Lantern of Knowledge Secondary School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Lantern of Knowledge Secondary School 30–36 Lindley Road, Leyton, London E10 6QT

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The last inspection judged that there were appropriate arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school. It also found that the arrangements met the required standards. For example, the school’s child protection policy covered all aspects of safeguarding, including information about how to recognise the signs of abuse.  Since the previous inspection, leaders have reviewed and updated the child protection policy. As a result, it takes account of the latest guidance. A particular focus of the review was to ensure that all staff and governors attend updated safeguarding training.  This inspection found that staff and governors have attended refresher training on safeguarding, with a specific focus on the independent school standards. Evidence for this includes a record of attendance, signed by staff, and copies of the presentation

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Main inspection findings

material used in the training. In addition, leaders were able to show evidence that staff have received and read the latest version of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, 2018.  Leaders have ensured that the independent school standards checked in this part are met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  This inspection found that the school’s child protection policy is published on its website. As a result, the independent school standards checked in this part are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The previous inspection judged that leaders and governors had not ensured that the independent school standards were met consistently. This was because a book that contained text contradicting British values was found in the library.  The evaluation of the school’s action plan, in May 2019, judged that the standards in this

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Main inspection findings

part were likely to be met if the school implements the proposed actions. The evaluation stated that leaders carried out a full audit of the school’s library books. An appendix to the plan explained how all fiction and non-fiction books, and textbooks used for curriculum subjects, including Islamic studies, were checked.  This inspection found that leaders and governors have implemented the action plan effectively. Leaders have ensured that all books are checked and stamped with the school’s name and address. The school’s list of fiction and non-fiction books matches books held in the library. The school’s library policy has been amended, and book loans are now recorded on a computer file. The policy also states that the library coordinator, to whom books are returned, supervises library access. During the inspection, no inappropriate texts were found in the library, or in classrooms. Book loans are recorded,

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Main inspection findings

and the library is only accessible at certain times.  The action plan proposed that leaders would monitor the work of the school more closely. This was to include a specific focus on British values and respect for people with protected characteristics. During this inspection, leaders provided copies of the feedback given to teachers following lesson observations. These showed clear evidence that leaders monitor the teaching of British values, and respect and tolerance for others, as part of their quality assurance processes.  The action plan also proposed that governors would meet with leaders on the first Wednesday of every month. This was to check the completion of actions and the school’s compliance with the independent school standards. The action plan also noted that governors would visit the school each half-term to check the school’s library books and visit lessons. There is clear evidence that these actions have been implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Governors have met with leaders more frequently than once per month, as confirmed by the minutes of meetings. Similarly, a record of the checks made by governors in May 2019 was provided for the inspector.  Leaders have reviewed the pastoral programme as proposed by their action plan. The programmes for assemblies and tutorials include a strong focus on helping pupils to develop their understanding of British values and how to recognise extremist, intolerant and prejudiced attitudes. During this inspection, pupils confirmed their understanding of how to keep safe, including online and from extremist views. They could list the protected characteristics and explain why it is important to show respect and tolerance to others. In addition, pupils in Year 7 had a session on British values provided by the local authority. Pupils responded well to this session and, for example, asked pertinent questions about identity and nationality.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have ensured that the independent school standards checked in this part are 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

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that: – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  32 The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that: – 32(1)(c) particulars of the arrangements for meeting the standard contained in paragraph 7 are published on the school’s internet website or, where no such website exists, are provided to parents on request.  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

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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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

Proprietor Lantern of Knowledge Educational Ltd

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School details

Email address info@lanternofknowledge.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 15–17 January 2019

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Information about this school

 The school is located in Leyton, within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It has been open since 2006 and caters for boys aged 10 to 16 years. The school does not use additional provision for pupils. It uses the nearby Leyton Sports Ground for outdoor breaks and physical education.  The trustees of Lantern of Knowledge Education Ltd are also the proprietors. There is only one school in the trust.  Nearly all pupils are of a Black African or Asian heritage. There are no pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The school receives no additional funding for disadvantaged pupils.  The aim of the school is ‘to produce well-educated and mature young men, who possess the knowledge and skills to succeed in their lives, and who make positive contributions to society in general’.  The school’s last full standard inspection took place in January 2019, when its overall effectiveness was judged as inadequate.

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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 previous inspection.  The inspection was conducted with no notice.  The inspector spoke with leaders, including the headteacher and assistant headteachers.  The inspector also spoke to a group of pupils in Years 7 to 10.  Year 11 pupils were not in school.  The inspector also considered the written policies, including documents related to safeguarding, the library and the plans for assemblies and tutorials.  The inspector met with senior leaders to discuss how they ensure that they met the independent school standards.

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Inspection team

Brian Oppenheim, 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

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

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

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