Normanton House School

Progress monitoring school report Normanton House School Normanton House, Village Street, Derby DE23 8DF

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Context of the inspection

 The inspection was undertaken at the request of the registration authority for independent schools, the Department for Education (DfE), in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan. The registration authority also requested that the inspector check that the safeguarding policy was published on the school’s website.  This was the first monitoring inspection since the school submitted its action plan to the DfE.  At the school’s last full inspection in June 2014, its overall effectiveness was judged to be good. In July 2015, an emergency inspection was conducted at the request of the Department for Education (DfE). The Department specified that the inspection should cover Part 3 of the independent schools standards, the welfare, health and safety of pupils.  At the July 2015 inspection the school was found to have several unmet standards in relation to Parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards. The school was ordered to submit an

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Context of the inspection

action plan in relation to these unmet standards. The action plan was submitted in January 2016 and evaluated in March 2016. The DfE accepted the plan but it was found to require improvement.  The school contacted the DfE in September 2015 to request a material change to account for the increased age range of pupils since the last inspection. During the inspection the DfE requested by telephone that the inspection also evaluate the provision in the school that would permit the increased age range to 16 years.  The inspector held meetings with the headteachers of the primary and secondary phases of the school. Meetings were also held with a range of teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and the chair of the governing body from the trust. A tour of the school was conducted with a headteacher.  The inspector also evaluated a range of documentation in relation to the school’s action plan, including the school’s safeguarding policy, health and safety policy, anti-bullying policy and

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Context of the inspection

behaviour logs. The school’s curriculum policy, including programmes of study for individual subjects, were also evaluated.

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Welfare, health and safety

 At the last inspection, the school’s safeguarding arrangements were found to be ineffective. The school’s safeguarding policy did not reflect the latest guidance by the Secretary of State. The school has now revised its policy, which appropriately reflects the necessary government guidance. The policy is published on the school’s website.  Staff have a sound understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse. They understand the risks facing young people, such as radicalisation and extremism and forced marriages. The curriculum suitably helps pupils to recognise these risks, especially in relation to internet use.  Pupils feel safe and know who to speak to when they are worried or upset.  The previous inspection found that the staff of the school were not recording safeguarding incidents appropriately. The progress monitoring inspection found that the school now records all incidents and referrals separately. The school has also rightly engaged the relevant agencies

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Welfare, health and safety

in the local authority to oversee their safeguarding arrangements. Monitoring report: Normanton House School, 20 June 2016 2 of 5

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Welfare, health and safety

 The policy for recording attendance and following up on pupils’ absences, including the circumstances of those pupils who have left the school, has been revised thoroughly. As a result, all staff use a common coding system to record absences. Staff contact home as soon as a child is absent when there has been no notification to school made by parents. Staff are aware of the procedures to take when pupils are absent for prolonged periods of time or take holidays during term time. They are alert to potential risks when pupils are absent from school.  At the last inspection, the school did not have an effective policy to address bullying. While there are few incidents of this kind, the school has implemented an effective anti-bullying policy. Pupils have received regular guidance to help them combat bullying, including through assemblies and anti-bullying awareness weeks. Pupils show a good understanding of different

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Welfare, health and safety

types of bullying. They are confident that staff would deal with such incidents if they occur. Leaders keep accurate logs of such incidents when they occur.  Since the last inspection, the school has revised its health and safety policy. The policy is now detailed and effective. Suitable risk assessments are in place, including those in relation to the risks of radicalisation and extremism.  The school’s fire-safety arrangements have been reviewed and audited by professional fire- safety officers. The audit deemed the school’s safety measures to be robust. Appropriately trained staff monitor the school’s policy weekly.

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Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

 The last inspection found that the school’s single central register was not kept in accordance with statutory guidance. Staff are now suitably vetted and recruitment procedures are robust and follow safer recruitment practices. Systems have improved to ensure that checks, specifically in relation to the Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations 2009 and prohibition orders, are carried out rigorously.

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Premises and accommodation of schools

 The weaknesses identified at the previous inspection in relation to inadequate washing and toilet facilities for pupils have all been rectified. The school has refurbished its facilities; all washing and toilet facilities are now in full working order.  The accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils has also been improved. The medical room now meets requirements. It contains a bed, washing facilities, hot and cold running water, a privacy screen and a fully stocked medical cupboard. Toilet facilities are also nearby.

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Leadership and management

 As a result of the previous inspection, leaders and managers have developed their knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and health and safety matters. They have devised effective policies and monitor their implementation well.  Inspectors found the accommodation and curriculum in Years 10 and 11 suitable for the material change requested.  Leaders have acknowledged that they should develop more opportunities for pupils to experience the life and cultures of pupils other than themselves. In this way they would strengthen their work to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

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and associated requirements

Monitoring report: Normanton House School, 20 June 2016 3 of 5

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Inspection team

Zarina Connolly, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Normanton House is an independent Islamic day school in Normanton, near to Derby city centre. It admits girls and boys from four to 11 years of age, and girls up to the age of 16. There are currently 154 pupils on roll. The majority of pupils are from Pakistani and some Bangladeshi families who were born in the United Kingdom.  No pupil currently has a statement of special educational needs, and none is at the early stages of learning English.  The early years consists of one Reception class for children aged four and five. There are currently 10 children in the Reception class.  The school opened in 2003. The school is located in a large refurbished and extended Victorian building. There are 32 girls in the secondary school.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.  The school is owned by the Al Akram Trust and provides a mix of Islamic and secular teaching. It aims to ‘offer children a firm foundation in Islamic education, developing in them a deep love

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Information about this school

for ALLAH (The Exalted), the Quran and his Prophets (salutations and peace be upon them) as well as offering a broad, holistic primary education to enable every pupil to achieve their fullest potential, in the comfort of a supportive and stimulating Islamic ethos to become a positive and responsible member and contributor to the wider society’. The school further aims to help pupils realise that their well-being is closely connected to the well-being of others.  The school was last inspected in July 2015. Monitoring report: Normanton House School, 20 June 2016 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 134294 Inspection number 10020479 DfE registration number 831/6006

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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 Primary and secondary school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 4–14 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 157 Number of part time pupils 0 Proprietor Al Akram Trust Chair Dr Piracha Headteacher Miss A Iqbal Date of previous school inspection 7 July 2015 Annual fees (day pupils) £1,800 Telephone number 01332 769333 Fax number N/A Email address admin@alakramtrust.org.uk 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

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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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