Al-Khair School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Al-Khair School 109–117 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon CR0 6BE

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the time of the emergency school inspection in May 2022, inspectors identified concerns about the school’s safeguarding arrangements. The recording of actions taken in the light of safeguarding concerns was not thorough enough. There were systemic weaknesses in how well the proprietor and governors communicate with and check the work of leaders with responsibility for safeguarding.  This inspection has identified continuing significant weaknesses in safeguarding. New leadership and management arrangements are in place for safeguarding. These appointments took place in late August 2022. The handover of safeguarding information to new leaders was poor.  Leaders with direct responsibility for safeguarding do not have enough time to fulfil the role effectively. They have not had sufficient training and ongoing support to understand

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Main inspection findings

their role and how to manage child protection concerns. Leaders’ systems for managing safeguarding concerns are not robust. Record-keeping is still not thorough enough.  The school’s safeguarding policy contains several errors. It does not meet statutory requirements.  The requirements of the independent school standards in this paragraph continue not to be met. Paragraph 11  At the time of the emergency school inspection, the school’s health and safety policy was not implemented well. There were unlocked cupboards containing chemicals that were accessible to pupils.  Leaders have successfully tackled the concerns raised at the emergency inspection. They have had a range of training on health and safety. They have overhauled their health and safety processes. There are now regular checks of the whole school building. All chemicals are stored securely. The building is well maintained.  The independent school standards in this paragraph are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1), 23(1)(c)  The emergency inspection found that the shower facilities were not available for pupils to use as they were being used as a storeroom for physical education equipment. Some of the shower cubicles had been converted into storerooms for cleaning products.  Leaders have now ensured that the shower and changing facilities are available for the sole use of pupils. There are daily checks in place to ensure that the shower area is kept clean, tidy and well maintained.  The independent school standards in this paragraph are now met. Paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(b), 28(1), 28(1)(d)  At the time of the emergency inspection, the medical room washing facility had no hot- water supply and no soap.  Leaders have installed thermostatic valve regulators in all handwashing facilities. These ensure that there is a regulated supply of hot water. There are now suitable facilities for

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Main inspection findings

users of the medical room to wash and dry their hands.  The independent school standards in these paragraphs are now met. Paragraph 25  The emergency inspection found that leaders did not pay enough attention to detail in ensuring that the building is cleaned thoroughly, including the pupils’ toilets and showers.  Leaders have a comprehensive system in place to ensure that the day-to-day management of the health and safety of the premises is secure. Cleaning staff are now directly managed by leaders. There is a system of cleaning checklists in place that are completed daily. Leaders walk around the school regularly to ensure that the building is kept safe, clean and tidy.  The independent school standard in this paragraph is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  While the safeguarding policy does not incorporate the most recent government guidance, leaders ensure that it is available to parents and carers on the school’s website.  This requirement continues to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The emergency inspection identified complex weaknesses in leadership, management and governance. There was a lack of communication between members of the governing body, the proprietor and senior leaders. Leaders had failed to meet the independent school standards in relation to safeguarding, health and safety, and premises. Leaders were not sufficiently familiar with the independent school standards in relation to premises and accommodation.  Leaders have had a range of training to make sure they understand the independent school standards in relation to the premises. The previous weaknesses, for example in relation to health and safety and the medical room, have been remedied. The member of the interim executive board overseeing health and safety visits the school and checks that the standards are being met.

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Main inspection findings

 There are still significant weaknesses in the school’s safeguarding arrangements. The proprietor has established an interim executive board to replace the previous governing body. Their work is still at an early stage of development. There has been insufficient scrutiny and checking of how well the school’s safeguarding arrangements are working. The proprietor has not had recent training on safeguarding. Leaders have not ensured that those leading and managing safeguarding have enough time and ongoing support to manage their roles in line with statutory requirements. The new system leaders are using to record and monitor safeguarding cases is not yet fit for purpose.  There are still unmet independent school standards.  The requirements of the independent school standards in this paragraph continue not to 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

Type of school Islamic secondary day school for boys

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 5 to 7 October 2021

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Information about this school

 Al-Khair School is an Islamic independent day school for boys aged 11 to 16.  The interim headteacher took up their post in September 2022.  The school shares a building with Al-Khair Secondary Girls School. The boys’ school is on the ground floor and the girls’ school is on the first floor. The schools have the same proprietor. They share facilities, such as the sports hall. They also share members of staff who teach in both schools.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.  The school’s most recent inspection was an emergency inspection that took place on 19 May 2022. This found several independent school standards not to be met.  The school’s previous standard inspection was in October 2021, when its overall effectiveness was judged to be good.

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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 progress monitoring inspection since the school had an emergency inspection on 19 May 2022. The emergency inspection identified several standards that were not met.  As a result of unmet standards at the emergency inspection, the Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. This action plan was evaluated by Ofsted on 23 August 2022. The DfE accepted the school’s action plan on 9 September 2022.  The inspection was conducted in parallel with an inspection of Al-Khair Secondary Girls School, which shares the same site.  The inspection was conducted without notice.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector met with the interim headteacher, senior leaders, the proprietor and a member of the interim executive board. He also met with a group of pupils and a group of staff.  The inspector also spoke by telephone with the local authority’s designated officer for safeguarding.  The inspector toured the premises and reviewed key documentation, including documents related to safeguarding, health and safety and risk assessment.

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Inspection team

Sam Hainey, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 23(1)(c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.  24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including– – 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short-term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility.  25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.  28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users.

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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 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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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

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 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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