Azbuka Russian-English Bilingual School

School material change inspection report

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Draft and confidential - Not for disclosure or publication Azbuka Russian–English Bilingual School Studland Hall, Studland Street, Hammersmith W6 0JS

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1), 32(1)(c)  This material change inspection considered the arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school. The inspection found the culture of safeguarding, as confirmed at the school’s previous inspection in November 2017, to be strong. Staff work effectively to keep pupils as safe as possible.  However, although the school’s safeguarding policy is available online, it is out of date. It does not pay regard to the latest statutory guidance (‘Keeping children safe in education’, September 2018). Also, leaders with responsibility for safeguarding have not kept their training up to date. Although these oversights do not mean pupils are unsafe, leaders have failed to pay adequate attention to detail in ensuring compliance with the latest statutory guidance.  As a result, paragraph 7(b) is not met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 11 and 12  Leaders have ensured that their suitable health and policy is implemented well.  The fire safety systems in the building meet all the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Act 2005. Fire safety equipment is new, as are the alarm and smoke detection systems. However, leaders have not put in place a suitable system for logging the required checks, such as checks on the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems. As a result, paragraph 12 is not met. Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  Leaders have ensured that risk assessments, including of the premises and use of the local park for outdoor play and physical education, are robust and effective in minimising risks to pupils. However, leaders have not written a risk assessment policy as per the requirements. As a result, paragraph 16(a) is not met.  Leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are

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Main inspection findings

met, as identified in the annex to this report. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The new premises have been refurbished to a high standard. They are clean, secure and well maintained. They include three classrooms, a school hall and a nursery space.  There are new, suitable toilets for pupils, with appropriate washing facilities. However, the hot running water was not operational during the inspection because the boilers were switched off. It is therefore not known if the hot water supply presents a scalding risk. As a result, the standards related to the provision of hot and cold running water and to water presenting a scalding risk are not met.  The school has no outdoor space. However, suitable arrangements are in place to take pupils to the local park on a daily basis for play, and on a weekly basis for physical education.  The standards related to lighting, acoustics and drinking water are all met.

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Main inspection findings

 A kitchen area for staff has been allocated as the school’s medical room. It does not meet the requirements as it has not been suitably adapted to meet the needs of sick and injured pupils. The relevant standards are therefore not met.  Leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are met, as identified in the annex to this report. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  Leaders have relocated to appropriate, suitably refurbished premises in a short space of time. However, there has been a lack of attention to detail in ensuring that all the independent school standards are fully understood and met.  As some of the independent school standards relevant to this material change are not met, including those in this part, the material change is not recommended.

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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 are relevant to the material change, as set out in the annex of this report.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Email address office@azbukafoundation.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 21–23 November 2017

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 2 to 11 No change Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 45/100 Up to 70 The material change is not recommended at this time. However, the building is likely to accommodate a maximum of 70 pupils.

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 17 Up to 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities None Up to 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan None Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan None Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 8 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 1 No change

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Information about this school

 The Azbuka Russian–English Bilingual School is a co-educational school for pupils aged five to 11; it is non-selective up to Year 3 and selective from Year 4 upwards. It is part of the Azbuka Foundation, which also operates a Russian nursery school and a Saturday complementary school.  The school relocated during the summer break to new premises, which opened in September 2018. The new premises comprise a newly refurbished first floor of a commercial building in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.  The school offers a structured bilingual education that aims to meet ‘the educational, cultural, linguistic and social needs of Russian and English bilingual and bicultural children and families living in London’.  The school’s most recent inspection was its first full standard inspection, in November 2017.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to consider the school’s application for a material change to its registration. The school has relocated to Studland Hall, Studland Street, Hammersmith W6 0JS.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether particular independent school standards contained within Parts 3, 5 and 8 are met, as the material change has already been implemented.  The inspector met with the headteacher (who is also the chair of the proprietorial body). He toured the premises and reviewed relevant documentation in relation to health and safety, fire safety, risk assessment and safeguarding.  The inspection took into account the 10 recent responses to Ofsted’s online survey (Parent View).

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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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(b) arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility.

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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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users.

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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; and

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in 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 in and management of schools

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in 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 in and management of schools

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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