Andalusia Academy Bristol

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Andalusia Academy Bristol Old School Building, St Matthias Park, St Philips, Bristol, Avon BS2 0BA

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b) 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The inspection in July 2016 found that some standards relating to welfare, health and safety were not met. This raised wider concerns about the leadership and management of the school. In particular, the inspection found that arrangements made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils was not effective. Leaders’ and trustees’ understanding of their statutory responsibilities with regard to safeguarding was not sufficiently thorough.  The school has developed a safeguarding policy in consultation with the Bristol Safeguarding Children Board which pays due regard to the latest guidance issued by the Secretary of State, ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2016). This policy is published on the school’s website to provide information to parents and families.  The school has created a new safeguarding team, to oversee staff training and to

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Main inspection findings

implement the school’s policies and procedures effectively. No pupils now use the neighbouring park. All staff have received up-to-date safeguarding training to be able to identify possible risk of harm. This includes training relating to female genital mutilation, child sexual exploitation and training in the school’s ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff attend meetings to further develop their knowledge and understanding of how to keep pupils safe. Leaders have completed safer recruitment training to enable them to recruit staff safely. Scrutiny of policies, staff files, the single central record and training records confirm a renewed focus and rigour in the school’s safeguarding practice since the appointment of the principal in October 2016. The inspection found that all pupils no longer attending the school were known to the local authority and placed in other schools. The school’s culture of safeguarding has been strengthened since the previous inspection. The

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Main inspection findings

standards in paragraph 7 are now met. Paragraph 10  The previous inspection found that the school had not drawn up and implemented an effective anti-bullying strategy. The timescale for completing the proposed actions was found to be unrealistic.  Following the inspection, the school drew up a new anti-bullying policy, which is available for parents on the school’s website. The policy is dated January 2017 and includes a section on preventing bullying, which is an integral part of the school’s policy. Leaders ensure that staff record and analyse incidents in detail. They plan assemblies to educate pupils about bullying and what to do if it occurs. In discussions with pupils, they stated that there is little bullying and they are well supported by teachers if it does occur. Incidents of bullying in the school have reduced since the previous inspection. The standard in paragraph 10 is now met. Paragraph 11

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Main inspection findings

 The previous inspection found that the school had not drawn up and implemented an effective health and safety policy. The actions to address identified risks were not sufficiently timely.  Under the guidance of the principal and the health and safety officer, leaders have drawn up and implemented an amended health and safety policy, which is made available to parents and families on the school’s website. In addition, the school commissioned an external health and safety audit. The principal and health and safety officer have swiftly tackled the issues identified at the time of this recent audit to address the concerns raised. A scrutiny of the school’s weekly maintenance record confirms that the leadership team, led by the principal, is vigilant in identifying and putting actions in place to ensure that the premises are well maintained and safe. Staff receive training to increase their knowledge and understanding in their work. The

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Main inspection findings

standard in paragraph 11 is now met. Paragraph 12  This inspection found that the school has a suitable written fire safety policy. Fire drills are held at regular intervals and leaders analyse their efficiency to improve their practice. The school’s records confirm that fire extinguishers are serviced regularly. Records are kept of emergency evacuation procedures and fire exits are clearly marked throughout the school. The standard in paragraph 12 is now met. Paragraph 15  At the previous inspection, the school’s admission register was not compliant with regulations. The principal and the school’s attendance officer have ensured that pupils who cease attending are reported to the local authority. A scrutiny of the school’s records and discussions with the local authority officers responsible for admission confirm this. The school has also worked closely with the local authority to ensure that all the boys who left the school in December 2016 are in full-time education. This was

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Main inspection findings

confirmed by the local authority during the inspection.  The attendance officer closely monitors attendance and punctuality each day and follows up non-attendance on the same day as the absence. The school’s attendance and punctuality policy, dated 15 February 2017, is on the school’s website. This policy sets out the increased expectations for parents to send their child to school on a daily basis. This work is supporting parents effectively to understand the importance of ensuring that their child attends school each day. The standard in paragraph 15 is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The previous inspection found that the school’s risk assessments of activities that pupils undertake were not fit for purpose. They did not accurately identify potential hazards to enable leaders to reduce any risks to pupils.  The school has placed an amended risk assessment policy on its website, dated 29 January 2017. Staff have received training in drawing up and implementing risk assessments. The principal and health and safety officer have ensured that a wide range of risk assessments are maintained, relating to educational trips and visits, physical education and the day-to-day management of the school. However, risk assessments do not set out risks relating to pupils’ individual needs. In addition, the completed risk assessments do not always address specific identified risks. The standards in paragraph 16 are not met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 23(1), 23(1)(c)  The previous inspection found that the changing accommodation and showers provided for pupils undertaking physical education were not suitable. The school has changed its arrangements for delivering physical education. Lessons take place at the local sports centre, with appropriate changing and showering facilities. Suitable risk assessments are in place to ensure pupils’ safety during the walk to the sports centre and during the activities undertaken by pupils. The standards in paragraph 23 are met. Paragraph 25  The previous inspection found that the school’s premises were not maintained to a high enough standard. The school now employs a caretaker who, together with the health and safety officer, is responsible for regular maintenance and ensuring that the premises are clean and tidy. Leaders have ensured that notable improvements have been made to the quality of maintenance to the premises. The standard in paragraph 25 is met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d)  The previous inspection found that suitable drinking water and washing facilities were not in place. The school has ensured that all water supplies suitable for drinking are now labelled. Records for its water supplier confirm that the water is safe to drink. Hot water temperature is set at 45 degrees so that there is no risk of scalding. The standards in paragraph 28 are met. Paragraph 29(1), 29(1)(b)  The previous inspection found that the boys in the secondary phase did not have a suitable place to play outside. The school has resurfaced its car park to provide a safe playing area for the pupils. The nearby park is no longer used by the school. The school ceased to admit boys in the secondary phase from 1 January 2017. The standards in this paragraph are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The previous inspection found that the leadership and management of the school had not ensured that all the independent school standards were met. In particular, governance was identified as weak.  The school appointed a new principal, taking effect from 1 October 2016. The principal has built an effective team, which has focused effectively on safeguarding as a priority. The team has tackled the shortcomings identified at the previous inspection and made progress in meeting the standards identified as not met. However, leaders agree they continue to be ‘on a journey’.  The trustees took the decision to stop admitting boys in Years 7 to 11 as from 1 January 2017. Leaders have been vigilant to ensure that these pupils moved to full-time education in other schools.  The trustees changed the governance structure in January 2017. Currently, the trustees

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Main inspection findings

carry out a strategic role, focusing on securing the future of the school and building links with the local community. In January 2017, they set up a new governing body, to monitor and evaluate the work of the school and its leaders. Governors are committed to the school and bring a wide range of skills to the governing body. However, these governance arrangements are new. Consequently, governors have not yet developed the systems to rigorously monitor the work of the school and its performance.  Minutes of meetings since January 2017 confirm that governors have checked that safeguarding arrangements are being effectively implemented to ensure pupils’ safety. However, they have not yet carried out systematic and robust checks to ensure that the school is meeting the independent school standards in full.  The standards in this part are not met by the school.

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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 unmet at this inspection  Ensure that 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 that appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified (paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)).  Ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)).

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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form None

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School details

Proprietor Bristol Islamic Schools Trust

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £2,750 to £3,350

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 13–15 July 2016

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Information about this school

 Andalusia Academy Bristol is an independent Muslim faith school operated by the Bristol Islamic Schools Trust, which is the proprietor. It began operating in 2005.  A new principal took up her post from 1 October 2016. In addition, the trustees established a new governance structure, in place from 1 January 2017. The governing body is led by the chair of the governing body, who took up this post on 1 January 2017.  The majority of pupils on roll are girls. The trustees took the decision to cease admitting boys in Years 7 to 11 in January 2017. Pupils are mainly from Pakistani or Somali heritages. A large number speak English as an additional language when they enter the school.  Pupils are educated in mixed classes from the Reception Year up to Year 6.  The school does not use alternative provision.  The school’s last standard inspection took place on 13–15 July 2016 and it was judged to be inadequate.

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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.  The inspection was the first progress monitoring inspection undertaken since the last standard inspection and was carried out with no notice.  After the previous inspection, which found the school’s overall effectiveness to be inadequate, the school was required to produce an action plan explaining how it would meet the independent school standards that were unmet at this inspection. This action plan, evaluated on 29 November 2016, was found not to be acceptable.  Prior to the inspection, the lead inspector scrutinised a range of documentation, including that provided by the registration authority for independent schools. This

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Information about this inspection

included the previous inspection report and the school’s response to the unmet standards set out in their action plan. In addition, the lead inspector scrutinised the school’s policies on its website and other information on the website available to families to check compliance with the unmet standards identified at the previous inspection.  Throughout the inspection, the inspectors met with members of the school’s leadership team and held discussions with staff and pupils. The lead inspector also met with the chair of the trustees and the chair of the governing body. In addition, the lead inspector spoke with officers at the local authority to discuss the school’s work to improve its safeguarding policies and procedures and also to verify the school placements of the boys who left the school in December 2016.

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Inspection team

Catherine Leahy, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Susan Costello 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

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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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