Al Madina School for Girls

Lady Aisha Academy 2 Victoria Road, (Annex Building), Barking, Essex IG11 8PY

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5(b)(i), 5(b)(vi)  Pupils who do not attend daily prayers at the mosque remain in school. A register is taken. Pupils reported that, after a certain number of days, staff question if the reason for non-attendance is their menstrual cycle. This personal questioning does not promote pupils’ self-esteem and confidence.  Nor does this practice encourage respect for women, as set out in the Equality Act 2010.  Following a visit from the local authority in April 2019, the headteacher – who is also the proprietor – put a policy in place to stop this practice of questioning pupils about the duration of their menstrual periods. This guidance has not been followed by staff and the practice continues. At the time of this inspection, the headteacher was not aware of this.  The standards in this part of the regulations are not met.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7(a), 7(b)  The school’s overarching safeguarding policy is up to date and reflects the Secretary of State’s latest guidance. The safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website.  Staff receive regular training on safeguarding issues such as extremism and radicalisation and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff know the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a pupil’s safety or well-being.  The questioning of pupils about their menstrual cycles in relation to attendance at prayers does not promote pupils’ welfare. This practice does not reflect the Secretary of State’s guidance that governing bodies and proprietors should ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are adopted to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.  The standards in this part of the regulations are not met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

p.1

Main inspection findings

Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  Leaders have not ensured that staff follow guidance regarding the appropriate questioning of pupils. As a result, standards relating to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and to the promotion of pupils’ welfare are unmet. Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c) are unmet.

p.2

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. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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.4

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 6–8 November 2018

p.4

Information about this school

 Lady Aisha Academy is an independent day school for girls, with an Islamic ethos. The school is located in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.  The school is situated in its own building on the site of Barking Mosque.  The headteacher is also the proprietor. There is no governing body.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  The school’s last full inspection was in November 2018. At this time, the school was judged to be good and all the requirements of the independent school standards were met.

p.4

Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was carried out at the request of the regulating authority, the Department for Education (DfE). The DfE had received information that the school was tracking pupils’ menstrual cycles.  This inspection was conducted with no notice.  I reviewed the school’s arrangements for safeguarding and child protection, including the school’s policies, referrals made to the local authority, internal registers, staff training and the effectiveness of the school’s work to protect pupils from risk of harm.  During this inspection, I held meetings with the headteacher, a safeguarding lead and a group of staff. In addition, I met with 12 pupils from key stages 3 and 4. I also spoke on the telephone with a representative from the local authority.

p.5

Inspection team

Carolyn Dickinson, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.5

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor-

p.6

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

– 5(b)(i) enables pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence; and

p.6

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

– 5(b)(vi) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Equality Act.

p.6

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that-

p.6

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and

p.6

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

p.6

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-

p.6

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their roles so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

p.6

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and

p.6

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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.6

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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.7

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

p.7

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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.

p.7

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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.7

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

p.7

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

p.7