Al-Khair Secondary Girls

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b) and 34(1), 34(1)(c)  At the time of the progress monitoring inspection in December 2022, there were serious weaknesses in the school’s safeguarding arrangements. The proprietor had appointed new leaders with responsibility for safeguarding. They had not received sufficient training to carry out their roles effectively. Safeguarding leaders did not have enough time to respond to and manage safeguarding concerns in the school. As a result, concerns about pupils’ welfare were not followed up quickly enough. In addition, the school’s safeguarding policy contained errors and did not meet statutory requirements.  Since the previous inspection, safeguarding leaders have had appropriate training. They now have enough time to respond to and manage safeguarding cases in the school. Safeguarding leaders have a secure understanding of how to record and follow up

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Main inspection findings

referrals. They work effectively with external agencies to safeguard pupils. Leaders have ensured that all staff have been trained in the latest statutory safeguarding guidance. Staff receive regular safeguarding updates. They know how to recognise the signs that a pupil might be at risk. They report any concerns quickly. The school’s safeguarding policy complies with the most recent statutory guidance.  The independent school standards (the standards) in these paragraphs are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  The previous inspection found that the proprietor’s work to replace the previous governing body was at an early stage. There had been insufficient scrutiny of how well the school’s safeguarding arrangements were working. The proprietor, who was also fulfilling the role of interim chair of governors, had not had recent training on safeguarding. Leaders had not ensured that those leading and managing safeguarding had sufficient time and ongoing support to manage their roles in line with statutory requirements. This inspection found that the current headteacher, who took up post at the beginning of September 2023, is supported by a new chair of governors. Leaders have ambitious plans for the school.  Leaders have made positive operational changes already. However, despite this inspection’s positive findings, it is too early to judge whether the school’s new leaders

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Main inspection findings

will ensure that the standards are met securely and consistently over time.  The requirements of the standards in these paragraphs remain unmet.

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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 Secondary day school for girls

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 28 to 30 January 2020

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Information about this school

 Al-Khair Secondary Girls is an Islamic, independent day school for girls aged 11 to 16.  The new headteacher took up post in September 2023.  The school shares a building with Al-Khair School, a secondary school for boys. The girls’ school is on the first floor and the boys’ school is on the ground floor. The schools have the same sole proprietor. They share facilities, such as the sports hall. They also share members of staff who teach in both schools.  Leaders do not make use of any alternative provision.  The school’s most recent inspection was a progress monitoring inspection that took place in December 2022. The school’s previous standard inspection was in January 2020.

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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 second consecutive progress monitoring inspection since an emergency inspection was carried out in May 2022. As a result of unmet standards found at the time of the progress monitoring inspection in December 2022, the Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. This action plan was evaluated by Ofsted in March 2023. It was judged to be not acceptable and the DfE subsequently rejected it. This progress monitoring inspection was carried out without notice and in parallel with an inspection of Al-Khair School, which is a boys’ school.  The inspector met with the headteacher, senior leaders and the chair of governors and

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Information about this inspection

toured the premises. The inspector reviewed a range of evidence to check compliance with the independent school standards relating to safeguarding. The inspector spoke to the proprietor on the telephone. The inspector also met with groups of pupils and a group of staff.

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Inspection team

Lisa Strong, 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 unmet at this inspection

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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.

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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)(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

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 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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