Noor Ul Islam Primary School

Emergency inspection school report Noor Ul Islam School 135, Dawlish Road, Leyton, London E10 6QW

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Reason for the inspection

 This emergency inspection was conducted by Ofsted 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. 1  The inspection was undertaken to look at the quality of education (part 1), spiritual, moral, cultural and social development of pupils (part 2), welfare, health and safety arrangements (part 3), premises and accommodation (part 5) and the quality of leadership and management (part 8).

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Main findings

 Inspectors scrutinised documentation about the quality of education, spoke to pupils and leaders and assessed information about pupils’ performance.  The proprietor ensures that teaching enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make progress. Pupils’ attainment in end of year standardised tests is above average in reading, writing and mathematics. At the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage the proportion of children reaching a good level of development is higher than typically expected.  Inspectors assessed pupil performance information using a new framework to track pupils’ progress in most areas of the National Curriculum and in Islamic studies. This assessment information is generated by termly tests from published schemes, linked to age-related expectations and referenced to national norms.  The headteacher analyses pupils’ progress regularly to review standards in school. Interventions are provided for underachieving pupils. Staff understand the assessment

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Main findings

framework but pupils’ aptitudes and prior attainments are not consistently taken into account when planning lessons.  Inspectors carried out short visits to lessons with the headteacher and deputy headteacher. In mathematics lessons, too many pupils were completing the same tasks. Some pupils found their work too easy and others found it too difficult.  Pupils’ work and learning stimuli on display in classrooms and public areas do not undermine fundamental British values. Images of Islam and Christianity are prominently exhibited alongside the geography of London, timelines of European and Islamic history. Pupils spoke confidently to inspectors about similarities between different faiths.  Inspectors assessed pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. This indicates that pupils have a range of experiences encouraging them to show respect and

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Main findings

1 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/25/contents . Emergency inspection: Noor Ul Islam School, 10 September 2015 2 of 7

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Main findings

tolerance of those with different faiths.  Pupils spoke confidently about their learning in different subjects and the things they like doing such as science, making PowerPoints, art, poetry and visits to places in London such as the Greenwich Observatory.  Assembly themes, display and discussions with pupils demonstrate that the proprietor actively promotes tolerance, harmony and respect between different faiths and cultures. One girl said, ’The balance is right, we must learn about where we live and who we are, many things in RE are the same like believing in a book and believing in Jesus.’  Pupils understand democracy. They told an inspector, ‘It is when countries are ruled by its people and citizens are free.’ Pupils, however, could not comment about any public institutions or services in England.  All seven required areas of the curriculum are covered sufficiently.  The proprietor and headteacher state that Islam teaches tolerance and respect for

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Main findings

others but they acknowledge there is no clear policy to actively promote the Equality Act with regard to people with protected characteristics.  The proprietor has failed to ensure the welfare, health and safety of pupils at school. The arrangements to safeguard, monitor and promote the welfare of pupils are not robust. School policies are not implemented consistently with regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  The written safeguarding and child protection policies are available on the school website and comply with Keeping children safe in education guidance, July 2015. The headteacher, governors, trustees do not carry out checks to ensure its implementation in accordance with independent school standards.  The written health and safety policy complies with the relevant health and safety laws but it is not implemented effectively. Annual checks either do not occur at the stated time or the administration of such checks is disorganised. Risk assessments are poor.

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Main findings

 Leaders do not routinely assess the environment for hazards. For example, children in the Reception Year can leave the building without detection through a fire exit. No alarms are fitted to this fire door, which opens onto a public right of way.  The school’s admission and attendance registers records are not maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 or with the statutory guidance in Keeping children safe in education, July 2015.  Since the last inspection in May 2011, the precise destinations of 99 pupils are not recorded. They are missing from education. This means that they may be at potential risk from exploitation or abuse.  Additionally, 14 pupils are recorded as leaving to become home educated. The proprietor has not fulfilled its statutory duty to inform the local authority when this occurs.  Inspectors scrutinised the school’s vetting procedures and its single central record and

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Main findings

sampled staff files. Some staff commenced work in school prior to completion of checks on their suitability for employment. Some staff records have no evidence of references being taken, verification of qualifications or confirmation of enhanced criminal certificates and prohibition checks.  The school environment is clean. It is in a reasonable state of repair. The school’s security, its acoustics and lighting are sufficient. Pupils have access to drinking water. Each toilet facility complies with the required independent school standard.  The medical and short-term provision for pupils who are sick or injured does not comply with the regulations. Currently a bed is provided in the school’s main office. This fails to Emergency inspection: Noor Ul Islam School, 10 September 2015 3 of 7

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Main findings

provide privacy or appropriate care for pupils. It cannot be vacated for pupils’ sole use or emergency treatment by professionals.  The headteacher has begun to address school weaknesses. He has introduced systems to evaluate teaching, learning and assessment. He has initiated curriculum plans and schemes of work. Staff are being held to account more closely for their responsibilities. This work is in its infancy and weaknesses remain.  Governors and trustees have not fulfilled their responsibilities effectively during a period of high leadership mobility. They do not demonstrate good skills or knowledge of the independent school standards to ensure that pupils are safe or that independent school standards are met consistently.  Governors and trustees do not monitor the school’s work effectively and this places pupils at risk of harm.

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that teaching shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons. 3(d)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that principles are actively promoted which enable pupils to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England. 5(b)(iv)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that principles are actively promoted which enable pupils to encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010. 5(b)(vi)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that the promotion of partisan political views is precluded in the teaching of any subject in the school. 5(c)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school. 7(a)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. 7(b)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that the relevant health and safety laws are complied with by drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy. Ensure that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. Ensure that the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and 16(a)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. 16(b) Ensure that the proprietor carries out appropriate checks to confirm in respect of each person, where appropriate, the person’s qualification. 18(2)(c)(iv)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that an enhanced criminal record check is made in respect of that person and an enhanced criminal record certificate is obtained before or as 18(2)(d) Emergency inspection: Noor Ul Islam School, 10 September 2015 4 of 7

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

soon as practicable after that person’s employment. Ensure that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils. 24(1)(a)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that accommodation is provided for the short term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility. 24(1)(b)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Ensure that leaders demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that independent school standards are met consistently; 34(1)(a)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and 34(1)(b)

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

Actively promote the well-being of students. 34(1)(c) Emergency inspection: Noor Ul Islam School, 10 September 2015 5 of 7

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Inspection team

Ann Debono, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector David Storrie Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Noor Ul Islam Primary School opened in 2001. It is an Islamic day school registered for up to 175 pupils from the ages of four to 11 years.  There are 166 pupils on roll, all of whom attend full time. There are 24 children in the Early Years Foundation Stage.  Pupils have Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Mauritian, Algerian and Bosnian heritages. Most pupils are bilingual or multilingual.  The school was last inspected as a ‘light-touch’ inspection in May 2011.  Since the last inspection there have been four headteachers. The current headteacher was appointed in January 2015. A new deputy headteacher commenced employment in September 2015.  The governing body represent members of the local community, parents, staff and the Noor Ul Islam Trust.  The school aims to ‘inspire students to achieve excellence in Islamic conduct and Islamic personality, to ensure they achieve their academic potential and develop to be

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Information about this school

an ambassador of Islam contributing to and serving the wider community.’ Emergency inspection: Noor Ul Islam School, 10 September 2015 6 of 7

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School details

Unique reference number 133517 Inspection number 10007306 DfE registration number 320/6061

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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 4−11 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 166 Number of part time pupils 0 Proprietor Mr Yusuf Hansa Chair Mr Yusuf Hansa Headteacher Majid Ishaque Date of previous school inspection 26 May 2011 Annual fees (day pupils) £3,000 Telephone number 020 8558 0786 Fax number 020 8558 0786 Email address primaryschool@noorulislam.co.uk Emergency inspection: Noor Ul Islam School, 10 September 2015 7 of 7

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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

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 and 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 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit

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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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