets and what they need to do to improve further, both academically and personally. The recently-formed school council has enabled students to take the initiative and to have a voice in the running of the school. Students have a good understanding of public institutions, and are beginning to play a greater role in their community. The school has secured a culture of success where students appreciate their own worth and that of others. Leaders have addressed these failings, as proposed in the action plan.  The March inspection found that the provision to ensure the welfare, health and safety of students was inadequate. In its action plan, the school indicated that the designated person for child protection had received up-to-date training, as had all staff. The plan also identified that specific policies had been updated, including the behaviour policy, health and safety policy, and the first aid policy, as well as a procedure to record sanctions imposed for serious behaviour.

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Main findings

 All staff, including the designated child protection officer, have now undertaken the required training. All procedures and policies to keep students safe are now up-to-date and are fully satisfactory. Discussions with staff and students show that there is a consistent approach to managing behaviour.  Students say that staff are fair and listen to any concerns they may have. They understand the clear system of sanctions and rewards for their behaviour. Students say that they feel safe and secure. Procedures are consistently implemented and records are complete. The school’s action plan has been implemented and the requirement is now met.  At the time of the inspection, aspects of the premises were inadequate. There were no suitable changing rooms or showers for students. The accommodation was in a poor state and there was no outdoor space for students to relax at break times.  The school has successfully addressed all of these failings, as proposed in its action plan. There

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Main findings

is now a suitable changing room with showers. The staff car park has been converted into a large outdoor space, where students have their physical education lessons. In the school’s action plan, the need for an external audit of the school’s accommodation was identified. This has been implemented and the subsequent work has brought the premises up to an acceptable standard to ensure students’ health and safety.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

Monitoring report: Jamia Islamia Birmingham, 25 September 2014 3 of 6

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The school meets The Education (Independent School Standards) (England)

Regulations 2010, as amended, and associated requirements . Monitoring report: Jamia Islamia Birmingham, 25 September 2014 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Mary Hinds, Lead inspector Additional Inspector

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Information about this school

 Jamia Islamia Birmingham is an independent Muslim secondary school and college located in Sparkbrook, close to the centre of Birmingham, for students aged between 11-19 years.  The school opened in 2000 and was then known as Jamia Qurania. In 2005 it changed its name to the current one, and in 2012 increased the registered maximum number of students on roll from 150 to 185. There are currently 151 students on role.  The majority of students are from Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds. There are no students with statements of special educational needs and none is at the early stage of learning English.  A board of trustees oversees the work of the school. There are no students with statements of special educational needs and none is at the early stage of learning English. The proprietor is the Principal of the school and it belongs to Al-falah Trust, a limited company. The board of trustees oversees the school’s work. The school has charitable status.

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Information about this school

 The school’s mission is to ‘provide a high quality centre for learning, where students receive a good quality and balanced education within an Islamic environment’.  The school was previously inspected in 2012, and subsequently received an emergency unannounced inspection in March 2014. Monitoring report: Jamia Islamia Birmingham, 25 September 2014 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 134571 Inspection number 452199 DfE registration number 330/6106 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 inserted by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005 Type of school Islamic secondary school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 11–19 Gender of pupils Boys Gender of pupils in the sixth form Boys Number of pupils on the school roll 161

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form

Number of part time pupils 0 Proprietor Rezaul Haque Headteacher Jahangir Alam Date of previous school inspection (Full inspection) 17 January 2012 Telephone number 0121 772 6400 Email address jamiabham@hotmail.co.uk Monitoring report: Jamia Islamia Birmingham, 25 September 2014 6 of 6

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