Hafs Academy

Hafs Academy Unit 3, 26 Maryland Road, Stratford, London, E15 1JW

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  The previous progress monitoring inspection found that leaders had not ensured that the procedures set out in the school’s safeguarding policy were followed. There was no evidence that safeguarding incidents were investigated. Staff were unclear of the arrangements for reporting and recording concerns about pupils. The ‘Prevent’ duty policy had not been updated since 2016.  This inspection finds that leaders have not ensured that the arrangements to promote pupils’ welfare are followed consistently. For example, the rear fire exit remains restricted and the fire extinguishers have not been checked frequently enough.  The school’s safeguarding policy has been updated to reflect the government’s most recent guidance. It is available on the school’s website. Staff have signed to say that they have received and read the policy. They have also completed a questionnaire to test

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Main inspection findings

their knowledge. Training has ensured that staff know the procedures for reporting and recording concerns about pupils. The school’s ‘Prevent’ duty policy has now been updated.  Pupils say that they feel safe in school and when going to the park for physical education (PE). They note that they have been taught about how to stay safe from radicalisation and extremism.  The safeguarding policy takes into account the guidance issued by the Secretary of State and is published on the school’s website. Standards 7(b) and 32(1)(c) are now met.  Standards 7, 7(a) are unmet. Paragraph 9, 9(b) and 9(c)  The previous progress monitoring inspection found that leaders did not routinely keep records of their investigations into serious misbehaviour. Records were not well organised.  This inspection finds that arrangements for reporting, recording and following up serious incidents of misbehaviour are improved. All incidents, and the actions taken, are

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Main inspection findings

recorded appropriately. Leaders are able to show what sanctions have been taken.  There have been no serious incidents of misbehaviour since September. Pupils say that behaviour is good and that bullying is rare. They are confident that teachers will listen to their concerns and ‘sort out’ any problems.  These standards have been met. Paragraph 11, 12, 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The previous progress monitoring inspection found that leaders had improved arrangements for health and safety. However, leaders were not vigilant enough about identifying health and safety risks. For example, upper floor windows opened wide enough for a pupil to climb through and there were broken computers on the floor of a classroom.  This inspection finds that leaders are still not vigilant enough about identifying health and safety risks. Some risks have been rectified. For example, all windows now have fittings that restrict opening and there are no broken computers. However, the rear fire

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Main inspection findings

emergency escape route is still restricted, and the fire extinguishers were last checked in July 2019. Following a fire alarm service report in August 2020, actions to improve signage and zonal plans have not been addressed thoroughly. In addition, leaders were unable to provide risk assessments for activities. COVID-19 (coronavirus) risk assessments were in place.  Since the inspection, leaders have employed a specialist contractor to carry out the required checks on the fire extinguishers. There is now a fire extinguisher service report that confirms that checks have been carried out.  These standards have not been met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  The previous inspection found that the proprietor and governors had not ensured that all the independent school standards were met. This was in relation to safeguarding and

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Main inspection findings

pupils’ welfare, health and safety.  This inspection finds that leaders have not consistently promoted pupils’ welfare, health and safety. Risks are still not managed rigorously enough. This compromises pupils’ welfare, health and safety.  The new headteacher has made some important improvements, especially to promoting good behaviour and updating policies.  These standards have not been met consistently.

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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. 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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that: – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that: – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively – 9(c) a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour.  32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that: – 32(1)(c) particulars of the arrangements for meeting the standard contained in paragraph 7 are published on the school’s internet website or, where no such website exists, are provided to parents on request.

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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

Date of previous standard inspection 11–13 December 2018

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Information about this school

 Hafs Academy is an independent day school with a Muslim ethos. It is located in a residential area of Stratford in the London Borough of Newham. The school is in a commercial building converted for educational use. It makes use of a local park for break and lunchtime, and for teaching of PE.  The school is registered to provide education for pupils from the ages of seven to 16. Currently, the school is providing education for boys aged 11 to 16. Since the previous full inspection, the registration authority granted a material change request for the school to admit pupils to Year 10 and Year 11. There are currently no primary-aged pupils on roll. The school’s provision for primary pupils closed in 2018.  At the time of this inspection, the headteacher had been in post since September 2020. The previous headteacher supports the school one day each week. In addition, pupils in Years 10 and 11 were not in school because they were self-isolating due to COVID-19.

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Information about this school

 The school’s last full standard inspection was in December 2018, when it was judged inadequate. The school submitted an action plan, which was evaluated in March 2019, and was not approved. In September 2019, a progress monitoring inspection judged that the independent standards checked were not met. The school’s action plan of April 2020 was not approved.  No pupils attend off-site provision.

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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 which 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 second progress monitoring inspection since the school was judged inadequate in December 2018. The first progress monitoring inspection took place in September 2019. The school was judged not to meet all the independent school standards. The school’s action plan, in April 2020, was rejected by the Department for Education.  The inspection was conducted with 30 minutes’ notice.  The inspector spoke with leaders, including the proprietor and headteacher. He met with senior leaders to discuss how they ensured that the school met the independent school standards.  The inspector also spoke with pupils in Year 9.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector considered the written policies, including documents related to arrangements for safeguarding, health and safety, staff recruitment, and risk assessments.

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Inspection team

Brian Oppenheim, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at 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.  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005[12].  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that: – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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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. 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

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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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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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