Setting

Education and boarding inspection summary for Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya Holcombe Hall, Holcombe Old Road, Holcombe, Nr. Bury, Lancashire BL8 4NG Inspection dates: 25 to 27 January 2022

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Outcome

The education overall effectiveness judgement is: good

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Outcome

The judgement for the experiences and progress of children in the boarding provision is requires improvement

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What is it like to attend this school?

◼ Pupils enjoy coming to this school. They work hard and are keen to learn. Pupils study a wide range of secular subjects in addition to their Islamic studies. They live up to the high expectations that leaders and teachers have for them and achieve well.

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What is it like to attend this school?

◼ Pupils feel safe in school. They behave well and show great maturity, especially at times of prayer. Pupils move around the school in an orderly manner. They warmly welcome visitors to the school. Pupils say that bullying does occur in school, but it is rare. They are confident that staff will act quickly to stop any such behaviour.

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What is it like to attend this school?

◼ Pupils speak enthusiastically about the varied range of activities they experience beyond the academic curriculum. They enjoy the regular football and table tennis tournaments and coding club. Pupils eagerly anticipate their end of year reward trip to Blackpool. They also benefit from visits to cultural venues, such as museums and local places of worship. Pupils have opportunities to participate in community events such as helping to pick up litter. Pupils from other schools in the locality visit the school to learn about the Islamic faith and culture. Education and boarding inspection summary: Darul Uloom Al Arbiya Al Islamiya 25 to 27 Jaunuary 2022 The inspectors made three recommendations to help the school improve, covering the curriculum, the professional development of teachers and the oversight and accountability of leadership

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school does not meet the independent school standards relating to the standard 5 of the national mininmum standards for boarding schools, regarding accommodation and those relating to leadership and management.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Children build trusted and secure relationships with the adults who are caring for them. They say that they are happy at school and enjoy the boarding experience. Children told the inspectors, ‘We are all one big family.’ They value their friendships and the strong sense of community.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Children are treated with dignity and respect. Children new to boarding are well supported, including those children who experience homesickness. The sensitive support that these children receive helps them to settle into school.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Children make good progress in their educational and personal development. Staff are ambitious for children and support them to do well. Boundaries are clear and expectations of behaviour high. Behaviour around the school was observed to be exemplary during the inspection.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Children said that they can talk about any concerns or worries that they might have. However, there is little evidence of children’s views being sought about their boarding experience.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Leaders prioritise the needs of children but they do not consistently follow their own policies and procedures, as illustrated by the failure to identify and act on two GP-identified health risks. Furthermore, scant recording does not provide enough evidence that children’s healthcare is being managed effectively.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Children enjoy the educational and recreational activites on offer, but community activities are limited in scope due to the pandemic. The leadership team has recognised this as an area for improvement and plans to rectify this.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Some improvements were noted to the boarding provision, including improvements to the two games rooms and plastering and painting of the corridors. However, one national minimum standard remains unmet. Inspectors found that some bathrooms were cold and dirty, a minority of door closers did not work effectively, and in three bedrooms window closers were missing. A number of these shortfalls were rectified immediately. That said, these shortfalls demonstrate ineffective monitoring by leaders to ensure a timely response to maintenance needs that arise.

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What is it like to board at this school?

The school does not meet the national minimum standards for boarding schools relating to the accommodation provided for boarders, the implmenetation of Education and boarding inspection summary: Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya 25 to 27 January 2022 policies relating to the care of sick or injured pupilsand the leadership and management of the boarding facility.

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What is it like to board at this school?

The inspectors made two recommendations to help the school improve, covering the range of choice of activities for boarders outside of teaching time and provision for pupils to contribute their views to the operation of the boarding provision.

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https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/1/SC008476

Education and boarding inspection summary: Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya 25 to 27 January 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format

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https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/1/SC008476

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https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/1/SC008476

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