The Japanese School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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The Japanese School 87 Creffield Road, Acton, London W3 9PU

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Overall outcome

The school does not meet all of the independent school standards that were checked at the last inspection

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(ii) and 5, 5(b)(vi)  At the time of the previous inspection, these standards were not met because the school’s personal, social, health and economic education programme and its approach to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development did not pay particular regard to the protected characteristics. The school’s proposed action to implement the moral education programme provided insufficient information about how the school intended to cover all of the protected characteristics, as defined by the 2010 Equality Act.  This inspection found that leaders have updated the school’s moral education programme to cover all protected characteristics. Furthermore, the headteacher has provided teachers with additional lesson plans to promote actively pupils’ understanding of different lifestyles. A recent parents’ newsletter contains photographs and feedback

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Main inspection findings

from a Year 9 lesson on diversity. A quote in the school newsletter exemplifies students’ learning from these lessons: ‘I listen carefully, I share my own opinion, but I hear their opinion to understand the difference.’  Leaders have ensured that this standard is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the time of the previous inspection, the standard was not met because the safeguarding policy was not compliant with current guidance issued by the Secretary of State. It was deemed unhelpful for staff to be able to understand safeguarding in the school. The inspection also found there was no suitably trained designated safeguarding leader, because the previous leader with this responsibility had returned to Japan.  The school’s action plan outlines appropriate actions leaders have undertaken in relation to improve safeguarding practices.  The safeguarding policy on the school’s website is updated so that it now meets the requirements of the statutory guidance.  The school has ensured that there are suitably trained designated people. Leaders have identified deputy designated leaders from those remaining in school next academic year.

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Main inspection findings

Leaders’ forethought mitigates against the risk associated with high staff mobility and ensures continuity of safeguarding information and practice.  Leaders have ensured that these standards are now met. Paragraph 11  At the time of the previous inspection, this standard was not met because the school’s health and safety policy did not comply with statutory advice. An external consultant had redrafted the policy, but it was neither approved nor implemented.  The school’s action plan indicated that swift action was taken following the last inspection to ensure that the policy was approved and available on the school’s website.  This inspection confirmed that those actions occurred within agreed timescales. Additionally, leaders commissioned an external health and safety audit to identify school priorities. The inspector assessed records of proprietors’ board meetings, which confirm that the health and safety policy is being monitored and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have ensured that these standards are now met. Paragraph 9, 9(a) and 10  At the time of the previous inspection, these standards were not met because the school did not set out the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupils’ misbehaviour. The anti-bullying policy did not refer to the different kinds of bullying, or how any incidents of bullying would be managed.  The school’s action plan stated that these policies were updated immediately following the previous inspection.  This inspection confirms that both the behaviour and anti-bullying policies have been updated. They are available on the school’s website. Each document has been revised to include action to be taken in the eventuality of bullying about a pupil’s protected characteristics. The inspector spoke to pupils, who said that there was no bullying of any kind in school, but if there was they would speak to a teacher.  Leaders have ensured that these standards are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1), 23(1)(c), 28(1) and 28(1)(b)  At the time of the previous inspection, these standards remained not met because leaders did not ensure that suitable changing accommodation or showers were available for pupils receiving physical education. There was only one shower for the entire school. The school’s washing facilities did not have an adequate supply of hot and cold water.  The school’s action plan to ensure that these standards were met was assessed as vague and having timescales that lacked urgency.  Leaders confirm that these standards are still not met. Proprietors have invested in a new boiler, which was being installed during this inspection. This upgrade is a prerequisite to the provision of hot water for the toilets. Nevertheless, pupils still have no access to hot water, as was the case in all previous inspections.  Leaders have identified the location for an additional shower block, but proprietors have

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Main inspection findings

not committed funds for the completion of this facility. As a result, this standard remains unmet, as was the case on all previous inspections.  As a result, standards 23(1), 23(1)(c), 28(1) and 28(1)(b) are still not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  Leaders have worked well to address the majority of unmet standards identified in previous inspections. Successful work has been achieved to address failings in safeguarding and health and safety. Consequently, the standard for 34(1)(c), actively to promote pupils’ well-being, is now met. Standards for the provision of hot water are underway, but incomplete. Proprietors have no commitment to invest the school’s funds in the provision of additional showers.  As a result, 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) continue to be judged as not met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school’s revised accessibility plan on the school’s website meets requirements.  Leaders have updated school policies and curriculum plans to include an expectation that the curriculum and school policies pay due regard to all people whose characteristics are protected in law.  As a result, the school meets the requirements of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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, as set out in the annex of this report. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged not to comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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 takenaka-s@thejapaneseschool.ltd.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 4–6 July 2017

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Information about this school

 The Japanese School is an independent day school. It is a Japanese-speaking school that follows the Japanese national curriculum and receives some of its funding from the Japanese government.  Pupils are typically the children of expatriates on secondment from their employers in Japan. Many staff are seconded from Japan.  The school’s previous inspection was a full standard inspection in July 2017.  The school makes no use of alternative provision.

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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.  In July 2017, a full standard inspection of the school judged it to require improvement. The school submitted an action plan. Ofsted’s view of this plan in October 2017 judged it not to be acceptable  The first progress monitoring inspection, in January 2018, identified that Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the independent school standards were not met. In March 2018, the school submitted a second action plan. Ofsted’s view of this plan in April 2018 judged it not to be acceptable.  This inspection was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection and was conducted without notice. This inspection focused on the school’s progress against

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Information about this inspection

specific requirements within Parts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards, and associated requirements.  The inspector, accompanied by an interpreter, conducted the inspection in collaboration with the headteacher and the secretary general. The inspector toured the premises, scrutinised relevant documentation relating to safeguarding, health and safety, the curriculum and required policies. She spoke to pupils and briefly observed learning in classrooms.

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Inspection team

Ann Debono, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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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

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 23(1)(c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(1)(b) toilets and urinals have an adequate supply of cold water and washing facilities have an adequate supply of hot and cold water.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school–

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(2) for the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a) the matters are –

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(2)(d) personal, social, health and economic education which – – 2(2)(d)(ii) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor –

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

– 5(b) ensures that the principles are actively promoted which – – 5(b)(d)(vi) encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that –

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that –

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 9(a) a written behaviour policy is drawn up that, amongst other matters, sets out the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupil misbehaviour.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 10 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that bullying at the school is prevented in so far as reasonably practicable, by the drawing up and implementation of an effective anti-bullying strategy.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

  34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school–

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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

– 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

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