Leicester International School

Progress monitoring school report Leicester International School 16–20 Beal Street, Leicester LE2 0AA

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Context of the inspection

 The 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.  This was the first monitoring inspection since the school was last inspected by the Bridge School Inspectorate.  The inspection was carried out without notice.  The previous inspection took place on 9–12 March 2015. The inspection found that the school failed to comply with five independent school standards. These related to the welfare, health and safety of pupils, premises of and accommodation at schools and the quality of leadership and management.  An action plan was prepared by the school to address the unmet independent school standards. The Department for Education rejected the action plan in July 2015. A second action plan was produced by the school in September 2015 but not evaluated.  Inspectors conducted a variety of activities in order to check compliance with previously unmet

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Context of the inspection

standards. They toured both school sites and visited one part of a lesson. They held meetings with the Principal, the headteacher and the administrator. Inspectors met with two groups of pupils from Years 7 and 8. Inspectors reviewed a variety of documents including policies, behaviour records, the single central record, Key Stage 3 curriculum documents, and the admissions and attendance registers. The lead inspector checked the school’s website to confirm that the required policies and documents are available, including the school’s safeguarding policy.  The school has applied for a material change in respect of an increase in pupil numbers to accommodate, in the first instance, a maximum of 25 pupils in Years 7 and 8 at the new secondary site. The suitability of the new premises and the quality of education were considered during the present inspection visit. There are currently nine boys and 16 girls attending the new

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Context of the inspection

school, which opened at the beginning of November. For part of their school day, pupils also attend the nearby Hafsa Islamic Centre for lessons in Islamic Studies. School leaders have made temporary timetabling arrangements to ensure that the timetables for the boys and girls are staggered, so that the two classrooms and other facilities can be used efficiently. This arrangement would allow the two classrooms to be used to accommodate up to 20 girls and up to 20 boys, in Years 7 and 8, until July 2016. Phases two and three of the building project have not been completed. As a result, there is currently insufficient accommodation to allow school leaders to extend the age range beyond Year 8 at present. The new school does not have sufficient resources to teach secondary science. Since the school does not meet all the independent school standards, the change is not recommended for approval. Monitoring report: Leicester International School, 24 November 2015 2 of 6

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Welfare, health and safety

 The inspection of March 2015 found that school leaders did not carry out a regular formal fire risk assessment, or review it regularly so it is kept up to date. In their action plan, school leaders said that they had completed a fire risk assessment, but there was no evidence in the plan about how the outcome of the fire risk assessment would be recorded and how often checks would be carried out. Inspectors were able to check that a comprehensive fire risk assessment, containing all relevant risks, had been carried out for the Beal Street building in June 2015. School leaders had produced this fire risk assessment in conjunction with a local fire safety company. The fire risk assessment will be reviewed every six months. A similar system is proposed for the new secondary site, which has recently opened. Consequently, the requirement is now met.  The inspection of March 2015 found that the school did not maintain an admission and

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Welfare, health and safety

attendance register in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. This was because not all pupils were recorded on the register. In its action plan, the school indicated that it had updated its electronic database to ensure that all pupils were recorded on both the attendance and admissions registers. The electronic admissions and attendance registers were checked by inspectors and found to be fully compliant. Leaders follow up pupils’ non-attendance rigorously. In addition, the paper-based attendance registers used on the secondary site were also checked and found to be completed accurately. As a result of the school implementing its action plan, this requirement is now met.  In addition to the activities above the lead inspector checked the school’s child protection policy and found it to be fully compliant and displayed on the school’s website. The school’s procedures for safeguarding children are robust.

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Premises and accommodation at schools

 The inspection of March 2015 found that the school had not undertaken to provide suitable changing accommodation and showers for pupils at the secondary site who receive physical education. In its action plan, the school undertook to incorporate suitable shower facilities in the new building during the summer holidays. The school has installed one shower unit for use of pupils after their physical education lesson. The shower is clean and there are adequate supplies of hot water; however, the shower unit is insufficient to cater for the small number of pupils in the secondary school. There are no changing facilities and currently pupils come to school dressed in appropriate clothes for their physical education lesson in the nearby park. However, the school provided inspectors with evidence that they had made arrangements for pupils in the secondary school to access their physical education lessons at a local sports centre, starting the

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Premises and accommodation at schools

following week. The sports centre does have suitable changing and shower facilities. As a result of further actions taken by the school, beyond those stated in their action plan, this requirement is now met.  The inspection of March 2015 found that the school had not provided suitable accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils and for the short-term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility. In their action plan, school leaders undertook to install a new medical room for Key Stage 3 pupils at the new secondary site prior to opening. No mention was made in the action plan of the installation of suitable accommodation at the Beal Street site. The school’s updated action plan indicated that a suitable facility would be available at both sites. At the inspection, inspectors were able to see that suitable accommodation had been installed at both sites. Both rooms have washbasins

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Premises and accommodation at schools

installed and are adjacent to a toilet. Suitable first-aid equipment is readily available in each room. Monitoring report: Leicester International School, 24 November 2015 3 of 6

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Leadership and management

 The inspection of March 2015 found that the school’s leaders and managers were not fulfilling their responsibilities effectively, so that the independent school standards were met consistently. In its action plan, the school undertook to arrange internal training. However, no detail was given about the type of training and how it would be monitored. In their updated action plan, the school set out further detail of the type of training that leaders would attend. They also undertook to appoint another senior leader and a school improvement partner. As a result of implementing the action plan, a highly effective headteacher was appointed and commenced duties in September 2015. She is responsible for teaching and is the designated lead for child protection. She has provided high-quality child protection training for staff, incorporating all of the requirements of the most recent statutory guidance. Four school leaders have attended a

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Leadership and management

recent leadership conference and this has served to strengthen their knowledge of the independent school standards and the latest statutory requirements. The school has enlisted support from an external adviser, who carried out a thorough and accurate review of the school. School leaders have started to act upon the advice given. As a result of these actions, school leaders are increasingly skilled and, therefore, this requirement has now been met.

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Qualitative weaknesses from the previous inspection

 At the previous inspection, inspectors suggested a number of areas of future development. These related to improving the quality of teaching, having a more consistent approach to Key Stage 3, reviewing the organisation of the school day, and reviewing the provision for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs to ensure intervention is better coordinated across all key stages. The new headteacher, who has responsibility for teaching, has insisted that the school’s marking and homework policies are implemented consistently. In addition, as a result of moving to the new site, pupils in Key Stage 3 have a well-organised day and an appropriate range of subjects. All pupils are tested on entry to the school to assess their ability. School leaders ensure that pupils who are at risk of underachieving receive targeted support. However, school leaders recognise that more work can be done to ensure that pupils with

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Qualitative weaknesses from the previous inspection

potential special educational needs are accurately identified and supported.

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

 Ensure that there are sufficient resources of a good quality, quantity and range to support the teaching of science in the new secondary school (paragraph 3 and 3(f)). Monitoring report: Leicester International School, 24 November 2015 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Julia Wright, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Martin Finch Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Leicester International School is an independent Islamic school.  The school opened in 2001 as Tiny Tots Pre-School and Primary School. This is now a separate school operating on the same site as Leicester International School. The school’s last inspection was carried out by Bridge School Inspectorate in March 2015.  The Principal is also the proprietor of the school.  Since the last inspection, a new headteacher has been appointed from the existing staff.  No pupils have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan in the primary or secondary schools.  Several pupils have recently arrived in the country and are new to English.  The school now operates a secondary school from St Saviour’s Vicarage, Wood Hill, Leicester LE5 3JB. This is approximately a mile away from the main school. There are currently 25 pupils on roll at this school.  Secondary school pupils spend approximately two hours a day at the nearby Hafsa Islamic

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Information about this school

Centre. The school does not use any other alternative provision. Monitoring report: Leicester International School, 24 November 2015 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 134905 Inspection number 10008038 DfE registration number 856/6019 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 school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 5–13 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 142 Number of part-time pupils None Proprietor Mr Nizam Hussein Chair Mr Nizam Hussein Headteacher Mrs Amna Mansoor Date of previous school inspection 9–12 March 2015 Annual fees (day pupils) £1,750 (primary) £1,850 (secondary) Telephone number 0116 251 5345 Email address info@lisch.org.uk Monitoring report: Leicester International School, 24 November 2015 6 of 6

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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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