Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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

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this inspection

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  At the emergency inspection in February 2018, the inspector found that these standards were not met.  The school’s policy for safeguarding pupils did not include sufficient information about the school’s approach should any abuse between pupils happen. This meant that pupils were not as safe as possible. Additionally, the version of the school’s safeguarding policy shown on the website was not the school’s most recent document.  The school action plan of April 2018 identified appropriate actions to address these issues. Leaders planned to update the safeguarding policy, put systems in place for pupils to raise concerns with staff and arrange training for staff on how to manage peer pressure among pupils. However, the policy on the school’s website was dated September 2017 which meant that it had not been updated since the previous

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this inspection

inspection. The plan did not include an explanation of how leaders would promote staff and pupils’ understanding of the policy.  The safeguarding policy is up to date and refers to current government guidance. Leaders recently updated the policy to reflect the changes introduced in September 2018. The policy is published on the school’s website.  The headteacher receives up-to-date training on safeguarding. He uses this information to lead training for staff in all aspects of safeguarding. For example, recent training has included themes such as sexting and stereotypes. Staff know what to do if they are troubled about a pupil’s welfare.  Pupils I spoke with said they feel safe and know who to go to if they are troubled. They are confident that a member of staff will listen to their worries and help them. Pupils get on with each other and help each other. During my tour of the school, pupils appeared

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this inspection

very happy, showing interest in their learning.  These standards are met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33, 33(f), 33(j), 33(j)(i), 33(j)(ii)  At the emergency inspection in February 2018, this standard was not met. This was because the trustees had not made sure that the complaints policy detailed all the requirements of the independent schools standards. The policy did not specify that a complaints panel should have at least three members. Nor did the policy meet all the requirements about the written record of complaints. This meant that parents and carers could not be sure that their complaints were tackled in a systematic manner.  The school action plan of April 2018 set out suitable action to update the policy. The complaints policy on the website in March 2018 had been reviewed. It included reference to a complaints panel of three people. However, it did not specify how the

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written record of complaints and their resolution would be kept confidentially.  The complaints policy now meets requirements. It stipulates that a complaints panel should have at least three people on it. The policy has a very helpful summary showing the different stages the school takes in resolving a complaint. Leaders keep a detailed written record of all complaints, which is kept confidentially in a locked cupboard in the headteacher’s room. Parents can be assured that if they do have a complaint then their concerns will be dealt with thoroughly.  This standard is met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)

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this inspection

 At the standard inspection in March 2017 these standards were met.  At the emergency inspection of February 2018 the inspector found several unmet standards in relation to the safeguarding policy and the complaints policy.  The school action plan of April 2018 identified actions that, if implemented effectively, would mean the school was not likely to meet the standards that were unmet at the emergency inspection. This meant that the quality of leadership and management standards were unlikely to be met.  Leaders have addressed all the standards that were unmet at the time of the emergency inspection.  Trustees and leaders understand the importance of the independent school standards. They have paid particular attention to the unmet standards from the emergency inspection and have successfully addressed them. They know the strengths of the school and know what is needed to improve.  This standard is met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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 now meets 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 (paragraph 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) (paragraph 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 131 pupils on roll, none of whom has an education, health and care plan.  The school premises are based on 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 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 emergency inspection.  This progress monitoring inspection was the first since the standard inspection in March 2017 and was unannounced.  The school submitted an action plan to the Department for Education, which was evaluated as not acceptable in April 2018.  Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) held meetings with the headteacher, a trustee and a group of four pupils. HMI made a tour of the school with the headteacher, visiting all classrooms. HMI reviewed the safeguarding policy, the complaints policy and records of complaints made to the school. HMI reviewed the single central register to check the suitability of any members of staff joining the school since the emergency inspection.

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Inspection team

Eileen Mulgrew, lead inspector Senior 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

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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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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