Mehria Primary School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Mehria Primary School 23 Westbourne Road, Luton LU4 8JD

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(f)  This standard was not met at the school’s full inspection in March 2020 because leaders had not ensured that the new curriculum plans were implemented as intended. Teachers did not plan and provide activities to meet pupils’ learning needs or have the subject- specific knowledge required to teach the curriculum effectively.  The school’s curriculum is based on national curriculum statements. Since the full inspection, leaders have undertaken further work to develop the curriculum. However, this work is still in progress. The curriculum in subjects other than English and mathematics is underdeveloped.  Leaders have given insufficient consideration to the detailed knowledge that needs to be taught in each lesson and across lessons. As a result, pupils receive lessons in disconnected topics in several subjects, such as history and geography, and are not able

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Main inspection findings

to complete the complex activities set.  Plans do not pinpoint when previous learning will be revisited so that pupils remember more of what they have been taught and so that they can apply information to new ideas. Consequently, while pupils are well behaved, confident and articulate, they do not progress as well as they should across the curriculum.  Teachers do not have the subject-specific knowledge they need to help them to plan the detail of what pupils need to know and remember across the range of subjects they teach. This restricts their ability to assess precisely what pupils already know and what they need to learn to help them to achieve well.  Leaders have begun to implement a programme of further staff training. A review of resources to support pupils’ different learning needs is underway. However, the current provision means that many pupils do not progress well enough by the end of Year 6.

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Main inspection findings

 This previously un-met independent school standard remains un-met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  These standards were met at the full standard inspection in March 2020 and continue to be met  Arrangements for safeguarding pupils continue to be effective. Staff are vigilant and suitably trained. Training includes regular updates on local and national issues.  Records of safeguarding incidents and pupils’ attendance are appropriately recorded, including through the electronic system which has replaced the previously handwritten registers.  The safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website, or to parents on request from school leaders.  Leaders have ensured that these independent school standards continue to be met. Paragraph 12  At the school’s full inspection, this standard was not met. This was because fire drills were not recorded accurately or checked closely enough to ensure evacuation of the

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Main inspection findings

building was conducted quickly and safely.  Leaders have acted to ensure that the welfare, health and safety of pupils in the school is secure. Regular fire drills are completed and appropriately recorded. Staff are suitably trained in fire safety procedures.  Pupils and staff understand the procedures to follow if there is a need to evacuate the school buildings.  Leaders have ensured that this independent school standard is now met. Paragraph 15  This standard was not met at the full inspection in March 2020 because the school’s attendance registers were not maintained appropriately. The required attendance and absence codes were not used consistently by school staff.  Since the inspection, leaders have introduced an online system to replace the paper- based registers used previously. Staff have been trained and know how to record information accurately. An administrator has been appointed with direct responsibility for

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Main inspection findings

oversight of the system. Swift action is taken to contact families in any cases of unexplained absence.  Leaders have ensured that this independent school standard is now met. Paragraph 16, 16(b)  In the full standard inspection, leaders had not taken steps to ensure that fire safety arrangements were consistently well managed. There were inaccuracies in the recording of pupils’ attendance, and attendance registers were not monitored well enough.  Actions taken to address the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection are now part of standardised fire safety procedures and routine risk assessments. Pupils’ attendance is closely monitored.  Leaders have acted to address the risks associated with pupils’ safety in the event of a fire and inconsistencies in the recording of pupils’ attendance.  Leaders have ensured that this independent school standard is now met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 18(1), 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), 19(2), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(a)(i), 19(2)(a)(i)(aa), 19(2)(a)(i)(bb), 19(2)(a)(i)(cc), 19(2)(a)(i)(dd), 19(2)(a)(ii), 19(2)(b), 19(2)(c), 19(2)(d), 19(2)(d)(i), 19(2)(d)(ii),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), 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(4), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(b), 21(5)(c), 21(6), 21(7), 21(7)(a), 21(7)(b)  At the school’s standard inspection in March 2020, these independent school standards were met. The necessary pre-employment checks on staff were made, and the required records were completed.  The information recorded in the single central record of pre-employment checks

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Main inspection findings

currently is accurate and meets statutory requirements. The deputy headteacher checks that all the required checks continue to be made, including for new teachers and the recently appointed chair of governors.  All the required checks on the suitability of new staff are carried out according to their roles in the school. Staff’s training is up to date, including safer recruitment training for leaders with responsibilities for interviewing candidates for vacant posts.  The school does not use supply staff. Leaders are aware of the procedures to follow should they decide to do so.  Leaders have ensured that these independent school standards continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  This standard was not met at the March 2020 inspection because leaders had not ensured that all the independent school standards were met, including those relating to

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Main inspection findings

the quality of education. The proprietors, leaders and governors did not have a precise enough understanding of the independent school standards to help them to do this. Leaders’ monitoring of the school’s work was underdeveloped. This limited leaders’, including the proprietors and governors, work to improve the provision.  Since the standard inspection, the weaknesses previously identified in the curriculum remain. While there have been some improvements in mathematics and English, and further training is underway, staff do not yet have the subject-specific knowledge they need to improve the quality of education consistently. Consequently, pupils do not achieve as well as they should.  The recently appointed chair of governors is still establishing a secure understanding of the independent school standards. Leaders’, including the proprietors and governors, monitoring of the school’s work and planning for further improvement remains

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Main inspection findings

underdeveloped.  While this overall standard remains un-met, leaders have ensured that the requirement at 34(1)(c) is now met. Pupils’ safety and well-being is a high priority. Staff’s training, and the school’s safeguarding policy, have been updated in line with the required changes for September 2021. The policy is available on the school’s website. Attendance registers are appropriately maintained. Fire safety procedures have been strengthened further.  This previously un-met independent school standard remains un-met.

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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. 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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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

Type of school Day primary school with a religious ethos

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 3 to 6 March 2020

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Information about this school

 Mehria School is registered with the Department for Education (DfE) as a school with a Muslim ethos, for boys and girls. The school admits pupils of any or no faith. It opened in 2006. In October 2019, the DfE agreed to increase the maximum number of pupils on roll at any time from 90 to 110 pupils.  There are five classes. Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 are taught in separate classes. There is one combined Year 5 and 6 class.  The school is in a residential neighbourhood of Luton. A mosque and a funeral service are located within the school’s grounds. Classrooms are in separate buildings from the mosque and the funeral service.  Wonderland Nursery (URN EY438249) operates in a separate part of the school building. The nursery provides day care for children up to five years old. This is inspected and reported on separately.  No pupils have an education, health and care plan.  All pupils speak English as an additional language, and all are bilingual.

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Information about this school

 The school aims to ‘produce hardworking, well-mannered and well-informed young Muslims who are able, through their knowledge, skills and good character to benefit from the opportunities that Allah provides and to go on to be a positive force in society’.  Since September 2020, two new teachers have joined the school.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  The school does not use supply staff.  To date, Ofsted has conducted a pre-registration visit, 10 inspections and has evaluated five action plans. The details of these are: – 30 May 2006, a pre-registration visit was carried out and registration was not recommended – 28 March 2007, a standard inspection when the overall effectiveness of the school was judged to be good – 9 December 2009, a standard inspection when the overall effectiveness of the school was judged to be good – 5 December 2012, a standard inspection when the overall effectiveness was judged

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Information about this school

to be outstanding – 26 January 2016, a standard inspection where the overall effectiveness was judged to be inadequate, with several un-met standards about the suitable recruitment of staff – 30 June 2016, an evaluation of an action plan which was judged to require improvement – 19 October 2016, a monitoring inspection when independent school standards were not met – 23 February 2017, an evaluation of an action plan which was judged as not acceptable – 15 May 2017, a monitoring inspection when independent school standards were met – 20 February 2018, a standard inspection where the overall effectiveness of the school was judged as requires improvement and independent school standards were not met – 27 July 2018, an evaluation of an action plan which was judged as not acceptable – 7 February 2019, a monitoring inspection when independent school standards were not met – 29 May 2019, an evaluation of an action plan which was judged as not acceptable

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Information about this school

– 10 July 2019, a monitoring inspection when independent school standards were met – 20 March 2020, a standard inspection where the overall effectiveness of the school was judged as requires improvement and independent school standards were not met – 30 November 2020, an evaluation of an action plan which was judged as not acceptable.

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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 first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with school leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation.  The school inspection was aligned with the early years inspection of Wonderland Nursery (URN EY438249), which operates in a separate part of the school building. The nursery provides day care for children up to five years old. This provision is inspected and reported on separately.  The inspector met with school leaders, including the recently appointed chair of governors, and spoke with other school staff in meetings, as well as informally around

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Information about this inspection

the school.  The inspector visited lessons jointly with the headteacher. She met with a group of pupils and spoke with others in lessons and at playtime.  The school’s single central record of pre-employment checks on staff was considered, alongside school policies, including those linked to child protection and health and safety. The associated records were also checked.  The inspector looked at pupils’ books and spoke with them about their work. A range of documentation, including curriculum plans and other associated documentation, was reviewed.  The proprietors were not available to speak with the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection team

Christine Dick, 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 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught;

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time;

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons;

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught;

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range.

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 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 1231, 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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