Abu Bakr Boys School

School material change inspection report

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Abu Bakr Boys School Kent Street, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 7AN

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) [and 32(1)(c)]

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders are aware of their duties to keep children safe in education. A designated safeguarding lead (DSL) for the school is supported in their role by a safeguarding director for the trust. A copy of the school’s safeguarding policy can be viewed via the school’s website. The policy is compliant with the latest government guidance and is reviewed annually by leaders.  There are clear procedures in place should a member of staff have a concern about a pupil. Concerns are logged either electronically or in paper form and kept securely. A chronology is maintained for individual pupils so that patterns or trends can be spotted. Leaders act quickly to address concerns raised.  All staff receive safeguarding training at the start of the academic year. This includes information about the staff code of conduct and what they should do if they have concerns about another member of staff. Further safeguarding training is provided

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Main inspection findings

throughout the year, including online modules on child sexual exploitation and adverse childhood experiences. Leaders keep records of all those who have attended safeguarding training.  Pupils are taught about how to keep themselves safe through the school’s curriculum. Part of the information and communication technology (ICT) curriculum includes e- safety and how pupils can stay safe when using the internet. Leaders have also put in place assemblies on e-safety and shared a safeguarding newsletter with parents.  The proprietor has ensured that these standards are likely to be met if the material change application is approved. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  Leaders have ensured that an appropriate health and safety policy is in place for the proposed new premises. This provides suitable details for all those who will be working on the site.  A fire risk assessment of the proposed new premises was completed on 1 September

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Main inspection findings

2021. No significant risks were identified, and leaders have already taken steps to address some of the recommendations mentioned in the report from an external contractor. Leaders provided evidence of the weekly fire checks that take place and fire drills they have planned.  Fire extinguishers are located at several points around the proposed new premises. These have been recorded on a log sheet and all extinguishers are serviced once every 12 months. Leaders intend to carry out monthly visual inspections of all firefighting equipment, which will be logged and recorded.  Appropriate risk assessments have been completed for all classrooms and other areas of the school which are proposed to be used by pupils, including the assembly/dining hall.  The proprietor has ensured that these standards are likely to be met if the material change application is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b)

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Main inspection findings

 The proposed new premises were, until recently, a former girls’ school. This has subsequently closed, and the trust has now purchased this building as the proposed new premises of Abu Bakr Boys School.  At the front of the proposed new premises is a small car park which provides access to a secure reception area entrance. The building has a total of 12 classrooms that span two floors. Classrooms are of a similar shape and length with good acoustics and suitable windows to provide ventilation and natural light.  There is an internal lift which is currently not in operation. Leaders have plans to repair this for those pupils who may require lift access to the first floor.  On the first floor is a well-equipped and spacious ICT room which comprises 26 computers.  Leaders have allocated a room downstairs which will act as the school’s library. This currently contains a small number of books.  There are a suitable number of toilets on both floors of the proposed new premises.

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Main inspection findings

Cubicles can be secured from the inside and there are a suitable number of wash basins. Changing facilities are provided on the first floor and there are three shower rooms available in the building. There is a separate medical room on the ground floor, which includes a wash basin.  Drinking water is available to pupils at designated points throughout the building and this has been clearly labelled.  The proprietor has ensured that these standards are likely to be met if the material change application is approved. Paragraphs 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  A suitably sized playground, that runs the length of the building, is provided at the rear of the site. The metal fencing around the edge of the playground is in good order and the area is fully secure.  Leaders intend to use the local playing field which is at the rear of the school playground to provide physical education. The school intends to inform the local

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Main inspection findings

council and complete appropriate risk assessments to use this space.  The proprietor has ensured that these standards are likely to be met if the material change application is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor is clear about the reason for moving the school to the proposed new premises. Most pupils who attend the school live closer to the new site and this will therefore reduce travel time. The proprietor believes the proposed new premises offer better facilities for staff and pupils.  Since December 2020, an executive headteacher has overseen the leadership of the boys’ school and sought ways to further collaborate across the trust. An associate headteacher has also been recently appointed. The executive headteacher has regular meetings with the proprietor and provides information to the board of trustees about key aspects of the school’s work.  Leaders actively promote the well-being of pupils. A form-time programme is in place, aligned to the school’s Islamic values, which ensures pupils have the opportunity to discuss various issues and raise concerns. The school also has a welfare team who

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Main inspection findings

provide ongoing support for pupils, including counselling.  The proprietor, together with the executive headteacher, has ensured that the standards are likely to be met if the material change application is approved.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Executive Headteacher Mrs Hasina Varachia

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School details

Email address info@abubakrboysschool.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 9–11 May 2018

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 125 200 200

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 125 200

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 3 3

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 8 8

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 12 12

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 6 6

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Information about this school

 Abu Bakr Boys School is an Islamic day school situated in Walsall.  Leaders intend to relocate the school to Queen Mary Street, Walsall from their current address.  The school is part of the Abu Bakr Trust and owned by a sole proprietor. The proprietor is also the chair of the governing body. It is registered to admit boys in the age range 11 to 16 years. Leaders intend to increase the number of pupils on roll to 200.  The school does not use alternative provision.  The school’s last full standard inspection took place on 9 to 11 May 2018.

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Information about this inspection

 The material change inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to determine whether the proposed new premises are likely to meet the independent school standards if it is given permission to open.  Many documents were submitted electronically and were reviewed remotely by the lead inspector prior to the inspection. The lead inspector also looked at the school’s website. Several additional documents were scrutinised on site.  The lead inspector talked to different leaders about safeguarding arrangements and spoke with one pupil via telephone to ask them about how staff help to keep them safe.  The inspector conducted a tour of the school site to look at the building and premises.  The lead inspector met with the school’s proprietor, the executive headteacher and the associate headteacher. He also met with the trust’s director of safeguarding and the school DSL.

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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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Inspection team

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