Madani Academy

Madani Primary School Merefield House, Nutfield Place, Buckland, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 4JZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1)(a)(b); 2(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(h)(i)  The school’s curriculum policy is written and published on the website. Although brief, it describes a sufficiently broad curriculum that meets the requirements of the independent school standards. It was clear from visits to lessons, talking to pupils and looking at their work that this curriculum is being taught.  Leaders are giving careful thought to how their curriculum policy translates into what pupils learn lesson by lesson. They have invested sensibly in resources that support them to do this. This strategy is helping leaders to make sure that pupils gain knowledge in a coherently structured way when staffing shortages are currently proving to be a challenge. Consequently, pupils develop their literacy, numeracy and knowledge of other subjects sufficiently well.  Since the last inspection, three teachers have left the school. Leaders have put

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Main inspection findings

appropriate steps in place to manage this scenario and to find suitably capable replacements. Governors are mindful of the potential risks to standards in the school in the meanwhile. They are working with leaders to keep parents and carers informed and to check that current arrangements are not having a negative impact on pupils’ learning.  The sections of Part 1 of the independent school standards checked as part of this inspection are judged to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  Pupils’ personal, social and health education provides them with suitable knowledge to equip them for their life in modern Britain. Leaders promote a culture of tolerance and respect throughout the school. Pupils have the opportunity to learn about democracy in a real and relevant way, such as through engaging with news and current affairs  Pupils’ learning incorporates Islamic studies as well as subjects traditionally taught in British schools. This helps them to learn about a suitably broad range of cultures and beliefs, including, but not limited to, their own. Leaders bring this learning to life, such as through celebrating different religious festivals and discussing these with pupils in the context of their Muslim faith. For example, pupils described visiting a local synagogue and learning about the ‘special book’ (the written Torah).

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Main inspection findings

 As part of the wider curriculum, pupils access appropriate personal, social and health education. In their discussions during the inspection, they demonstrated their understanding of what they have been taught, such as about democracy, mental health and careers. This was reflected in examples of written work that they shared, such as their fact files about different jobs.  Leaders ensure that pupils experience life beyond their own close-knit community. Visitors come into school to work with pupils on topics such as e-safety. Pupils participate in local events such as the festival of light. They contribute to their local community, such as through visits to the local residential home.  This part of the independent school standards, which was checked in its entirety, is judged to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  Leaders have ensured that suitable arrangements are in place to keep pupils safe. They are mindful of the need for pupils to understand the risks beyond their immediate community. They work openly with parents and families to promote a shared understanding of how pupils can make positive choices that support their own physical and mental well-being.  The school’s written safeguarding policy is fit for purpose. Three members of staff have been trained as designated safeguarding leads, to ensure that there is always someone in school to deal with any issues that may arise. Permanent staff have received appropriate training about their safeguarding duties. Adults coming into school on a temporary basis, such as supply teachers, are briefed on their arrival. Paragraph 11  Leaders understand their duties around health and safety in the school. There is an

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Main inspection findings

up-to-date written policy which is published on the school’s website. Leaders use experts from beyond the school to check that emergency equipment, such as fire alarms, is functioning properly.  Presently, two-thirds of the building is not in use. Leaders are working towards establishing secondary and nursery phases of the school, if granted permission by the Department for Education when requested. There is evidence of some building work having taken place, but rooms are not finished or clean. This section of the building is behind a locked door and is clearly labelled as not in use or accessible for pupils. As such, it does not present a health and safety risk. Paragraph 13  The written first aid policy is fit for purpose. It is reviewed annually by the headteacher. Four members of staff have received first aid training. As such, there is sufficient expertise in place to manage any incidents that require first aid to be

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Main inspection findings

administered. Leaders keep suitable records of any issues that require first aid. Paragraph 14  Pupils are supervised well throughout the day. Pupils behave respectfully in response to adults’ clear expectations for their conduct. Leaders manage the potential risks around access to the school site with diligence. Pupils know where they are allowed to play outside and which areas are out of bounds. Adults ensure that the site is secure while pupils are in school and that visitors are signed in and out. Paragraph 15  Leaders’ admissions and attendance records are maintained well. The number and age range of pupils on roll meets the school’s registration arrangements. During the inspection, there were no pupils on site who were beyond these constraints. Paragraph 16  Leaders demonstrate a suitably vigilant approach to managing risk. The school’s risk assessment policy is reflected in the range of risk assessments that leaders have

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Main inspection findings

undertaken and recorded.  The school is judged to meet the paragraphs of this part of the standards that were checked during this inspection.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 19  A number of volunteer adults support the school’s work, such as in the roles of teaching assistants. Leaders have carried out the same checks on these adults as if they were paid employees. These checks are included on the school’s single central record of recruitment checks. This document contains all of the required information and is well maintained.  There are currently two supply teachers working in the school. Leaders have obtained written confirmation that all the required suitability checks have been carried out by the agency who supplied these staff. These teachers’ details were added to the single central record during the inspection.  The relevant paragraphs of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection are judged to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  Approximately a third of the building is currently being used by the school. This part of the building is clean, bright and suitably maintained. Outside spaces are similarly safe and well looked after.  This paragraph of the independent school standards is judged to be met. Other paragraphs within this part of the standards were not required to be checked as part of this inspection. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  The headteacher and other school leaders demonstrate suitable knowledge about their work. They act with integrity and with pupils’ best interests in mind. Their work to minimise the impact of recent and significant staffing changes on pupils’ learning and welfare is proving to be successful.  The governing body provides suitable support to the school’s work. Leaders and governors understand the independent school standards sufficiently well. Governors

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Main inspection findings

acknowledge that their actions to address improvement points from the last inspection about the rigour of their monitoring work are in the early stages. They note that recent staffing changes have been a distraction that have reduced leaders’ capacity to improve the school. However, they also know there is further work to do around improving how promptly they challenge the headteacher about the impact of his work.  This part of the independent school standards, which was checked in its entirely during the inspection, is judged to be 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. 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

Proprietor The Madani Academy Portsmouth Limited

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14–16 May 2019

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Information about this school

 The school was last inspected in May 2019. That inspection judged the school to be good.  The school operates from a single site and does not use alternative providers.  Leaders describe the school as an Islamic faith school. It admits pupils of any faith. Currently, all pupils follow the Islamic faith.  The school has a proprietary body, the Madani Academy Portsmouth Limited. There are two directors, one being the headteacher. A governing body provides further scrutiny and support to the school. The current chair of governors took up their role in September 2019.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out without notice.  The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education in response to concerns that were raised about the school. It focused on aspects of the quality of education being provided to pupils, including as part of their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It also considered some of the arrangements around pupils’ welfare, health and safety, staff recruitment checks and the school’s premises. Checks were made to ensure that the school was not operating outside its registration arrangements with regard to the number and age range of pupils on roll. The effectiveness of leaders and managers was also considered.  I met with the headteacher, the school’s other director and other senior staff to discuss a range of issues. Together, we toured the site and visited some lessons to observe pupils’ learning and look at their work. I met with two groups of pupils to talk

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Information about this inspection

to them about their work and look at a selection of their books. I looked at leaders’ curriculum plans and reviewed relevant policy documents and records.  I spoke with the chair of governors and separately with a representative of the local authority on the telephone. I observed pupils on the playground at playtime.  I scrutinised the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including relevant policies and training records. I looked at how leaders manage concerns about pupils, and the records that they keep.

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Inspection team

Kathryn Moles, 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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