Al-Sadiq School

Progress monitoring school report Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra Schools

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Context of the inspection

 This inspection was undertaken 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.  The school was judged to be inadequate following a full standard inspection in December 2014. The school submitted an action plan on 10 June 2015 at the request of the Department for Education (DfE). This was accepted by the DfE on 5 January 2016.  The December 2014 inspection identified failings in relation to safeguarding procedures and accommodation for sick and injured pupils. The DfE requested that this progress monitoring inspection also considered requirements relating to checks made on the suitability of staff and the quality of leadership and management.  Inspectors were asked to consider the school’s request to extend the age range of pupils from four to 16, to three to 16. The school had previously been granted approval to do so on a

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Context of the inspection

temporary basis until July 2016.  Inspectors made visits to the early years classes to observe teaching and learning taking place. They also visited the medical room. Meetings were held with senior leaders, the designated safeguarding leads and the early years leaders. A range of documentation was scrutinised including that relating to safeguarding, a sample of staff files and documentation relating to the early years provision.  This inspection was conducted without notice.

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 Leaders have ensured that all requirements in relation to welfare, health and safety of pupils are now met.  The school’s safeguarding policy has been revised in line with current guidance from the Secretary of State. It includes guidance for staff on the risks posed by child sexual exploitation, radicalisation, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. It also includes routes to be followed if any allegations are made against staff, including the Principal. Systems have been put in place to ensure that proprietors oversee safeguarding procedures and check that they remain up to date.  The school has identified three designated leads for safeguarding who have been appropriately trained to fulfil this role. All members of staff receive regular training in matters relating to child protection. Any concerns that arise are referred to the appropriate agencies in a timely manner, and detailed, dated records kept of any relevant conversations, meetings or actions taken.

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Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

 All requirements in relation to the suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors are met.  Leaders carry out all the necessary checks on members of staff prior to the commencement of their employment. This includes checks to make sure that qualified teachers have not been barred from teaching. Leaders have introduced measures to check that members of staff are not disqualified by association from working with younger pupils. Monitoring report: Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra Schools, 27 January 2016 2 of 5

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Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

 The school’s single central record is complete and meets requirements. It records the dates of all checks made. The school does not employ supply staff.

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Premises

 The requirement to provide suitable accommodation for the medical and therapy needs of pupils is now met.  Leaders have designated one medical room for the use of pupils when they are sick or injured. The room is large and has a screened area containing a bed and washbasin. First aid materials and other relevant equipment are readily available. There are toilets nearby for both boys and girls.

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Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 The requirements in relation to leadership and management are met.  Leaders have taken timely and appropriate action to address the weaknesses identified at the time of the previous inspection. They created an appropriate action plan and implemented it effectively. As a result, all the requirements of the independent school standards are now met.

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Statutory requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage

 All of the requirements in relation to the Early Years Foundation Stage are met.  Children attend the nursery part time. Those in Reception attend full time. This inspection focused on the nursery provision as the school had requested permission for this to become a permanent facility.  The nursery teacher works closely with colleagues in school and from the local authority to ensure that the needs of all the children are met. The nursery environment is bright, airy and attractive with its own separate outdoor area. The curriculum framework in place is appropriate with opportunities for children to experience all of the prime and specific areas of learning. There are systems in place to track the progress of pupils, and these demonstrate clearly that pupils are making progress. Each child is allocated to a keyworker, and the names and photographs of keyworkers are clearly displayed for parents and children to see.

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Statutory requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage

 The nursery teacher takes the welfare, health and safety of the children in her care seriously. She ensures that staff are appropriately trained and that the required staffing ratios are maintained at all times. All of the requirements for safeguarding and welfare are met, and the premises are suitably secure.  Children in the nursery play happily together. There is a wide range of interesting and inviting activities on offer for them to engage in.  Nursery staff keep clear records of their regular meetings with parents. In these meetings the strengths of the child are discussed, the next steps for their learning, and the ways in which parents can support this at home. Children with additional needs are identified and referred to outside agencies, such as those for speech and language therapy, as appropriate. The local authority provides support in this area, meeting with nursery staff regularly.

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Statutory requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage

 The local authority early years team also provides advice and support to nursery leaders with regard to the quality of the provision, and setting plans for improvement.  It is recommended that the school’s request to extend the age range of pupils from four to 16, to three to 16 is accepted on a permanent basis.

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and associated requirements

Monitoring report: Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra Schools, 27 January 2016 3 of 5

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Inspection team

Gaynor Roberts, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra schools are Islamic faith schools. They are combined schools for boys and girls and are located in the Brondesbury area of the London Borough of Brent. The school is owned by the Al-Khoei Foundation and most of the pupils come from within the Iraqi community. Classes are mixed until Year 3 and thereafter there are separate classes for boys and girls. Pupils in the Nursery attend part time.  The school was opened in 1991 and is registered for 376 pupils. It currently has 369 pupils between the ages of three and 16 years on roll. No pupil has a statement of educational needs or an education, health and care plan. None are looked after by a local authority. A very small number of pupils speak English as an additional language. The school does not place pupils in off-site alternative provision.  The school aims to ‘encourage each child to develop God-consciousness and grow into

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Information about this school

confident, respectful and proactive citizens who will add value to society’. Pupils follow all areas of the National Curriculum to GCSE level with additional Islamic and Arabic studies. Monitoring report: Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra Schools, 27 January 2016 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 101576 Inspection number 10011603 DfE registration number 304/6072

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School details

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 Islamic faith school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 3–16 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 369 Number of part time pupils 28 Proprietor Al-Khoei Foundation Principal Dr M Movahedi Date of previous school inspection 9–11 December 2014 Annual fees (day pupils) £2,700–£5,100 Telephone number 020 7372 6760 / 020 7372 7706 Email address info@al-sadiq-alzahraschools.co.uk Monitoring report: Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra Schools, 27 January 2016 5 of 5

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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