Al-Noor Primary School

Progress monitoring school report Al-Noor Primary School 619–625 Green Lane, Ilford IG3 9RP

p.1

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.  The inspection was the first progress monitoring inspection following an emergency inspection on 10 September 2015.  The school’s action plan was judged as requiring improvement and was subsequently rejected by the Department for Education. A revised action plan was resubmitted in March 2016 and was considered as part of the inspection.  The inspector had meetings with senior leaders including the headteacher and designated safeguarding lead, observed learning in all classes, scrutinised a wide range of documentation and spoke with pupils, staff and trustees throughout the inspection.  The inspection was conducted without notice.

p.1

Quality of education

 Leaders have ensured that all requirements in relation to the quality of education are now met. At the time of the last inspection, the range of learning opportunities in aesthetic and creative education was too narrow.  The teaching of aesthetic and creative education has been significantly increased and strengthened. Pupils now say they enjoy many more opportunities in art and design, music, drama and design and technology. Teachers have completed effective training in the teaching of art and design, planning has been reviewed and improved, and the work displayed around the school is of a high quality and reflects a more diverse range of creative activities.

p.1

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development

 Leaders have ensured that all requirements in relation to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils are now met. At the time of the last inspection, pupils were encouraged to show respect for other people but this did not include the full range of those who have protected characteristics in line with the Equality Act 2010.  The school’s work in helping pupils to consider life in modern Britain is now effective. There are no longer shortcomings in aspects of pupils’ personal, social, health and economic development. This is because the school’s policy and curriculum have significantly improved following the previous inspection and pupils are now taught clearly about the full range of those who have protected characteristics. This change has been managed sensitively and effectively, and has involved staff training, workshops with parents and monitoring by the trustees. Younger pupils’

p.1

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development

awareness of other faiths and beliefs has been improved through a revised religious education programme and older pupils’ work on different families and lifestyles, including sexual orientation and homophobia is now effectively embedded in the curriculum. Conversations with the headteacher confirm that everybody in the school, including parents, has embraced the positive cultural change in which fundamental British values and respect for the protected characteristics underpins all aspects of the school’s work. Monitoring report: Al-Noor Primary School, 29 April 2016 2 of 5

p.1

Welfare, health and safety

 Leaders have ensured that all requirements in relation to the welfare, health and safety of pupils are now met. At the time of the last inspection, the admission register of pupils did not meet requirements as records were not maintained according to current regulations and information about pupils leaving the school was not always passed on to the local authority on time. When appointing staff, leaders did not make sure that the most up-to-date guidance was followed in terms of checks on employment history and references.  The school’s admission register of pupils now meets requirements. Information about pupils leaving the school are now recorded accurately and passed on to the local authority in a timely way.  The school’s safeguarding policy and procedures are clear and meet requirements. Since the previous inspection, leaders have improved systems for appointing staff and additionally decided

p.2

Welfare, health and safety

to retrospectively check the vetting of all staff, trustees and volunteers in the school. The latest guidance in relation to the checking of employment history and references is now followed.

p.2

Leadership and management

 Leaders and trustees, including the school’s determined and focused headteacher, have worked hard to rectify the issues identified as a result of the emergency inspection in September 2015. They have successfully implemented their action plan. As a result, they have ensured that the independent school standards identified as previously unmet are now all met.

p.2

and associated requirements

Monitoring report: Al-Noor Primary School, 29 April 2016 3 of 5

p.3

Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

p.3

Information about this school

 Al-Noor is an independent Islamic primary school located in a residential area of Ilford, Essex.  The school provides full-time education to boys and girls aged between four and 11 years of age. There are currently 178 pupils on roll.  The school was established in 2002 and is owned by the Al-Noor Foundation.  The school’s last inspection was an emergency inspection undertaken by Ofsted at the request of the Department for Education in September 2015. Inspectors reported a number of independent school standards as unmet. The school’s last full inspection undertaken by Ofsted was in July 2007 when the school was judged to provide a good quality of education and almost all of the independent school standards were met. The school was also inspected in July 2010 and July 2013 by the Bridge Schools Inspectorate at the request of the Department for Education. Both inspections judged the school as providing a good quality of education.

p.3

Information about this school

Monitoring report: Al-Noor Primary School, 29 April 2016 4 of 5

p.4

School details

Unique reference number 134244 Inspection number 10017712 DfE registration number 317/6076

p.4

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.

p.4

School details

Type of school Primary school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 4–11 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 178 Proprietor The Al-Noor Foundation Chair Daud Juneja Headteacher Someera Butt Date of previous school inspection 10 September 2015 Annual fees (day pupils) £3,100 Telephone number 020 8597 7576 Fax number 020 8597 9511 Email address office@al-noorprimary.co.uk Monitoring report: Al-Noor Primary School, 29 April 2016 5 of 5

p.4

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 .

p.5

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.

p.5

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

p.5

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

p.5

School details

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.5

School details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5