Al Ashraf Primary School

Emergency inspection school report Al-Ashraf Primary School

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Al-Ashraf Cultural Centre, Stratton Road, Gloucester, GL1 4HB

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Reason for the inspection

 The inspection was conducted at no notice. Inspectors were asked to look into the quality of the curriculum, equal opportunities and the use of language on the school’s website.  Inspectors were requested to consider whether the independent school standards contained in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 8 are met.

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Main findings

 Girls and boys have equal access to all parts of the curriculum.  The curriculum is broad and balanced and reflects the needs of pupils well. In particular, there is effective teaching of spoken and written English.  There is a minor limitation in the breadth of the music and art curricula. The new scheme of work for art emphasises a wider range of activity and skills and techniques. Singing only is permitted within the music programmes of work. There is no instrumental composition or musical appreciation taught.  A range of visits enriches the history and geography lessons. All classes visit other schools for a day during the academic year. These opportunities make a good contribution to pupils’ preparation for secondary school and their understanding of life in modern Britain.  The headteacher and staff demonstrate a strong determination to open pupils’ minds to the richness of other cultures. The school visit programme is a vital part of preparing them for

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Main findings

modern day British society. A comprehensive programme of teaching in European and British history supports their understanding in this area.  There is strong platform for pupils’ moral development through the teaching in both the secular and the Islamic curriculum. Assemblies and the personal, social, health and citizenship education programme provide chances for pupils to discuss a range of issues affecting modern British society. In these lessons they learn how to stay safe and how to protect themselves from bullying.  Pupils are encouraged to make choices and take decisions for themselves. They are thoroughly involved in fundraising for British-based charities.  The safeguarding procedure is robust. All staff have received basic awareness training. Day-to- day safeguarding maters are dealt with according to local procedures.  The policy, however, is not up to date and there are omissions that do not reflect the current

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Main findings

statutory guidance. The school’s child protection and safeguarding policy does not provide a secure framework as set out in the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance published in April 2014. There is no reference to how the school aims to help pupils feel safe and adopt safe practices. The policy does not alert staff, parents and others to the existence of specific safeguarding issues, including child sexual exploitation, cyber bullying, domestic violence, forced marriage and radicalisation.  The policy does not set out additional training for staff to help them identify these types of abuse.  The policy does not detail how governors will handle any allegations against members of staff and volunteers. Neither is there reference to how the impact of the policy will be evaluated. Emergency inspection: Al-Ashraf Primary School, 29 January 2015 2 of 5

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Main findings

 The school ensures that pupils are taught to respect British law and to respect and value those from different cultural backgrounds and with different beliefs. Lessons are planned well to include a mix of discussion and debate as well as research to help pupils secure their own moral perspective on these matters.  Pupils mix freely during the school day. They play safely and happily together. There is a positive work ethos and pupils feel safe at school.  A decision to hold separate pupil performances for ‘mums’ and 'dads’ was taken without consulting parents or considering the implications for pupils’ understanding of equal opportunities. This runs counter to British democratic principles. The Chair of the Trust Board recognises that the decision was taken without reference to the board.  The headteacher accepted that some of the wording on the website used to illustrate the content of the Islamic curriculum was open to interpretation. Some of the language did not

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Main findings

reflect the efforts of the headteacher and the governors to promote mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. The headteacher agreed that the website had not been reviewed for some time and is now currently under review.

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

 Ensure that the proprietor actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (paragraphs 5, 5(a))  Ensure the proprietor encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act (paragraph 5(b)(vi)).  Ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and that such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraphs 7, 7(a), (7b))  Ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role; and that they fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b))  Ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school actively

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

promote the well-being of pupils (paragraph 34(1)(c)). Emergency inspection: Al-Ashraf Primary School, 29 January 2015 3 of 5

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Inspection team

Jonathan Palk, Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Helen Griffiths Additional Inspector

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Information about this school

 Al-Ashraf Primary School is an independent Muslim day school. It opened in September 2006. The school is registered for 180 pupils. Currently, there are 178 boys and girls on roll, aged from four to 11 years.  The school is located in the Al-Ashraf Cultural Centre, a three-storey building close to the centre of Gloucester. It shares its premises and management with the Al-Ashraf Nursery, which is separately registered.  The large majority of pupils are of Indian or Pakistani heritage, with smaller numbers from a range of different backgrounds. Very few pupils are in the early stages of learning English.  The school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements for Reception children and the English National Curriculum in Key Stages 1 and 2, supplemented by daily Islamic education sessions.  There are no pupils who have a statement of special educational needs. The school has identified a small number of pupils who are disabled or who have special educational needs.

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Information about this school

 The school aims to deliver education in stimulating and challenging ways, and to create tolerant individuals who respect and appreciate others, their cultural background, feelings and views from an Islamic perspective.  There is one headteacher who leads the primary and secondary schools. There is a deputy headteacher who has day-to-day responsibly for the primary school.  The nursery was inspected at the same time as this emergency inspection of the primary and secondary schools. It is reported on separately.  The school’s last standard inspection was in June 2014. Its overall effectiveness was good. The school met schedule 1 of The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010, as amended by The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements. Emergency inspection: Al-Ashraf Primary School, 29 January 2015 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 135097 Inspection number 461446 DfE registration number 916/6081 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008.

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School details

Type of school Muslim day school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 4–11 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 178 Number of part time pupils 0 Proprietor Al-Madani Educational Trust Chair Mr Shahid M Vaid Headteacher Mufti Abdullah Patel Date of previous school inspection 17–19 June 2014 Annual fees (day pupils) £650–£1000 Telephone number 01452 503533 Email address admin@al-ashraf.gloucs.sch.uk Emergency inspection: Al-Ashraf Primary School, 29 January 2015 5 of 5

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School details

guidance 'Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . 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

You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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School details

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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School details

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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.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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