Markazul Uloom

Markazul Uloom Park Lee Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 3NY

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3, 3(j)  This school is organised so that pupils are, from when they start the school, segregated by sex for the whole of their education and at social times. This is unlawful discrimination because of sex, contrary to the Equality Act 2010.  Pupils are taught in two separate buildings and follow different timetables and curriculums. Because of the segregation by sex in the school, some pupils suffer detriment in that they are not able to study some subjects. For example, boys can study history in key stage 4, but girls cannot. Similarly, girls can study textiles or geography, but boys cannot.  The school has one science laboratory. This is in the building designated as the girls’ section. As a result, boys do not have access to this high-quality learning resource to undertake practical experiments. This is detrimental to their education.  As a result of the policy and practice of segregation by sex operating in the school,

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Main inspection findings

pupils from both sexes suffer detriment to their education.  This standard is not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5, 5a, 5b, 5(b)(ii), 5b(vi)  Pupils have no opportunities to socialise with members of the opposite sex during their time in school. This is due to the practice of segregation by sex that is in operation. This practice removes pupils’ liberty to choose who they mix with. Pupils of both sexes suffer detriment as they are not well prepared for life in British society.  Leaders separate pupils attending the school on the grounds of their sex. Pupils of both sexes suffer detriment because of the separation. The separation therefore amounts to unlawful segregation on the ground of sex and direct discrimination, contrary to the Equality Act 2010. The proprietor has not ensured that the school promotes respect for civil law because their actions model unlawful behaviour.  Because they discriminate against pupils on the grounds of their sex, leaders do not

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Main inspection findings

effectively encourage respect for those who share protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.  These standards are not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7a, 7b, 32(1), 32(1)(c)  Leaders and the proprietor have ensured that safeguarding arrangements are fit for purpose. They pay due regard to the most up-to-date guidance from the Secretary of State. The school’s child protection policy is a detailed document that meets all statutory requirements. The policy is implemented effectively by knowledgeable and vigilant staff. Staff understand procedures for responding to any safeguarding concerns. Systems to record concerns and subsequent actions are in place. Information is shared with appropriate authorities and parents and carers to help promote pupils’ well-being and safety.  Leaders complete all of the statutory checks on the suitability of staff and other adults to work with pupils. They record their checks in an appropriate format in a single central register of information. This register is in line with statutory requirements.

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Main inspection findings

 The school does not have a website. School policies, including the school policy for child protection and safeguarding, are available to parents from the school office.  These standards are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor and leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards are met.  Pupils are segregated by sex for their entire education. Boys and girls are taught separately and have no opportunities to socialise with pupils of the opposite sex during the school day. Consequently, pupils of both sexes experience detriment to their education and development. The segregation is unlawful and contrary to the Equality Act 2010.  The proprietor and leaders intend to make changes to the structural organisation of the school. If completed, this will involve the school becoming two separate single-sex schools. However, leaders have not started the process to register as two single-sex schools. Leaders have not taken any action in the meantime to amend the policy and practice of segregation by sex, nor to comply with the requirements of the Equality

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Main inspection findings

Act 2010 in this respect.  The standards that relate to the leadership and management of the school that were checked at this inspection are not 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. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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 Mixed

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 4–6 July 2017

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Information about this school

 The school opened in September 2001 in Blackburn, Lancashire. The school is registered as an independent day Muslim faith school for up to 217 boys and girls aged from 11 to 19 years. Boys and girls are taught in separate buildings on the school campus.  Currently, there are 176 pupils on roll. This includes a small number of girls who are aged 17 or 18 years. There are no pupils with an education, health and care plan.  Pupils are of mainly Asian heritage. The school has an Islamic religious affiliation.  The school follows the national curriculum and provides GCSE courses. It works within an ethos of Islamic values, beliefs, culture and tradition. The school also aims to help pupils to acquire ‘knowledge, skills and qualities which will help them to develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically, morally and spiritually, so they may become independent, responsible, confident and considerate members of the

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Information about this school

community’.  The school uses no alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE).  The inspection was carried out under section 109 of the Education Act 2014 and was unannounced.  The DfE requested that the inspector report on the independent school standards in respect of the school’s quality of education, the promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and leadership and management. In particular, the inspector focused on the impact of segregation by sex in the school.  The inspector toured the school, including visits to classrooms, with members of the senior leadership team.  The inspector spoke formally to two groups of pupils and spoke to a range of staff in the school.  The inspector scrutinised a range of school documents relating to the organisation of the school, its curriculum and safeguarding. He held discussions with the headteacher and the deputy headteacher. The inspector also held a telephone conversation with a

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Information about this inspection

trustee of the proprietary organisation.

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Inspection team

John Nixon, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(j) does not discriminate against pupils contrary to Part 6 of the 2010 Act [10].

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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-

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

– 5(a) actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs;

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

– 5(b) ensures that principles are actively promoted which-

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

– 5(b)(ii) enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England; and

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

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

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

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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

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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 .

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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.

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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 .

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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.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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