Coral College for Girls

Coral College for Girls Independent school progress report

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DCSF registration number 380/6123 Unique reference number 135480 URN for registered social care SC363136 Inspection number 345707 Inspection dates 08 December 2009 Reporting inspector Saleem Hussain Social care inspector Monica Farrimond

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This inspection visit to the college was carried out under section 162A of the Education Act 2002 at the request of the registering authority for independent schools. The inspection of boarding was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Age group: 11-16 Published: 12 March 2010 Reference no: 090137 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090137 Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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Purpose and scope of the visit

This inspection visit was carried out by Ofsted under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002 1 , as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005 2 , and under the Care Standards Act 2000 having regard to the national minimum standards for boarding schools. 3

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Purpose and scope of the visit

The visit was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the college has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection.

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Information about the college

The Coral College for Girls, which opened in October 2007, is a day and boarding school for students between the ages of 11 and 16 years. It is housed in a large Victorian listed building close to the centre of Bradford, which has undergone extensive interior and exterior improvements. The college was founded by the Yorkshire Educational Society, a charitable organisation which aims ‘to make education the best investment for humanity’ and which works in partnership with local organisations and community groups that share its vision. The majority of students are from Muslim backgrounds although the college welcomes students of all faiths and none. The college strives to provide a warm, supportive and family atmosphere, in which all students are recognised as unique human beings with their own gifts and abilities. It aims to fulfil their aspirations, developing their self- confidence and initiative and instilling good moral values and courtesy for others.

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Information about the college

There are 49 students on roll, 26 of whom are boarders. The college is registered for 56 boarders and 112 day students. Over half of the students are from the Turkish- speaking community and the remaining students are mainly from the Pakistani community. A small number of students are at the early stages of speaking English. The principal took up his post in November 2008.

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Context of the visit

The college had its last inspection of education and boarding provision in January 2009. It was required to produce an action plan that was accepted in August 2009. This is the report of the monitoring visit to evaluate progress against the college’s action plan.

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Context of the visit

1 www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020032_en_14#pt10-ch1-pb4-l1g162 2 www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/ukpga_20050018_en_15#sch8 3 www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000014_en_1 Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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action plan

At the last inspection of the college, the quality of education was judged to be satisfactory. The college met most of the independent schools regulations. However, the college did not ensure that all boarding staff were trained appropriately in order to implement the college’s child protection policy. The college’s central register of safeguarding checks on staff did not contain all the required detail for staff who worked in the boarding provision. The college did not provide parents, carers and others with all the information required by the regulations. Finally, the college did not meet a number of the requirements in respect of the complaints policy and procedures.

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action plan

The principal and senior managers developed an action plan with clear strategies and procedures to remedy the weaknesses identified. The college planned to arrange training in child protection procedures for the staff who had not received it and to develop systems to identify when refresher training was due for all staff. The college was to check the national guidance concerning central registers and then include the necessary information in its register for all staff. The college set out to introduce new monitoring procedures whereby senior managers would check the central register regularly. In addition, the college was to re-write its prospectus in order to improve the quality of information available to parents and others and to re-write the complaints policy.

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action plan

As a result of fully implementing the action plan, the college has remedied all the shortcomings. The college now has robust safeguarding procedures in place. It has provided certified and effective child protection training for all staff. As a result, everyone now understands their safeguarding responsibilities and the college’s procedures are now fully implemented. The college has also developed a good system to alert managers when the child protection officer and other staff require refresher training to update their knowledge. A central register of safeguarding checks is now maintained by the college. This gives details of the statutory checks which have been carried out in respect of all staff. The central register makes it clear that all the required safeguarding checks have been carried out on everyone. The principal now monitors the register regularly to ensure that it meets current regulations. The revised college prospectus is of good quality. It is user-friendly and

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action plan

provides a good level of detail about the college and boarding provision. The prospectus now includes all the required information. The revised complaints policy provides helpful information about making a complaint and meets all requirements.

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action plan

Boarding provision was judged to be inadequate at the previous inspection because the college did not meet a number of key National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. These failures were significant, and compromised the welfare of the boarders. Concerns related to issues around safeguarding practices, including recruitment, selection, and training of staff. There was a failure in seeking appropriate references prior to staff starting work at the college or having contact with the students via a local taxi service; this occurred when transport was Inspection report template – progress monitoring authorised by the college for students returning to or leaving the college premises. The telephone available for students to contact their parents was out of order; thus if a student wanted to speak to someone outside the college, they would have to ask staff for permission, and confidentiality would be compromised. Issues in relation to

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action plan

health were also highlighted as falling below the required standard; health records did not contain approval for the administration of non-prescribed medication, and there was no clear stock control and disposal system in place for medication. Staff involved with cooking had not completed training in food handling and hygiene. Parents had not been informed of the complaints procedure and the contact details of Ofsted as an alternative means of complaint. Although the boarding provision was well staffed to meet the needs of the students, monitoring of the college by senior managers was found to be poor, with no clear system in place to check areas such as complaints, accidents, recorded punishments, or medical records. Thus, significant trends or patterns of concern could not be identified and appropriate management action taken; particularly worrying was that the management systems had failed to identify unsafe recruitment practice.

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action plan

The college planned to develop robust and thorough strategies following the last inspection. The principal and senior managers were to take advice from the Local Safeguarding Children Board and establish a named contact. All safeguarding policies and procedures were to be reviewed. Management and monitoring of all systems relating to the welfare of the students were to be reviewed; regular meetings between the boarding staff and senior managers were to take place. Training in relevant areas such as food hygiene and safeguarding was to be accessed and the college was to review its brochure of information to parents and others. All personnel files relating to staff working at the college, and other people likely to have contact with students were to be reviewed in line with the national minimum standard requirements for the safe recruitment and selection of staff. The college was to contact parents to seek further permission for administering non-prescribed

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action plan

medication. A telephone company was to be contacted to ensure consistent maintenance of the dedicated students’ telephone.

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action plan

As with the educational provision, the principal and managers have remedied the weaknesses in boarding provision very thoroughly and effectively. The liaison between the Local Safeguarding Children Board and the college, has ensured that the college’s procedures are now consistent with local procedures and the college has established a named contact. This ensures that if the college wishes to take advice in relation to any child protection concern, they know who to contact, and the correct procedure to follow. Training in child protection procedures has been provided for ancillary staff. Documentation relating to safe recruitment practice is now in place on all staff files, and reasonable steps have been taken by the principal to ensure that taxi drivers escorting students have been recruited with the appropriate Criminal Records Bureau checks in place. Thus, the practice of staff in relation to safeguarding is accountable and safe. The monitoring by senior staff of

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action plan

medical and health systems has been reviewed effectively. Systems are now in place for the monitoring of stock control and disposal of medication; permission has been obtained from all parents for the administration of non-prescribed medication, and all Inspection report template – progress monitoring staff have received appropriate training in food handling and hygiene. This ensures that good health and healthy living is promoted. The students’ dedicated telephone is now in working order so that students can contact parents and other agencies quickly and confidentially. New lockable furniture ensures that students can keep valuables in a safe place. A training, induction and development programme has been introduced for new and existing staff; this ensures the promotion of good practice. Staff appraisals are taking place each term to ensure that training and development needs can be clearly identified. Monitoring by senior managers of

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action plan

complaints, accidents and recorded punishments now takes place weekly, to identify trends which occur and take appropriate action if concerns arise. As a result, senior managers have a clear picture of developments in relation to the behaviour of the students and staff can promote good practice based on this.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The college has made good progress and now meets all regulatory requirements and National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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College details

Name of college Coral College for Girls DCSF number 380/6123 Unique reference number 135480 Type of school Secondary day and boarding Status Independent Date school opened October 2007 Age range of students 11-16 years Gender of students Girls Number on roll (full-time students) 49 Number of boarders 26 Annual fees (day students) £4,950 Annual fees (boarders) £7,950 Address of school 189 Manningham Lane Bradford West Yorkshire BD8 7HP Telephone number 01274 370758 Fax number 01274 341182 Email address info@coralcollege.com Principal Mr Yusuf Buz Proprietor Mr Hakan Gok Reporting inspector Mr Saleem Hussain Dates of inspection 08 December 2009

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