London Islamic School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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London Islamic School 18-22 Damien Street, London E1 2HX

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2A(1), 2A(1)(d)–2A(1)(g),  At the time of the last standard inspection, in February 2022, leaders had not followed statutory guidance about relationships and sex education (RSE). While leaders had ensured that statutory RSE content was covered, they had not finalised or published the school’s RSE policy within the timescales set out by the Department for Education. Leaders had not consulted with parents and carers of pupils in Years 9 to 11 about the proposed policy. The personal, social and health (PSHE) and RSE programmes were well planned in Years 7 and 8. In Years 9 to 11, leaders had not mapped out clearly what content would be taught and when.  The school’s post-inspection action plan included details of arrangements to consult parents of pupils in Years 9 to 11 on the new policy. Since the last inspection, the governing body has ratified the new policy, and this has been published on the school

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Main inspection findings

website. In the action plan, leaders set out a more detailed curriculum for the delivery of the PSHE and RSE programme for pupils in Years 9 to 11.  This inspection found that leaders are now delivering their planned curriculum effectively for pupils in Years 9 to 11. They ensure that pupils in these year groups receive age- appropriate RSE through a planned scheme of learning.  The school now meets the requirements of this paragraph. Paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(c)  At the time of the last standard inspection, leaders did not give sufficient curriculum time to the secular curriculum for pupils in Years 7 and 8. Staff did not have enough time to teach subjects in depth, and pupils lacked essential knowledge and skills. Leaders had not considered carefully what crucial subject content they wanted pupils to know and remember over time. The inspection found that this was hindering pupils’ understanding of key concepts. Leaders had not ensured that staff had access to subject-specific

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Main inspection findings

training. Teaching staff were not routinely using teaching and assessment methods that are appropriate to their subjects.  The school’s post-inspection action plan was not sufficiently detailed about the timescales for implementing changes to the secular curriculum for pupils in Years 7 and 8. Leaders had not identified how they would develop the curriculum to ensure that pupils built increased depth of knowledge. Leaders’ plans for the training of staff lacked detail and time scales were not sufficiently urgent.  Leaders have consulted with outside organisations and other local schools to explore how they may increase the time allocated to teaching the secular curriculum in Years 7 and 8. However, the governing body has not agreed to any changes to the school’s curriculum model. As a result, this inspection found that no changes to the time allocated for teaching the secular curriculum have been agreed upon or implemented.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders are considering making changes to curriculum thinking in mathematics, English and science in order to increase pupils’ knowledge and skills in these subjects. At present, leaders have not made any changes to curriculum thinking in these subjects and have not identified the specific knowledge and skills they want pupils to learn over time. Leaders, currently, have no plans to change curriculum thinking in other secular subjects in Years 7 and 8. As a result, pupils in these year groups continue to develop a shallow understanding of key subject content within the secular curriculum.  Leaders have drawn up a planned programme of professional development for all staff. They have engaged the support of an outside organisation to deliver this training. However, leaders have not identified the key teaching expertise or subject-specific training that staff will need in order to develop their teaching skills and curriculum

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Main inspection findings

understanding.  Leaders have increased the time allocated in the curriculum for reading. Pupils now have time allocated for independent reading on three mornings a week. Leaders are working with pupils to produce a recommended reading list. They are in the process of determining how to assess pupils’ reading skills to enable staff to identify appropriate texts for pupils to read matched to their reading confidence and fluency and to support weaker readers to catch up quickly.  The requirements of this paragraph remain unmet.  The school does not meet all the requirements for this part. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7–7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The previous standard inspection judged safeguarding to be effective. This continues to be the case.  The school revised its safeguarding policy in August 2022 to meet the updated requirements of the latest statutory guidance in the current edition of ‘Keeping children

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Main inspection findings

safe in education’. This policy is published on the school’s website.  Leaders have ensured that procedures for safeguarding and safer recruitment are up to date and that staff have received appropriate training. Staff are alert to the possible signs that a pupil may be at risk of harm and know how to report any concerns. Leaders work with local authority officers to support any vulnerable pupils and their families.  Pupils are taught how to stay safe, including online. Leaders invite the police to the school to provide a series of workshops each year to educate pupils on staying safe in their local area.  The requirements of this paragraph continue to be met.  Leaders have ensured that the requirements of this part continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, leaders were judged to not evaluate the school’s

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Main inspection findings

effectiveness and impact of their actions with enough rigour. The breadth and depth of the curriculum in Years 7 to 9 were not measured carefully, and leaders placed too much emphasis on GCSE outcomes, rather than on the quality of education that pupils receive during their time at the school.  In the post-inspection action plan, leaders had not identified the training that leaders and staff would need to undertake to develop their knowledge and skills. The stated time scales for improvement were too wide and leaders had not identified the specific actions needed to help them to develop the curriculum and support staff training.  Leaders have not addressed areas for development identified in the last inspection with sufficient urgency. Governors have been too slow to agree any changes to the secular curriculum model for Year 7 and Year 8.  Leaders have sought support from outside agencies and local school networks. However,

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Main inspection findings

they lack clarity on how they will use this support to improve the quality of education at the school.  The requirements of this paragraph remain unmet.  The school does not meet all the requirements for this part.

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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

Proprietor Esha’atul Islam Board of Trustees

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School details

Email address info@londonislamicschool.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 8 to 10 February 2022

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Information about this school

 This is an Islamic secondary school for boys. The school is registered for up to 150 pupils, aged 11 to 16.  The school is located on the first and second floors of the Esha’atul Islam Mosque in Whitechapel.  The school had its last standard inspection in February 2022 when it was judged to require improvement and some of the independent school standards were not met.  Leaders do not use any alternative provision.  Pupils study a secular curriculum in the morning of each school day. Islamic studies are taught in the afternoon.

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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.  Since the school’s first standard inspection in February 2022, leaders were asked to submit an action plan. Ofsted judged the school’s action plan to be not acceptable on 16 August 2022 and the Department for Education (DfE) rejected the school’s action plan. The DfE requested that this first progress monitoring inspection consider whether particular independent school standards contained within parts 1 and 8 are now met.  The inspector met with school leaders, including the chair of the governing body representing the proprietor. The inspector also held meetings with pupils and staff.  The inspector looked at a wide range of school documents, including curriculum plans for

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Information about this inspection

PSHE and RSE, staff training plans and documentation relating to planned changes to the school’s secular curriculum.  The inspector considered the work of leaders to safeguard pupils. They looked at documents relating to safeguarding procedures and the single central record to check compliance and met with safeguarding leaders.  The inspection was conducted without notice.

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Inspection team

Annabel Davies, 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

 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 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 1. Quality of education provided

 2(A) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor–

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(A)(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education in maintained schools

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(A)(1)(e) makes and keeps up to date a separate written statement of its policy with regard to the provision of education as required by each of paragraphs (a) and (b)

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2A(1)(f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e), and

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2A(1)(g) publishes a copy of the statement on a website and provides a copy of the statement free of charge to anyone who asks for one. 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 1. Quality of education provided

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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