Al Kauthar Girls Academy

School progress monitoring inspection report

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New Horizon Community School Newton Hill House, Newton Hill Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS7 4JE

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(d)(ii)  At the time of the previous inspection, the school was not meeting the standards which require leaders to ensure that a curriculum policy was in place, supported by plans and schemes of work which take in to account the ages and abilities of all pupils.  During this inspection, school leaders were able to demonstrate that a new planned curriculum has been put in place which is now supported by effective schemes of work. This has enabled staff to plan more effectively for the learning needs of all pupils.  This area of the independent school standards is likely to be met at the schools next inspection.  The previous inspection report also noted that the school no longer had personal, social and health education (PSHE) as a curriculum subject.  This has been resolved recently by leaders who were able to show the lead inspector

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Main inspection findings

clear evidence of the new PSHE curriculum. Plans demonstrated how the curriculum covers a very broad remit of subjects and areas, including developing knowledge of the protected characteristics within the 2010 Equalities Act.  Work in pupils’ books demonstrated that the scheme had been introduced to all year groups and pupils were beginning to develop a wide range of skills, including an enterprise initiative and how to write a curriculum vitae (CV).  The standards in this paragraph are likely to be met  Paragraph 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii),  During the previous inspection, it was apparent that the school did not offer pupils adequate opportunities to access current and up-to-date careers guidance and impartial advice. This stopped pupils from having the opportunities to make informed choices about their future.  The headteacher and deputy headteacher recognised that this needed to be rectified and have gone some way towards improving the situation. However, pupils clearly

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Main inspection findings

demonstrated that they are not yet accessing sufficient unbiased advice and guidance in order to enable them to make informed choices for their futures.  While school leaders have further plans for the future at the time of the inspection, this area of the independent school standards is not likely to be met at the schools next inspection. Paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e)  At the last inspection, the poor quality of some of the teaching and learning did not enable pupils to make good progress. Not all lessons were planned effectively. As a result, time in the classroom was not always used to best effect and work set did not always meet the needs of pupils  During the current inspection, the new headteacher was able to demonstrate that leaders were aware of these issues and had set in place actions designed to bring about improvement. Actions included links with an outstanding school in order for staff to

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Main inspection findings

recognise and identify good practice. However, these planned actions were at an early stage of development, and, therefore, their impact was not yet consistently observable during the inspection.  While other future actions are planned at the time of the inspection, currently these paragraphs in the independent school standards are not likely to be met. Paragraph 3(f), 3(g), 3(h), 3(i), 4  At the time of the last inspection, the school did not have in place an effective system to carry out checks on pupils’ progress and set targets for future learning.  The headteacher and deputy headteacher have recently put in place a system which enables leaders to monitor pupils’ learning. The system also identifies pupils who are in danger of being left behind and in need of more support.  Pupils’ books show that the extra help less-able pupils are receiving has increased their progress. Staff now have a clear understanding of pupils’ starting points and targets for

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Main inspection findings

the future.  The school has also put in place a clear framework for evaluating pupils’ work, which is line with the school’s own aims. Information on pupils’ progress from this framework is used to inform parents through the school reports.  The standards in this paragraph are likely to be met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the time of the previous inspection, the school proprietors had not ensured that an effective safeguarding policy was in place. Key information was missing from the policy and the version given to staff was different from the one on the school website.  Since arriving at the school, the headteacher has prioritised improvement in the school’s safeguarding practice and protocols. As a result, staff have all received recent and relevant training. A new safeguarding and child protection policy has been put in place based on the Leeds local authority safeguarding team’s model.

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Main inspection findings

 At the start of the current inspection, the old website was still accessible. By the end of the inspection a new website had been launched by the school, which contained up-to- date information about the school and access to the updated and compliant safeguarding policy.  The standard in this paragraph is likely to be met. Paragraph 16  During the previous inspection, it became apparent that the school did not have a risk assessment policy in place, despite having risk assessments for a range of different identified risks in school and outside the building.  During the current inspection, leaders were able to produce a current risk assessment policy which describes how to identify and measure risks to pupils.  As a result, risk assessments looked at during the inspection were consistent with the requirements of the policy and identified risks effectively.  The standard in this paragraph is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(e), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(viii)  At the time of the previous inspection, it was established that school leaders had failed to carry out effective recruitment checks on staff and managers. The required recruitment check on a member of staff who had previously worked abroad had also not been carried.  An analysis of the current single central record was carried out as part of the current inspection alongside discussion with the current headteacher and a brief analysis of staff files.  The school’s single central record was fully compliant with government requirements and safer recruitment practices had been fully implemented on recent appointments. Current leaders have a strong understanding of safeguarding requirements, and the newly set up record-keeping system demonstrated this well.  The standard in this paragraph is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(b), 32(3)(b), 32(3)(e)  The previous inspection report highlights the lack of required information provided on the school website. For example, information on last year’s performance in external examinations was not available.  Information on the school’s spending of monies to support pupils with special educational needs was also not available. At the time of the previous inspection, neither school leaders or trustees were fully conversant with the requirements of the independent school standards. As a result, key information was not put on the website and parents could not easily access information through other routes.  The current head teacher has a strong understanding of the independent school standards and has ensured previous deficiencies have been righted. A new compliant website has now been published for the school, and it contains the relevant information

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Main inspection findings

and offers parents other routes for obtaining the information directly from the school.  The standards in this paragraph is likely to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  At the time of the previous inspection, the leadership team was not as knowledgeable and confident about the requirements of the independent school standards as the current leadership team. As a result of their lack of knowledge, several standards were not met.  The current leadership is made up of the new headteacher, the deputy headteacher and the business manager. The headteacher has previous leadership experience in an independent school. Working closely with the deputy headteacher and the school business manager, he has formed a strong leadership team which has brought about change at a fast pace.  The leadership team has prioritised improving safeguarding. Leaders have successfully

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Main inspection findings

ensured that the unmet standards in this area are now met and pupils’ welfare needs now have a very high priority in school.  The leadership standard to promote pupils’ welfare is likely to be met at the next inspection.  Plans are in place for future improvement in the areas covered by the remaining unmet standards. However, leaders’ plans have yet to show an impact on, for example, some areas of teaching and learning.  As a result, leaders and trustees have not yet demonstrated good knowledge and skills appropriate to their roles, or fully fulfilled their responsibilities so that the independent school standards are consistently met.  The standard in this part is not likely to be met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. 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

 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(d)(ii), 3(b), 3(e), 3(f) 3(g) 3(h), 3(i)  7, 7(a), 7(b)  16, 16(a), 16(b)  18(2), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(e), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(viii)  32(1), 32(1)(b), 32(3)(b), 32(3)(e)  34(1)(c)

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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Girls

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 0

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School details

Proprietor Parviz Hussain, Ejaz Hussain, Zulfiqar Ahmed, Rasheen Ali, Shazad Ilyas Chair Shazad Ilyas

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School details

Website At the time of the inspection the website had yet to be launched. Email address info@newhorizonschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 8 to 10 January 2019

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Information about this school

 New Horizon Community School is an independent day school for girls aged between 11 and 16. The school has an Islamic character.  Since the previous inspection, a new acting headteacher has been appointed the deputy head remains the same. A number of teaching staff have left and some have been replaced.  The previous full standard inspection took place in January 2019 and the school’s overall effectiveness was judged to be inadequate. This is the first monitoring visit since the previous inspection  The school is registered to admit up to 100 pupils.  There are no pupils currently on roll who have an education, health and care plan.  The school does not make use of any alternative education provision.  The headteacher named on the Department for Education’s ‘Get information about schools’ website is no longer the headteacher at the school.

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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.  This inspection was carried out without notice.  The inspection was the first progress monitoring visit since the inspection in January 2019, when the school was judged to be inadequate for overall effectiveness  During this inspection, the inspector toured the school inside and out. The inspector met with two proprietors who are also governors, the acting headteacher and deputy headteacher, members of staff and pupils. The inspector reviewed policies and documents associated with safeguarding and with the independent school standards.

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Inspection team

Marian Thomas, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(e) for pupils receiving secondary education, access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that- – 2(2)(e)(i) is presented in an impartial manner; – 2(2)(e)(ii) enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options; and  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons;

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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

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(d)(ii), 3(b), 3(e), 3(f) 3(g) 3(h), 3(i)  7, 7(a), 7(b)  16, 16(a), 16(b)  18(2), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(e), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(viii)  32(1), 32(1)(b), 32(3)(b), 32(3)(e)  34(1)(c) 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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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