The British Muslim School

Inspection report for boarding school: The British Muslim School 1 The British Muslim School The British Muslim School Ryland Buildings, Lodge Road, West Bromwich B70 8NX

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this boarding school

The school is an independent boarding and day school for male Muslim children aged between 11 and 16. Pupils attend from all areas of the country. There are currently no pupils with education, health and care plans. The school is approved for 40 children to board.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The boarding school provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Date of last inspection: 16 October 2018 Inspection report for boarding school: The British Muslim School 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear, consistent and appropriate boundaries for children, who are treated with dignity and respect. Children build strong relationships with the staff and are confident that staff listen to them and respect their views. As a result, children make good progress and enjoy their boarding experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The school’s complaints policy is easy to understand and accessible. Children know how to complain, and complaint forms are freely available. There have been no formal complaints from children since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of social, educational and recreational opportunities. Staff work proactively with the local community to support children to use facilities and to develop a sense of belonging, security and purpose.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. All parents spoken with said that their children’s health needs are met. There is an improved system in place for the administration of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have contact with their families. Parents speak highly of the staff and of the boarding provision. One child’s mother said: ‘We can contact our son whenever we need to and are very happy with his experiences while boarding. The staff meet his needs and will take him to health appointments and buy him anything he needs.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The school is monitored by CCTV in communal areas and abides by codes of conduct in regard to its use as set out by the information commissioner’s office. However, the school does not hold the necessary registration for the use of CCTV.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children feel safe and can identify a trusted adult whom they can talk to about any concerns. Staff engage children in conversation about what is worrying them and offer reassurance and support. This caring approach helps to reduce children’s anxieties.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The careful recruitment and regular monitoring of staff prevent unsuitable people from being employed to work with children. Safeguarding concerns are rare, however the managers follow the procedures when safeguarding concerns are raised. Children do not go missing from the school. If this was to happen, there is a plan for how to respond to keep them safe. Inspection report for boarding school: The British Muslim School 3 Staff are clear that physical interventions are used only as a last resort. There have been no restraints in the boarding provision since the last inspection.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Sanctions are used rarely, are proportionate and are recorded fully. However, the information about sanctions in the children’s information book is inaccurate. This gives a false impression to children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The school and boarding facilities are within a listed building. Maintaining and upkeeping this building is an ongoing process. The risk assessments for the physical environment are reviewed and updated, and comply with statutory requirements. However, fire safety requires attention. One fire door in the boarding provision was found not to close properly and not all staff are trained in fire safety. This compromises the safety of children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The head of boarding is enrolled on a suitable qualification to support him in his role. Boarding staff receive regular and effective supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The boarding staff team collaboratively to provide consistency and stability. There are clear responsibilities and accountabilities, and the staff team has a sense of shared ownership about its practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of principles and practice clearly sets out the ethos and objectives of the school. These are characterised by high expectations and aspirations for all children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers monitor the quality of care provided. Areas for improvement are identified. However, this is not reported in a way that evaluates the effectiveness of the boarding and welfare provision. The school management and the governing body’s plans to drive improvement are therefore not effective as they could be.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Appropriate recording systems are not in place for the entire list of issues that need to be monitored by the school. The school also has a website with information that parents would find useful about the boarding provision, however the most up-to-date policies and Ofsted’s reports are not on it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Not all policies are updated in full. The radicalisation policy refers to out-of-date guidance. The child protection policy does not consistently reference statutory guidance and does not contain the arrangements for local authority children’s trust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are effective relationships with parents and carers so that they are confident for their child to stay in the boarding provision and understand what the service can offer. Parents feel involved and are able to raise any concerns with staff. Staff are accessible and keep parents informed about their child’s stay at the school, including by contacting families if there are any issues. Inspection report for boarding school: The British Muslim School 4

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schools

The school does not meet the following national minimum standard(s) for boarding schools:

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schools

 The school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. (NMS 7.1)  The school’s governing body and/or proprietor monitors the effectiveness of the leadership, management and delivery of the boarding and welfare provision in the school and takes appropriate action where necessary. (NMS 13.1)  The school’s leadership and management consistently fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the standards are met. (NMS 13.4)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that registration takes place with the information commissioner’s office (ICO) in relation to the use of CCTV.  Ensure that children are aware of the sanctions for negative behaviours and that these sanctions are accurate and proportionate.  Ensure that there are systems in place for the school’s policies to be updated when necessary, and accurately, throughout the document. This includes updating the child protection and safeguarding policy with the latest local authority arrangements.  Ensure that the school’s website includes the most up-to-date policies and the most recent Ofsted judgements in both education and boarding.  Ensure that appropriate recording systems are in place for the list of issues to be monitored by the school, as contained in Appendices 2 and 3 of the National Minimal Standards for Boarding Schools 2015.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the national minimum standards. Inspection report for boarding school: The British Muslim School 5

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Boarding school details

Social care unique reference number: 1267532

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Boarding school details

Headteacher/teacher in charge: Moulana Kadir Al Hasan

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Boarding school details

Email address: principal@thebritishmuslimschool.org

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Inspectors

Ricky D’Arcy, social care inspector (lead) Jo Stephenson, social care inspector Inspection report for boarding school: The British Muslim School 6 to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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