Zakariya Primary School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Zakariya Primary School 447-451 Romford Road, Forest Gate, London E7 8AB

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  The previous monitoring inspection, in November 2019, found that leaders had updated the process for recruiting staff to the school but that it was implemented inconsistently. Leaders did not always obtain references from the candidates’ current or most recent employer.  In addition, the inspection found that leaders did not follow up prospective candidates’ employment history details well enough. Leaders could not be sure of a candidate’s full employment history. Gaps in employment were not identified clearly enough.  This inspection found that these concerns have been tackled successfully. A new application form requires applicants to provide specific dates for past and current employment. New procedures for obtaining references from applicants’ most recent employer are also secure. Staff records are well organised and include details of staff

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Main inspection findings

qualifications, previous employment and safeguarding training. For example, staff have been trained on how to identify specific risks to pupils’ welfare, such as female genital mutilation and radicalisation and extremism.  Since the previous monitoring inspection, the work to streamline the vetting procedures for new staff has been completed. The single central register which records these checks is now maintained on a secure online system. This provides a clear evidence trail that enables leaders to ensure that all vetting checks are carried out, including employer references. Leaders have attended safer recruitment training.  The standards that were checked in this part are now met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 32 and 32(1)(c)  As at the previous monitoring inspection, the school’s safeguarding policy was available on the school’s website. The policy has been updated to meet the latest statutory

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Main inspection findings

guidance. Other relevant policies, such as for safer recruitment, provide parents and carers with additional information.  The standards that were checked in this part continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  The previous monitoring inspection found that procedures for recruiting staff, particularly checks on their employment history, were not effective. Leaders had not followed the statutory safeguarding guidance consistently.  Leaders have dealt with these issues appropriately. New procedures and improved organisation mean that leaders can ensure that the guidance on safer recruitment is followed consistently. For example, a new group of governors, with appropriate experience, have recently been appointed. This includes a named governor for safer recruitment.  In the past, leaders have not made sure that the school meets all the independent

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Main inspection findings

school standards. However, leaders have taken effective action to tackle the weaknesses identified in the last inspection. Improvements demonstrate that leaders have the capacity to ensure that the independent school standards are complied with consistently.  The standards in this part are now 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. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that: – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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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: – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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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

Email address info@zakariyaschool.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 12 November 2019

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Information about this school

 Zakariya Primary School is an independent school with an Islamic ethos. The school is situated in the same building as Forest Gate Mosque.  The school is registered for up to 120 boys and girls between the ages of five and 11. There are no pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The last standard inspection took place in February 2019. The school’s effectiveness was judged to be inadequate. A progress monitoring inspection in November 2019 found that not all of the independent school standards that were checked were met.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection since it was judged to not comply with the independent school standards in February 2019. The first progress monitoring inspection, in November 2019, also found that the school did not meet all the requirements of the independent school standards. Following this first progress monitoring inspection, the Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. The action plan was evaluated by Ofsted in February 2020, and subsequently rejected by the DfE.  The inspection was conducted with 30 minutes’ notice.  The inspector spoke with the headteacher and proprietor to discuss how they ensured

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Information about this inspection

that the independent school standards were met.  The inspector met with a group of pupils and spoke to them about their experiences of safeguarding.  The inspector considered the written policies for safeguarding and looked at documents related to the recruitment of staff. These included the school’s single central register of staff suitability and a sample of staff recruitment files .

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Inspection team

Brian Oppenheim, 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 1231, 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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