Leicester Islamic Academy

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Leicester Islamic Academy 320 London Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 2PJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(d)  At the previous monitoring inspection inspectors found that pupils did not make the progress they should in a range of subjects, across the school.  In the early years teachers make good use of the assessments of children to plan learning activities on a daily basis. Teachers use parental input well to further develop children’s progress. Children make good progress in this phase of the school.  However, in key stage 1, the good level of development pupils made in the early years is not capitalised upon well by teachers. Pupils are often given work that is far below their capabilities.  Where mixed age classes are taught, the progress of pupils is particularly slow. This is because teachers are not skilled at tailoring their teaching to meet the needs of the different abilities of pupils in the class. One boy sighed very loudly in a mathematics

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Main inspection findings

lesson, saying ‘We did this in Year 1!’ when faced with work he had clearly understood and done before.  In key stage 2, a similar picture was seen by inspectors. Pupils’ science workbooks, for example, showed that pupils are routinely asked to copy large pieces of text. For the most able, this exercise served no purpose in developing their knowledge and skills in science. For the least able, the vocabulary was too complex for them to understand. Consequently, pupils continue to make spelling errors in what they are asked to record.  Pupils’ progress across a range of subjects is inconsistent because not all teachers are ensuring that they understand pupils’ previous knowledge, skills and abilities. Too frequently, inspectors observed teachers planning the same work for pupils to complete regardless of their age, stage or ability.  While the standards the school achieved in the national tests at the end of key stage 2

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Main inspection findings

are above the national average, the progress pupils make across a range of subjects is insufficient.  The standards in this section remain unmet. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils  Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the previous monitoring inspection, leaders did not keep accurate records of pupils’ concerns.  The safeguarding policy is updated in line with the latest government guidelines and published for parents.  However, leaders do not follow the school policy. Inspectors found that leaders have continued to keep poor records of pupils’ concerns. First-hand statements were not properly dated and timed. There was also insufficient detail recorded about the circumstances. Leaders do not follow up concerns well enough to ensure the welfare of the pupils in their care.  At least one referral to the designated officer at the local authority has not been made in a timely manner. Leaders were unable to account for the delay.

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Main inspection findings

 Despite additional training and support from the local authority, leaders responsible for safeguarding have shown a lack of understanding of their roles, responsibilities and duties to keep pupils safe.  These standards are not met. Paragraph 15  At the previous inspection, inspectors found that the information about pupils who had left the school was not recorded or followed up correctly. Registers of attendance were not kept correctly, causing confusion over the exact number of pupils on roll.  Leaders have improved their systems to record and follow up pupils who have left the school. Records of these pupils are detailed. This information is also relayed to the local authority promptly.  Leaders have developed an effective system to record and analyse pupils’ attendance. The attendance records are kept accurately.  The standard is now met. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  At the previous monitoring inspection, leaders had not carried out effective risk

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Main inspection findings

assessments for school trips.  Leaders have developed their risk assessments for all school trips well. The venue and the journey to and from the places visited are all considered carefully and the risks recorded meticulously. The risk assessment for one trip to Twinlakes (a farm), showed appropriate consideration of the risks associated with visiting a farm, including the dangers of possible bacterial infections. In addition, leaders considered the behavioural needs of certain pupils due to attend the trip and set out clearly how their condition would be managed effectively.  Parents are requested to provide additional information about their children’s medical needs for all trips. Staff prepare well for these types of trips because the range of risks are considered carefully and appropriate plans are drawn up.  These standards are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  At the time of the previous monitoring inspection, leaders were familiar with the independent school standards but they had not implemented those related to keeping pupils safe effectively enough.  During this progress monitoring inspection, leaders had clearly developed some systems help keep pupils safe, namely, implementing effective risk assessments and maintaining the admission and attendance registers correctly. Leaders have met the standards in these areas as they have received effective support from external professionals.  However, leaders’ have not demonstrated that they understand their safeguarding responsibilities and duties well enough in relation to recording, monitoring and supporting pupils when concerns are raised about them. Parents cannot be assured that leaders will act in a timely manner to follow up and refer safeguarding concerns or keep

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Main inspection findings

accurate records of events.  These standards are therefore not met.

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Main inspection findings

Statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Paragraphs 3.5 and 3.7  At the previous monitoring inspection, weaknesses identified in the recording and reporting of safeguarding concerns meant that the requirements of the early years foundation stage were unmet.  Leaders remain weak in relation to their responses to concerns raised about pupils’ safety and welfare. Leaders do not demonstrate sufficient knowledge and skills of their statutory duties to keep pupils safe.  The welfare and safeguarding requirements of the early years foundation stage are not met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 ('the independent school standards') and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection  Teaching enables all pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught (paragraphs 3, 3(a)).  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 (paragraphs 3, 3(d)).  Arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school and that such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraphs 7, 7(a) and 7(b)).  The proprietor must make sure that leadership and management demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role, so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a)).

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

 The proprietor must ensure that leaders and managers fulfil their responsibilities effectively, so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(b)).  The proprietor must ensure that leaders and managers actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(c).

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 An admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education ( (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (paragraph 15).  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 appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified (paragraphs 16, 16(a), 16(b)).

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School Details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school's suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School Details

Proprietor Leicester Islamic Academy Trust

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School Details

Date of previous standard inspection 7–9 October 2015

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Information about this school

 Leicester Islamic Academy (LIA) was opened in 1982 by the LIA Trust who are the proprietors. The proprietors are also responsible for LIA Gems, which is a separate nursery provision, and the Madani secondary schools in Leicester. This provision is inspected separately.  The chair of the governing body, who is one of the trustees, is based at the site shared by Madani Boys’ School and Madani Girls’ School.  The early years provision is part time and operates separate morning and afternoon sessions.  The school is registered for 400 pupils between the ages of three and 11.  There are too few pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities for their achievement to be reported on separately.  The school operates a madrassa after school for children from the ages of three to 11.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This was an unannounced progress monitoring inspection.  At the time of the previous progress monitoring in May 2016, the school failed a number of independent school standards.  Inspectors observed learning in lessons across the curriculum, in all key stages, including early years. They also evaluated pupils’ workbooks across a range of curriculum areas. Inspectors spoke to pupils and heard them read during lessons.  Discussions took place with senior leaders, governors, including the chair of the governing body, and teachers.  There were insufficient responses to Ofsted’s online questionnaire, Parent View, to be

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Information about this inspection

taken into account.  Inspectors scrutinised and evaluated a range of school documents, including the school’s information on the achievement of pupils, safeguarding and child protection documents, a range of policy documents, the school’s admission and attendance registers, the single central record and risk assessments.

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Inspection team

Zarina Connolly, lead inspector Her Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection team

Deirdre Duignan Her Majesty's Inspector 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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Inspection team

Parent View 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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Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visitwww.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk, or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted .

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Inspection team

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, further education and skills, 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.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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

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