Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation

School material change inspection report

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Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation Cippenham Lodge, Cippenham Lane, Slough, Berkshire SL1 5AN

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 11, 12, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The school has a clearly written health and safety policy which is available on its website. The policy is detailed and suitably updated for the new building. Health and safety are a priority for leaders and staff.  The school’s safeguarding policy is also available on the school’s website. The safeguarding policy takes into account the most recent government requirements. Safeguarding is strongly supported across the school.  The school has nine paediatric first aiders and all staff have undergone rigorous safeguarding training. Senior leaders have attended safer recruitment training, fire safety training, and health and safety at work training.  Fire safety measures are in place and records are well kept. Fire wardens have received helpful training to undertake effectively their roles and responsibilities. A fire risk assessment inspection was carried out at the start of the month and all

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Main inspection findings

recommendations are addressed.  Leaders ensure that appropriate checks and tests ensure that fire equipment is in good working order and complies with fire safety regulations. A fire evacuation practice has already been successfully completed at the new premises. Weekly tests are undertaken on fire alarms and fire extinguishers.  In the very short time since the school moved to the new premises, leaders have worked meticulously to ensure that the site complies with relevant health and safety requirements. The work is well planned and underpinned by a detailed and extensive written risk assessment policy.  There are effective risk assessments in place for pupils, for the school site and for external activities. Pupils’ welfare, well-being and safety are effectively and actively supported by the depth and breadth of leaders’ thinking in terms of minimising risk for all pupils.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met by the school if the

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Main inspection findings

implementation of the material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22, 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 23(2), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b), 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  The site is spacious and maintained to a high standard. A rigorous programme of adaptions has been successfully implemented and further adjustments are planned to provide more toilets for younger pupils and a more appropriately sited medical room.  At the time of the inspection, all the requirements were met but detailed longer-term planning is also in place offering enhanced external security and changes to classroom configurations.  The premises consist of a grade II listed building dating from 1709. The building was formerly a manor house and more recently used as a business centre for a market

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Main inspection findings

research company.  The main building consists of eight classrooms, spacious meeting rooms, a staff room, offices and a temporary, but sufficient, medical room with facilities for the short-term care of any pupil who may be unwell.  There are lockable storage facilities available for medication and toilet facilities are close by. Plans to move the room to a more suitable space are written and work will commence in the summer holidays. There are appropriate toilet and washing facilities for boys and girls.  There are enough teaching spaces to accommodate the school’s planned curriculum, including English, mathematics, science, humanities, arts, computing, personal and social development and physical education. There is sufficient outside space for play and recreation. Physical activity is supplemented by supervised visits to the park.  Leaders have already carried out some minor refurbishment work to fully meet the

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Main inspection findings

requirements of the independent school standards such as signposting and secure perimeter fencing. The building is suitably decorated and carpeted throughout.  The premises are protected. Reception arrangements are well considered and ensure secure entry. The premises meet all requirements related to acoustics, lighting and the provision of hot and cold water. Drinking water is always accessible in the kitchen areas and provided by staff when needed.  The school is likely to meet all the standards in this part if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to approve implementation of the material change. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  Leaders have worked diligently to relocate to new and appropriate premises. Leaders have ensured that all the relevant standards related to the requested material change are likely to be met. Leaders have a good understanding of the independent school

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Main inspection findings

standards.  The headteacher and chair of trustees have a clear vision for the school and high expectations for pupils. Leaders demonstrate strong knowledge and understanding of the learning needs and provision for pupils. Safeguarding and pupils’ welfare are central to the work of the school. Leaders have identified that there is a need for continuing refurbishment which is well planned and timetabled.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school has an updated accessibility plan in place. There is a disabled toilet and access to the ground floor of the building for wheelchair users. Parking spaces are provided close to the front entrance.  The school meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.

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

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 10–12 October 2017

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 3 to 11 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 90 150 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Not applicable Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 90 105

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 0 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 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 0 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 10 14

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 0 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 0 Not applicable

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Information about this school

 The Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation primary school opened in Slough in September 2002. It shares trustees and some senior managers with its partner school in Haringey. Each school has its own headteacher.  The school was previously housed on a temporary site in Ladbroke Road, Slough, until March 2019 when trustees obtained the lease for the present building. The school is presently raising funds to purchase the freehold of the building.  The school has a strong Islamic ethos, reflecting the principles of Shakhsiyah education, which underpins its curriculum and teaching approaches.  At the time of the inspection, there were 90 pupils on roll with very small numbers of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The last independent inspection took place in October 2017.  At the time of the inspection, the school had been on the present site for six weeks.

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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 proprietor wishes to make use of new premises in Cippenham Lane, Slough SL1 5AN.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether the independent school standards contained within Parts 3, 5 and 8 would be likely to be met if the material change is implemented.  The inspector met with the headteacher and chair of trustees of the Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation Trust. He toured the premises and reviewed a range of key documents including policies on safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and risk assessments.  The inspector also spoke with the previous tenant of the building and looked at an externally produced fire risk assessment as well as leaders’ detailed risk assessments of the school premises.

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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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Inspection team

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