Setting

Education and boarding inspection summary for Darul Uloom London School Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, BR7 6SD

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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: good

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What is it like to attend this school?

◼ Pupils are proud of their school. They enjoy coming to school to board and to study. Pupils like learning Islamic studies alongside a broad range of secular subjects. They study hard but they also have a wide range of extra-curricular activities to get involved in. For example, pupils play football, go swimming, or can learn archery or horse riding.

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What is it like to attend this school?

◼ Leaders are ambitious for pupils. They have designed a programme of learning that aims to ensure that all pupils are ready for their next steps in education, employment and training. In most secular subjects, these aims are working well. The curriculum typically develops and deepens pupils’ learning progressively.

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What is it like to attend this school?

◼ Leaders and staff motivate and support pupils to achieve their personal goals and aspirations. For example, pupils receive guidance from an independent careers adviser and have careers talks from guest speakers and former sixth-form students.

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What is it like to attend this school?

◼ Pupils described the school as being like a family. Pupils treat one another, and staff, with respect. In lessons they focus on their learning, and rarely disrupt others. They want to do well, and take pride in their achievements.

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What is it like to attend this school?

◼ Pupils said that bullying rarely happens in this school. While uncommon, staff are quick to spot and resolve any incidents of bullying that do take place. Pupils are well cared for and feel safe. Education and boarding inspection summary: Darul Uloom London School. 22 – 24 March 2022 The inspectors made two recommendations to help the school improve, covering how the teaching of knowledge is sequenced in a small number of subjects and improving teacher subject expertise in a few areas.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school meets all of the independent school standards.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Boarding is a good experience for children at this school. The children say that they are well cared for. Children speak positively about the approachable staff and have good relationships with them.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ The ethos of the school is to provide an Islamic studies curriculum alongside a broad secular curriculum. In addition to their Islamic studies, pupils are taught English, mathematics, science, history, Arabic, religious education, art, music and physical education. In most subjects, the quality of teaching means that children remember the key knowledge and skills they are taught. Most teachers are subject experts and deliver the planned curriculum effectively. Typically, teachers recap and reinforce children’s understanding. Consequently, children receive a good quality of education and typically make good progress.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ The staff and managers ensure that children’s health needs are met well. Health records are clear. The staff know about children’s allergies, and individual health plans are in place for children who need emergency interventions. Safeguarding leads are aware of how to refer children to services for mental health support. When children’s behaviour indicates they may be in distress, safeguarding leads make referrals to additional support services.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Managers have ensured that a structure is in place to support children when they first arrive at the school. The staff are alert to potential anxieties that children may feel on arrival. To help with this, children are allocated a buddy. Children report that the staff and the older boys have helped them to settle well. Children say that one of the best things about boarding at the school is the friendships they make and the opportunities to spend time with their friends.

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What is it like to board at this school?

◼ Children know how to raise concerns. A system is in place to respond to low-level concerns from families. Managers take appropriate action to resolve these concerns. ◼ Children benefit from a good range of extra-curricular activities. These include martial arts, cricket, swimming and astronomy. Staff support older children to attend job fairs. Children are expected to attend prayers throughout the day. Children understand that this is an expectation of the school and in line with the school’s ethos. ◼ The physical environment continues to need improvement. A plan is in place to refurbish bathrooms and toilets. There is a significant difference between areas that have been refurbished and those that have not. The COVID-19 pandemic has Education and boarding inspection summary: Darul Uloom London School. 22 – 24 March 2022 affected the pace of refurbishment progress. In addition, at the time of the inspection, a small number of rooms had mould on the walls or ceiling, and many

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What is it like to board at this school?

windows required cleaning. Senior managers responded to these issues during the inspection by cleaning the rooms and arranging for window cleaners to attend. However, these issues should have been identified by the provider before the inspection without an external prompt.

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What is it like to board at this school?

The school meets all the national minimum standards .

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AND

The inspectors made two recommendations to help the school improve, covering maintenance of the residential accommodation and ensuring the programme of refurbishment of toilets, bathrooms and bedrooms continues at appropriate pace.

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◼ View the full inspection report for the education provision: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/27/101695

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◼ View the full inspection report for the boarding provision: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/1/sc006927. Education and boarding inspection summary: Darul Uloom London School. 22 – 24 March 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 .

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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