Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School

Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School 184 Whalley Old Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 5NZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The school has a detailed policy about safeguarding pupils. This policy is available on the school’s website. It contains clear information about important issues such as reducing the risk of pupils coming into contact with extreme views. Leaders use the policy to help staff understand their responsibilities. In addition, staff are required to read the information contained in the latest government guidance about safeguarding.  The policy is helpful in building staff confidence about safeguarding and letting them, parents, carers and others know what the school expects. However, it does not include sufficient information about the school’s approach should any abuse between pupils happen. In addition, as with some other policies, the version on the school website is not the school’s most recent document.  Leaders work closely with the local authority and other agencies when this is needed

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Main inspection findings

to make sure that pupils are properly protected.  Leaders are thoughtful in their approach to pupils’ welfare. They aim for the school to feel homely and so have arranged for it to be fully carpeted. People are asked to take their shoes off before entering the main school building so that the carpet remains clean and suitable for people to sit on. Pupils sit on the floor in some classes and when they eat their lunches. Staff ensure that attention is paid to hygiene. Pupils are expected to wash their hands before eating and the floor areas used when pupils are eating are covered with clean plastic sheeting. Paragraphs 9, 9(a), 9(b), 10  The school’s behaviour policy reflects the positive approach of staff and the high standards they aim for. It includes information about how staff can reward pupils when they try hard and behave well, and about the sanctions they are expected to use if a pupil’s behaviour is less good. These sanctions include detentions, which are

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Main inspection findings

issued after a series of incidents of misbehaviour.  The school’s exclusion policy makes it clear that exclusions may only be imposed in response to serious misbehaviour. The headteacher confirmed to the inspector that, while there had been a small number of short exclusions since the start of the previous school year, pupils had not been sent home for other reasons. All exclusions had been referred to the trustees for their consideration.  Staff systematically record any instances of poor behaviour they judge to be more significant. The school’s expectations for pupils’ behaviour are high. Any incidents of verbal or physical aggression between pupils are routinely followed up by staff, although problems such as inattention or rudeness are also included within the school’s sanction system.  The inspector saw pupils behaving well in lessons and getting on together at breaktime. They are respectful of each other and their needs. For example, pupils

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Main inspection findings

wait patiently while staff heat up other pupils’ lunches using microwaves. Pupils who had received detentions told the inspector that this had helped them to behave better afterwards.  Staff keep in contact with parents about their children’s behaviour, for example in telephone calls. Leaders have recently considered how to make sure that parents know the details of any detentions issued. They have started to use the school’s online system for contact between teachers and parents to share a copy of the school’s detention form.  The school’s anti-bullying policy is comprehensive and is based on government guidance. The pupils the inspector spoke to said that there is no bullying in the school. A member of staff has a designated role as ‘anti-bullying officer’. As well as being available for pupils to talk to about any bullying concerns, this person is able to provide advice and support on other worries pupils may have. The computing lessons

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Main inspection findings

provided to pupils include information about online bullying. Pupils also discuss similar topics to this in their personal, social and health education lessons.  The school does not meet the standards in this part. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  The premises are clean and well maintained. Classrooms are generally tidy and are comfortable places for learning. In classes where there are no tables and chairs, low desks are provided. These are of a suitable height for pupils to use when they are sitting on the floor. Pupils say that their work is of a similar standard whether they are using chairs and tables or sitting at the low desks. Inspection evidence also indicates that this is the case.  The tidiness of classrooms means that there are few, if any, hazards for people not wearing shoes.  Outside, there is a small amount of litter. Leaders said that this is partly caused by

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Main inspection findings

rubbish blown onto the school site. A small overgrown area, not owned by the school, is adjacent to the playground. The school is permitted to access this area, for example to retrieve any footballs that have gone into it. While pupils know that they may not go into the wild area without permission and supervision, access was still possible when the inspector arrived at the school. This problem was addressed during the inspection.  The school playground has a number of different levels because the school site is on a hillside. While this could present an additional risk when pupils are outside, close staff supervision reduces any such risk. In addition, pupils are aware of the changes in level and, in fact, use these as part of their lively play together.  The school meets the standards in this part. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraphs 33, 33(a), 33(b), 33(c), 33(d), 33(e), 33(f), 33(g), 33(h), 33(i), 33(i)(i),

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Main inspection findings

33(i)(ii), 33(j), 33(j)(i), 33(j)(ii), 33(k)  The school complaints policy was recently revised. It provides useful details to make sure that anyone who has a complaint about the school can have this properly addressed. However, it lacks a small number of details required by the independent school standards. It does not specify that complaints panels should have at least three members, nor all the requirements about the written records of complaints.  The copy of the policy on the school website is a previous version, although the current version is available to parents on request to the school.  The headteacher reported that the school has received no formal complaints this year or during the previous year.  The school does not meet the standards in this part.

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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. 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

 The proprietor must ensure that the arrangements made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraphs 7, 7(b)).  The proprietor must ensure that the complaints procedure makes provision for: – at least three people who were not directly involved in the matters detailed in a complaint to be included in any panel appointed by or on behalf of the proprietor to hear that complaint – the written record of all complaints that are made in writing to include whether these are resolved following a formal procedure, or proceed to a panel hearing and the action taken by the school as a result of those complaints (regardless of whether they are upheld) (paragraphs 33, 33(f), 33(j), 33(j)(i), 33(j)(ii)).

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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@gardenofknowledge.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 21–23 March 2017

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Information about this school

 Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School is an independent Muslim school which is registered to provide full-time education for girls and boys between the ages of four and 11 years. The school opened in 1992.  There are currently 135 pupils on roll, none of whom has an education, health and care plan.  The school premises are based in a large converted detached house with outside play areas and a small grassed area which is used by pupils during the summer months.  The school uses an off-site facility for some of its physical education activities.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education in response to complaints received by them.  The inspection was conducted with no prior notice to the school.  The inspector held meetings with the headteacher. He also met with a group of pupils and spoke to others during lessons and breaktime. He toured the school accompanied by the headteacher and made unaccompanied visits to classrooms to observe teaching, learning and pupils’ behaviour. He observed the first part of lunchtime. He scrutinised the school’s policies about behaviour, bullying, complaints, exclusions and safeguarding pupils, and referred to other documents, including the school’s attendance registers and behaviour logs.

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Inspection team

David Selby, lead inspector 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

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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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