Azbuka Russian-English Bilingual School

School progress monitoring inspection report

p.1

Azbuka Russian-English Bilingual School Studland Hall, Studland Street, Hammersmith, London W6 0JS

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1), 32(1)(c)  At the previous inspection, although the school’s child protection policy was available online, it was out of date. It did not pay regard to the latest statutory guidance (‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, September 2018). Also, leaders with responsibility for safeguarding had not kept their training up to date. Although these oversights did not mean pupils were unsafe, leaders had failed to pay adequate attention to detail in ensuring compliance with the latest statutory guidance. As a result, paragraph 7(b) was not met.  This inspection confirmed that leaders have fully implemented their action plan. The school’s updated child protection policy, available online, is now compliant with the latest statutory guidance. The designated safeguarding leader and her two deputies have completed an enhanced level of relevant training. All staff were trained in light of the

p.1

Main inspection findings

latest guidance in October 2018. The school’s systems for recognising, recording and referring concerns continue to ensure that pupils are kept as safe as possible. As a result, paragraph 7(b) is now met, and 7(a) and 32(1), 32(1)(c) continue to be met. Paragraph 12  At the previous inspection, the fire safety systems in the building met all the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Act 2005. Fire safety equipment was new, as were the alarm and smoke detection systems. However, leaders had not put in place a suitable system for logging the required checks, such as checks on the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems.  This inspection confirmed that leaders now ensure that all the required checks are completed and logged accurately in a fire logbook. As a result, paragraph 12 is now met. Paragraph 16, 16(a)  At the previous inspection, the inspector found that leaders had not written a risk

p.1

Main inspection findings

assessment policy.  This inspection confirmed that leaders have written a suitable ‘risk management and risk assessment’ policy, which is published on the school’s website. As a result, paragraph 16, 16(a) is now met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a) and 24(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, a kitchen area for staff had been allocated as the school’s medical room. It did not meet the requirements as it had not been suitably adapted to meet the needs of sick and injured pupils.  This inspection confirmed that leaders have created a suitably private medical room facility within the staff kitchen area. It is appropriately equipped, near to a pupils’ toilet facility and is used as a priority in the case of a pupil being sick or injured. As a result, paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a) and 24(1)(b) is now met. Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(b) and 28(1)(d)  At the previous inspection, the hot running water was not operational during the

p.1

Main inspection findings

inspection because the boilers were switched off. It was therefore not known if the hot water supply presented a scalding risk.  This inspection confirmed that leaders have ensured that the hot water supply to all washing facilities is operational, suitably hot, and safely regulated. As a result, paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(b) and 28(1)(d) is now met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  At the previous inspection, leaders had relocated to appropriate, suitably refurbished premises in a short space of time. As a result, leaders wished to make a material change to their registration agreement with the Department for Education. However, there had been a lack of attention to detail in ensuring that all the independent school standards were fully understood and met. As some of the independent school standards relevant to the material change were not met, including those in this part, the material change was

p.2

Main inspection findings

not recommended.  This inspection confirmed that leaders have fully implemented their acceptable action plan. They have taken decisive action to resolve all the identified concerns. As a result, all the standards checked during this inspection, including those in this part, are now met, and the material change is now recommended. The inspection recommends the school’s premises are changed to Studland Hall, Studland Street, Hammersmith, London W6 0JS and the school’s capacity is reduced to 70 pupils.

p.2

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.

p.3

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 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.  12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 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.

p.3

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– – 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils; – 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.  28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 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; – 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users.

p.3

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– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

p.3

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.

p.5

School details

Email address office@azbukafoundation.org

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 21 to 23 November 2017

p.5

Information about this school

 The Azbuka Russian-English Bilingual School is a co-educational school for pupils aged two 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 bilingual education resource for the wider community, a children’s cultural centre and a Saturday complementary school.  The school relocated during the summer last year 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 full standard inspection was in November 2017.

p.5

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.  The previous inspection in September 2018 was commissioned to consider the school’s application to make a material change to its registration, which had already been implemented. The school had relocated to Studland Hall, Studland Street, Hammersmith W6 0JS. Some of the independent school standards were judged to be not met.  The school submitted an action plan. Ofsted’s review of this plan judged it to be acceptable in January 2019. As a result, the Department for Education wrote to the school in February 2019 to confirm that the action plan had been accepted.  This inspection was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection and was conducted

p.7

Information about this inspection

without notice.  The inspection focused on the school’s progress against specific requirements within Parts 3, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector conducted the inspection alongside the chair of the proprietorial board, who is also the headteacher.  The inspector toured the premises and scrutinised relevant documentation related to safeguarding, fire safety and risk assessment.  There were no recent responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View.

p.7

Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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 .

p.7

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.

p.8

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 .

p.8

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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection team

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.8