Hafs Academy

School progress monitoring inspection report

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

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii), 2(2)(e)(iii)  The previous standard inspection in December 2021 found that leaders did not fulfil the requirements to provide pupils with a programme of impartial careers education, information, advice and guidance.  Leaders have been slow in addressing fully the requirements of the standard in these paragraphs. Much of leaders’ work remains at an early stage. For example, there are no opportunities for pupils to have impartial careers guidance. Opportunities for pupils to hear first-hand from those working in different careers are limited. Pupils have also not had any meaningful encounters with employers. The school library does not stock any careers-related books and publications. Only in science do teachers build into their planned curriculum lessons information on subject-related career options.  Nevertheless, leaders are taking some steps to help pupils make informed choices about

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Main inspection findings

their next steps after school. Post-16 career options and pathways are now clearly displayed around the school. Leaders have recently established links with a local college, which has agreed to provide some careers-related programmes for pupils. These include, for example, sessions on further education options and opportunities for mock interviews. The first session is scheduled to take place shortly. Leaders have also arranged for older pupils to attend a London-wide careers fair. Leaders have tried, but so far have been unsuccessful, in their endeavours to secure work experience opportunities for pupils.  The independent school standard in these paragraphs continues to not be met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7 (b) and 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy conforms with the government’s latest guidance.  A copy of the policy is available on the school’s website.

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Main inspection findings

 These requirements of the independent school standards are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34, 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  Since the previous inspection, the proprietor body has taken some, but not enough, steps to improve the school. The chair attends the school every day, enabling him to monitor the school’s work. There are better systems in place to hold school leaders to account. The proprietor body took the strategic decision to reduce senior leaders’ teaching loads and to appoint a careers leader as of September 2022. This has added to the school’s leadership capacity. Nevertheless, leaders have not demonstrated that they can consistently meet all the required standards. Leaders are in the process of seeking external experts to help them review and sharpen their practices.  Teachers have had some support from senior leaders which has led to some

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Main inspection findings

improvements. However, across all year groups, curriculum planning and teaching are primarily focused on preparation for GCSE examinations. Leaders have not done enough to ensure that pupils gain broad and deep knowledge across the subjects.  The independent school standard in these paragraphs continues to not be 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, 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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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 30 November–2 December 2021

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Information about this school

 Hafs Academy is an independent boys’ day school with a Muslim ethos.  The school’s last standard inspection took place in December 2021, when the school was judged as requires improvement. Some of the independent school standards were not met.  The school is registered for pupils in the age range of seven to 11. The proprietor body has not provided for primary education for five years and does not intend to enrol pupils in the seven to 10 age range in the future. An application has been submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) to change the school’s registered age range from seven to 16 to 11 to 16.  Leaders do not make use of any alternative 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 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 school’s first progress monitoring inspection following the standard inspection in December 2021. It was conducted without notice.  The school was asked to submit an action plan after its last standard inspection in December 2021. The action plan was judged by Ofsted as not acceptable in June 2022. The school was notified of this outcome by the DfE in July 2022.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether particular independent school standards contained within parts 1, 3, and 8 are met.  The inspector met with the chair of the proprietor body, the deputy headteacher and the

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Information about this inspection

careers leader. He spoke with groups of pupils and met with a group of staff. He toured the school’s premises, checked the single central record of vetting checks, and considered a range of documentation about safeguarding, careers education and the school’s curriculum.

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Inspection team

David Radomsky, lead inspector His 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

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(2)(e) for pupils receiving secondary education, access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that– – 2(2)(e)(i) is presented in an impartial manner – 2(2)(e)(ii) enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options; and – 2(2)(e)(iii) helps to encourage them to fulfil their potential.

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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 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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