Rochdale Islamic Academy

Rochdale Islamic Academy for Girls Greenbank Road, Rochdale, OL12 0HZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  A comprehensive and suitable safeguarding policy is in place. For example, the document includes leaders’ approach to training staff and managing incidents of upskirting. Leaders have updated it to take account of the most recent guidance from the government. The proprietor has also recently refined the policy’s content on managing allegations against staff. The policy makes clear the links that leaders have with the local authority in ensuring that they keep pupils safe. Leaders fully understand the processes involved. Leaders make the policy available for parents and carers on request.  To bolster the school’s safeguarding policy, leaders have revised the school’s policy on staff conduct. Leaders have reiterated adults’ duty of care to keep pupils safe. For example, there is a new section on appropriate contact between pupils and adults

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Main inspection findings

outside the workplace.  The proprietor body is clear about the requirements of safeguarding processes and realises their importance. There is a suitable strategy in place to ensure that the proprietor keeps regular checks on safeguarding provision in the school.  The headteacher, who is also the designated safeguarding lead, has a secure grasp of safeguarding procedures. She regularly reinforces policy and practice where appropriate. For example, she has recently provided training for staff, including an update on recent changes to the government’s guidance. Paragraph 14  The proprietor body has ensured that there are enough staff to supervise pupils appropriately. The headteacher has recently increased the number of school staff to include two teaching assistants. She has also begun to set up a team to support pupils’ emotional well-being. This includes a member of staff who will act as a counsellor for pupils.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  Leaders have an appropriate written risk assessment policy in place. For example, it identifies how staff should conduct risk assessments and the variety of activities that require them. There are also suitable risk assessment forms for a range of events, including school trips. These contain provision for identifying hazards and establishing control measures.  The standards in this part are met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(6)  The proprietor body has a detailed policy in place which covers the recruitment of

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Main inspection findings

staff. For example, it contains a list which shows that leaders make all the necessary checks about staff and members of the proprietor body at the school. It also includes extra information, such as whether members of staff have attended the school’s induction programme. Leaders make appropriate checks on the medical fitness of employees.  Leaders have an electronic record of the checks they carry out on staff and other adults who work at the school. All information is recorded correctly. The school does not use supply staff.  The standards in this part are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor body is clear about the requirements of safeguarding and realises their importance. There is a suitable strategy in place to ensure that school leaders check and sustain the effectiveness of safeguarding provision in the school.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders show appropriate knowledge of the independent school standards and how to promote pupils’ safety and well-being. They have ensured that all the other independent school standards that were inspected are met.  The standards in this part are met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  There is a suitable accessibility plan in place with a range of appropriate strategies to support disabled pupils. For example, leaders support pupils’ learning by providing adapted screens where required. All areas of the premises are accessible, since the building is on the ground floor only. Leaders present written information in different formats, depending on pupils’ needs.  Leaders have ensured that this requirement is 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

Email address admin@rochdaleislamicacademy.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 Rochdale Islamic Academy for Girls opened in March 2020. This followed the separation of the former Rochdale Islamic Academy, a mixed school, into two separate schools, one for boys and one for girls.  The current headteacher was appointed in January 2020 as headteacher of the girls’ division of the previous mixed school.  The school currently does not have a website. A new website is under development.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned Ofsted to conduct an emergency inspection to report against paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 14, 16, 16(a), 16(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c), 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c) and all relevant paragraphs of part 4 of the independent school standards.  The inspection was conducted with 30 minutes notice to the school.  The inspector scrutinised school policies and other documents relating to safeguarding and risk assessment. He also examined the school’s record of checks on members of staff.  The inspector held discussions with the headteacher and a member of the proprietor body. He spoke with the local area designated officer by telephone. He also spoke with a group of pupils while maintaining social distancing.

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Inspection team

Mark Quinn, 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

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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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