Al-Ameen Primary School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Al-Ameen Primary School Stanfield House, 447 Warwick Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B11 2JR

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1) and 2(1)(a)  The previous inspection determined that schemes of work were not implemented effectively, leading to some pupils making poor progress. School leaders have responded positively and schemes of work now link consistently with mid-term planning, individual lesson plans and outcomes in pupils’ books. Paragraphs 3, 3(a), 3(b) and 3(g)  The school now has progress tracking information that identifies which pupils are making progress and which are stalling or regressing. This is reviewed every half term and pupils who are not making appropriate progress receive additional support from a range of interventions. These interventions are also reviewed and amended half termly.  Teachers and support staff have received training to improve planning, incorporate more challenge into learning and to improve support provided in class. Tracking evidence shows that an increasing proportion of less able pupils are moving up a group,

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Main inspection findings

but fewer are moving from the middle to the higher groups.  Lesson objectives and success criteria are identified for each ability group and these are usefully inserted in pupils’ books so that pupils can evaluate their own work against the standard expected and self-correct.  Writing was identified as a concern in the last monitoring inspection. The school has embraced the criticism and incorporated sessions on the timetable for pupils to improve their handwriting and presentation skills. There is sound evidence of the positive impact of this development and the school is now working hard to ensure it is sustained across the curriculum.  These steps increase the opportunities for all pupils to make progress.  These standards are met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(b) and 5(b)(vi), 5(d)(i)(ii) and (iii)  The last progress monitoring report identified that Year 6 pupils did not know enough

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Main inspection findings

about the laws relating to people with protected characteristics, and the school had not done enough to teach pupils how to argue constructively in debates when they consider opposing views.  The ethos of, and teaching within, the school are predicated on the values of respect and tolerance. However, school leaders have recognised that these values alone are not enough to prepare pupils for living in modern Britain.  The curriculum has been expanded to include current affairs. Pupils demonstrated an interest in world affairs and talked briefly, but enthusiastically, about a women’s demonstration march in America, geothermal developments that enabled bananas to be grown in Iceland and how people in Cuba did not have the right to vote under a dictatorship. Pupils knew and understood that discrimination was wrong, illegal and unsociable. Pupils gave examples of religion, colour, gender and disability as

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Main inspection findings

discriminatory characteristics. They had a good, age-appropriate understanding of inequalities. The school plans to further improve work on protected characteristics by auditing the taught curriculum to establish which aspects are currently covered and identify where further opportunities for development may lie. This is particularly in relation to delivering more complex considerations relating to sexuality.  Last term, the school promoted a ‘Law in Britain’ theme. Pupils spoke enthusiastically about issues of democracy, the right to vote, independent liberty, the rule of law and tolerance. Pupils also recognised that freedoms come with responsibilities and a framework of rules and laws. One pupil stated that ‘life would be chaotic without British values’.  Through the expanded curriculum, opportunities have been created to encourage pupils to develop the skills needed for debate and constructive argument. This will take time to

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Main inspection findings

establish but a good start has been made.  These standards are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  The provision for safeguarding continues to improve because leaders place a high value on it, through staff training and the school’s ethos. The policy is clear and extensive, and incorporates references to recent statutory guidance.  Correspondence between the school and the local authority’s safeguarding team confirms that when concerns had been raised, the school acted in a timely and appropriate manner.  The required checks on new staff are routinely made and recorded on the single central register.  School attendance was near the national average at 94.3% on the day of the inspection. There was a small increase in attendance last term although levels remain below the national average. However, the school is working closely with parents and the local authority to secure further improvement. There is an identified core of 10 pupils

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Main inspection findings

with persistent absenteeism. The local authority is also working with their families.  Pupils are risk-aware and feel safe at school. They understand that bullying takes different forms and that they can take steps themselves to avoid or stop victimisation. These include blocking callers or stopping using particular websites, as well as reporting incidents to adults. The school promotes an anti-bullying week where pupils engage in activities that promote awareness and self-confidence. Personal, social and health education lessons and assemblies also complement learning about keeping safe such as making healthy choices.  These standards are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 29(1)  The last progress monitoring inspection identified a lack of adequate physical education lessons, particularly during inclement weather. The school has tackled this issue by securing access to a neighbouring gym when the weather prevents the pupils from participating in outdoor activities. The school also uses a minibus to transport pupils to other sporting venues as well as other events.  Pupils confirmed that they have regular twice-weekly sports sessions and access to sports as an after-school club.  This standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)c  The school’s safeguarding policy is available on the website and hard copies are available on request.  This standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a) and (b)  The school leaders have taken decisive action to address the outstanding unmet standards identified in the last inspection.  Their approach has been organised and detailed. The process has led to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the independent school standards so that leaders have been able to fulfil their responsibilities to meet the standards.  The school embarked on an extensive programme of staff development and monitoring to raise awareness, improve subject knowledge and embed practice.  Feedback to staff has been direct and challenging and staff have responded positively to this.  The school has made good progress against its action plan because leaders and staff have approached the previous deficits thoroughly and systematically.  There is a genuine desire and commitment to succeed.  These standards are met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school has an accessibility plan in place.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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 now meets the following independent school standards

 Part 1, paragraph 2(1) and 2(1)(a), paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(b) and 3(g)  Part 2, paragraph 5, 5(b) and 5(b)(vi), 5(d)(i),(ii) and (iii)  Part 3, paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  Part 5, paragraph 29(1)  Part 8, paragraph 34(1)(a) and (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

Email address info@alameenfoundation.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 29 September–1 October 2015

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Information about this school

 Al-Ameen Primary School is an independent Muslim day school that provides full-time education for boys and girls aged three to 11 years.  The school is affiliated to the Association of Muslim Schools UK.  The school is registered for 180 pupils and currently has 155 boys and girls on roll.  Currently all the families that send their children to the school are practising Muslims and of mainly British Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage. There is an increasing number of pupils from other backgrounds.  No pupil has an education, health and care plan.

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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 not to comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the second progress monitoring inspection. The previous monitoring inspection took place on 21 September 2016.  This inspection was carried out with no notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher, the school’s senior leader for the curriculum, teaching and support staff and the school’s educational consultant. Lessons were observed, including a joint observation with the headteacher. Discussions were held with pupils, in a group and informally during lessons. Pupils’ work was scrutinised during lesson observations, and jointly with the headteacher and senior leader for curriculum.

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Information about this inspection

A range of documents was reviewed including the school’s safeguarding policy, single central register, staff files, correspondence with the local authority’s safeguarding team, the school’s action plan and progress file, the school’s accessibility plan, schemes of work and lesson plans, staff training records, pupils’ progress information and attendance information.

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Inspection team

Elizabeth Ellis-Martin, lead inspector Ofsted 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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