Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya

School and boarding progress monitoring inspection report

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Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya Holcombe Hall, Holcombe Old Road, Holcombe, Nr. Bury, Greater Manchester BL8 4NG

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), Paragraph 8, 8(a), 8(b), Paragraph 32, 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The proprietor body has paid attention to the most current statutory guidance for safeguarding pupils and students. A suitable and up-to-date safeguarding policy is in place. This policy is made available to parents and carers on request.  Leaders have all the necessary arrangements in place to keep pupils and students safe, and to promote their welfare at the school. Pupils and students said that they know what to do if they have any worries or concerns. They trust staff to listen to them and take any actions needed.  There is a designated safeguarding leader (DSL). The DSL works with external partners to ensure that pupils, students and their families access the help and support they need.  All staff receive appropriate induction training, safeguarding training and regular updates

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Main inspection findings

on areas such as mental health and online safety.  All the independent school standards (the standards) in this part which were checked continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18, 18(2)(f), Paragraph 19, 19(2)(e)  The proprietor body carries out checks on those staff who care for, train, supervise or are in charge of boarders. This is so that standard 19 of the national minimum standards for boarding schools is complied with. The proprietor body does not make use of supply staff.  All the standards in this part which were checked continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 30  At the time of the previous inspection, inspectors found that the proprietor body had not had regard to three of the national minimum standards in the national minimum standards for boarding schools. Leaders have taken the necessary actions to ensure that the school now meets these standards.  The school now meets this previously unmet standard.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 32(1)(e), 34(1)–34(1)(c)  Leaders show a good knowledge and understanding of the independent school and national minimum standards for boarding schools. They fulfil their responsibilities to ensure that the relevant standards and requirements are met consistently. This includes ensuring that following an inspection under section 87(1) of the 1989 Act, a copy of the report of the inspection is provided to the parents of each boarder.  Leaders have ensured that pupils’ and students’ welfare, including that of boarders, is secured. Leaders have a range of appropriate policies and procedures in place to ensure the welfare of pupils. They ensure that policies and procedures are implemented as intended by staff.  The school now meets this previously unmet standard.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school’s accessibility plan fully reflects the school’s statutory responsibilities.  This requirement continues to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Boarding provision The overall experience and progress of children Standard 3.1  At the time of the previous inspection, inspectors found that leaders did not consistently follow their own policies and procedures for the care of boarders who were unwell. Nor did they follow their policies and procedures to promote the physical and mental health, and the emotional well-being of boarders.  Leaders have ensured that suitable health and care plans are in place which reflect the information provided by a general practitioner. Leaders and staff have a detailed understanding of individual boarders’ medical needs. They take appropriate action to make sure that boarders’ ongoing and emerging health needs are met.  The school now meets this previously unmet national minimum standard. Standard 5.4  Leaders have taken urgent action to improve the quality of the sleeping accommodation for boarders. At the previous inspection, some bathrooms were cold and dirty, a minority

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Main inspection findings

of door closers did not work effectively, and window closers were missing in three bedrooms.  Leaders have improved the washing facilities used by boarders. They have installed new radiators that provide sufficient heating for the bathrooms. They have refurbished those shower cubicles that were not fit for purpose. Leaders have ensured that the boarding accommodation, which includes the bedrooms, is clean and well maintained.  All door and window closers now work effectively. Closers are installed on every bedroom window that opens.  Boarders are benefiting from leaders’ ongoing refurbishment programme, which has already improved many of the facilities. For example, some bedrooms have new carpets, and corridors have been freshly painted.  Leaders’ suitable programme of ongoing maintenance ensures that any repairs that are required are completed in a timely manner.  The school now meets this previously unmet standard.

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Main inspection findings

Standard 13.4  At the previous inspection, leaders had failed to monitor the quality of the boarding accommodation effectively. They had not ensured good repair and cleanliness for all bedrooms and bathrooms.  Leaders have established clear lines of accountability so that all leaders and staff know their individual responsibilities and carry these out well. Leaders have improved their monitoring systems so that they have effective oversight of the quality of the boarding provision. This enables the proprietor body to hold individuals to account for the quality of the boarding provision.  The school now meets this previously unmet standard.

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Main inspection findings

The national minimum standards that were assessed during this inspection Standard 3.1 Standard 5.4 Standard 13.4

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standards for boarding schools

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 ('the independent school standards'), the national minimum standards for boarding schools 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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 22. The standards about the premises of and accommodation at the school are those contained in this Part.  30. The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that, where the school provides accommodation, regard is had to Standard 5 of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or, where applicable, Standard 5 of the National Minimum Standards for Residential Special 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— (a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; (b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and (c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) “well-being” means well-being within the

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

meaning of section 10(2) of the Children Act 20045.

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schools

 The school has, and implements effectively, appropriate policies for the care of boarders who are unwell and ensures that the physical and mental health, and emotional well- being of boarders is promoted. These include first aid, care of those with chronic conditions and disabilities, dealing with medical emergencies and the use of household remedies (NMS 3.1).  Boarding houses and other accommodation provided for boarders is appropriately lit, heated and ventilated, cleaned and maintained, and reasonable adjustments are made to provide adequate accessible accommodation for any boarders with restricted mobility (NMS 5.4).  The school’s leadership and management consistently fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the standards are met (NMS 13.4).

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School details

Social care unique reference number SC008476

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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. The inspection of boarding provision was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for boarding schools.

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School details

School status Independent boarding school

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 95

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School details

Proprietor Board of trustees, Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya Chair Naushad Abdul Aziz

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 25 to 27 January 2022

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Information about this school

 The school’s previous standard inspection was from 25 to 27 January 2022.  The school was inspected under the social care common inspection framework from 25 to 27 January 2022.  There are currently 202 boarders at the school. The boarders are housed in accommodation on the same site as the school.  The school is operating beyond its registration agreement with the Department of Education (DfE) (as it is recorded on ‘Get information about schools’). The previous proprietor, Hassimbhai Patel, has been replaced with a proprietor body, Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya. This proprietor body is a registered charity. This charity is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The charity number is 506980. One of the four trustees, Naushad Abdul Aziz, is the chair of the proprietor body. The school informed the DfE of this change in December 2020.  Two co-headteachers, Mutiullah Khan and Ahmed Hans, are in post. These co-

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Information about this school

headteachers were in post at the time of the previous standard inspection. Mutiullah Khan is named as the headteacher on ‘Get information about schools’. Ahmed Hans is not recorded as the co-headteacher on ‘Get information about schools’. The school has informed the DfE of the appointment of these co-headteachers.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the DfE, the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress that 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.  The DfE had required the school to prepare an action plan following the previous inspection. This plan was a statutory requirement. This action plan was approved by the DfE on 23 August 2022.  This inspection was an integrated inspection of the school and the boarding provision.  This inspection was conducted without notice.  The school inspector liaised closely with the social care inspectors. The social care inspectors monitored the progress that the school has made in meeting the previously unmet national minimum standards for boarding schools.  The inspectors met with the chair of the proprietor body, the acting co-headteacher and

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Information about this inspection

senior leaders. The inspectors completed tours of both the school and the boarding premises and accommodation. They reviewed a wide range of documents, including documents relating to safeguarding, and matters of health and safety. The inspectors spoke with pupils and students.

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Inspection team

Pippa Jackson Maitland, lead inspector Michelle Bacon, lead inspector Paul Scott, team inspector Louise Redfern, team inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Social Care Compliance Inspector Social Care Regulatory Inspector Regulatory Inspection Manager 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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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