Al-Sadiq School

School material change inspection report

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Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra Schools 134 Salusbury Road, London NW6 6PF

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  Leaders have ensured that a suitable curriculum policy and associated plans for what is to be taught are available. These plans cover subjects in all areas of learning required by the standards. Teachers understand the curriculum. Leaders make regular, systematic checks on how well they plan and implement opportunities for pupils to learn. Pupils’ current work demonstrates that these checks are effective.  There are specific arrangements set out for secondary-aged pupils to receive impartial and wide-ranging careers guidance.  Policies and plans for the curriculum show that leaders are promoting pupils’ understanding of and respect for people who have each of the protected characteristics defined in the Equality Act 2010.  Leaders make detailed and well recorded checks on how effectively teachers use their subject knowledge, time and resources. Their plans for improvement set out how the

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Main inspection findings

range and type of resources and learning activities are being developed. These plans for improvement include precise and thorough evaluations of the impact of decisions leaders have made about developing teaching over time.  In the current year, teachers have received training in phonics, handwriting and planning lessons among other subjects. Some have visited other schools to learn about different approaches to teaching. The positive impact of this training is evident in current pupils’ work.  Leaders’ own records of how they evaluate the difference that training is making to teaching demonstrate their capacity for ensuring that the standards will continue to be met in this part of the regulations should the material changes be implemented.  Arrangements for assessing pupils’ progress are comprehensive and used consistently. These arrangements are well understood by teachers and additional adults. Leaders

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Main inspection findings

demonstrate ambition in setting challenging objectives for pupils’ learning and relate their expectations to national norms.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All paragraphs  There are a wide range of opportunities for pupils of all ages, including in the early years, to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. For example, in the current year, Reception-age children have visited an art gallery and investigated minibeasts in a nearby park, among many other things.  Leaders ensure that pupils have access to a broad range of literature representing different cultures and traditions. Older pupils are given opportunities to probe deeply into classical literature. For example, current Year 6 pupils have written personal responses to the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’.  There are specific and wide-ranging examples of how pupils’ knowledge and

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Main inspection findings

understanding is intended to be developed in each subject curriculum plan. These demonstrate high expectations for increasing depth and challenge as pupils get older. They also provide appropriate opportunities for pupils to develop respect and tolerance from a well-informed position about British values and institutions.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 11, 12, 14, 16, 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  The safeguarding policy makes reference to the current statutory guidance. Training records of staff who are to be responsible for leading and managing safeguarding arrangements demonstrate that training has been recent and included a range of current child protection issues. The policy is made available to parents on request. Leaders ensure that there are clear expectations for how staff should supervise pupils.

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Main inspection findings

During the inspection pupils were being supervised effectively.  Pupils who spoke to the inspector said they feel safe in the school. Teaching staff demonstrate a secure understanding of the school’s safeguarding arrangements. They can explain how safeguarding training has helped them to understand current statutory guidance.  The proposed policies related to health and safety, first aid and risk assessment are all likely to meet the requirements of the standards. The proprietor has ensured that a fire risk assessment on the premises was completed in April 2019. The proposed arrangements for checking and recording the fire safety of the premises are satisfactory.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  Leaders ensure that checks on the suitability of staff are recorded in detail and stored

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Main inspection findings

in one place, covering all checks required by the standards. Appropriate checks have also been recorded on representatives of the proprietor.  The school does not routinely use supply or agency staff but has created a record to set out checks on such staff if required in the future.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The proprietor intends to make a number of adaptations to the existing premises as part of the material change in order to ensure that the proposed school can function safely and effectively. The proposals to change the school entrance and the address of the school have been carefully thought through, demonstrating that leaders have taken safety and supervision of pupils into account. These are likely to meet the requirements of the standards, if completed according to planned standards and

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Main inspection findings

timescales. However, at the time of the inspection leaders were not in possession of documentation to demonstrate they had applied for and received any approval which may be necessary to complete the proposed alterations to the building.  There is appropriate provision for medical accommodation, outdoor play and physical education. Proposed arrangements for toilets, drinking water, showering and changing are likely to meet the requirements of the standards. There is appropriate space, light and acoustic conditions for learning in the classrooms.  Some of the accommodation used to meet the standards in this part of the regulations is intended to be shared with Al-Zahra school. This includes the hall intended for physical education, a library and the computer suite. Leaders plan to ensure that these facilities are timetabled so that pupils can use and enjoy these facilities regularly and effectively. Appropriate supervision arrangements are in place

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Main inspection findings

for these activities. Leaders of this school and the proposed Al-Zahra school intend to share information about the suitability of staff to add further strength to these arrangements.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 6. Provision of information All paragraphs  The proprietor intends to use a website to provide the information required for parents. The proposed format and frequency for reporting progress of pupils to parents is suitable. Leaders ensure that arrangements exist to communicate the proposed changes to the admissions policy for the school.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  The proprietor and leaders demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the independent school standards. There are appropriate proposals for ensuring that the

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Main inspection findings

proprietor is kept well informed about how leaders are ensuring that the standards are met if the school is granted the material change.  Leaders have consulted with the regulating authority in determining the admissions policy which will apply should the material change proposal be agreed. This policy states clearly that the school will offer education for boys only from Year 4 onwards. The other classes in the school will admit both boys and girls who will be educated in mixed classes.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proposals set out by the proprietor take account of how the premises, curriculum and information might be accessible to all.  The school is likely to comply with Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. Statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage  The school is likely to continue to meet these requirements should the material

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Main inspection findings

change be agreed. Leaders intend to relocate the Reception classroom to an area near the Nursery. The plans to do this have been proposed with due regard to the welfare requirements of the early years foundation stage.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to 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.

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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 likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Proprietor Al Khoei Benevolent Foundation

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 25–27 September 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 3 to 16 3 to 16 3 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 380 350 350

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Information about this school

 The school is currently registered and in operation as Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra Schools. This is an independent day school for boys and girls in the London Borough of Brent. The school is registered for up to 376 pupils and has an Islamic ethos.  The proprietor proposes to change the age range of pupils, so it is from three to eight for boys and girls, then eight to 16 for boys only. It is proposed to change the number of pupils for which the school is registered to 350. The registered address of the school is proposed to change to Chevening Road, London NW6 6TN.  The proprietor intends to make adaptations to the premises such that the school can exist and operate separately from Al-Zahra School. No other premises are intended to be used.  The school was last inspected in September 2019. At this time, it was judged to require improvement. Some of the independent school standards were found to be unmet.

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Information about this inspection

 The regulating authority commissioned Ofsted to conduct this inspection as a result of an application for a material change by the proprietor. This concerned a change to the number of pupils on roll and the school address.  The inspection was conducted with two days’ notice.  The lead inspector met with the headteacher and other senior leaders of the existing co-educational school at the setting. He also met with the chair of the trustees. During these meetings, proposals for changes to the premises were discussed.  The inspector conducted a tour of the school with leaders and looked at current pupils’ work, talked with pupils and visited lessons.  The inspector met with a group of teaching staff to discuss the training they have received about the curriculum and safeguarding.  The inspector also talked with leaders about resources to be used for learning, and scrutinised leaders’ current analysis of assessments of pupils. A range of policies were

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Information about this inspection

considered.  The inspector also looked at the arrangements for checking and recording the suitability of staff.

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Inspection team

Andrew Wright, lead inspector 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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