Rida Girls High School

School material change inspection report

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Rida Girls High School 39 Warren Street, Savile Town, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 9LX

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The systems for recording and reporting safeguarding concerns are thorough. Leaders with responsibility for safeguarding pay regard to statutory guidance.  Pupils told inspectors that they feel safe at the school and that they know which adults they can speak to if they have any concerns.  The number of staff with responsibility for safeguarding has increased recently to ensure that any safeguarding concerns can be dealt with quickly.  The standards in this paragraph are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Paragraph 11, 12, 14, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The school site is well maintained. Leaders have appropriate policies relating to health and safety and carry out daily checks to ensure that the site is suitable for pupils.  Fire safety equipment is regularly maintained and checked by external fire safety

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Main inspection findings

officers. Leaders keep records of these checks. Fire alarms and emergency lighting are also regularly checked. Fire extinguishers are available around the school. Fire escapes and routes are clear and easy to access.  Leaders ensure that pupils are well supervised, for example when they visit local sports facilities for physical education lessons. In school, pupils told inspectors that there are always staff available to help them.  Leaders understand the need to be aware of potential risks to pupils. They take action to minimise risk and draw up risk assessment plans to ensure that proper procedures are followed. For example, leaders consider the risks surrounding school trips prior to any visits taking place.  The standards in these paragraphs are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 17, 18(1) to 18(2)(d), 18(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(c), 21

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Main inspection findings

 During the last standard inspection in May 2022, inspectors found that standards connected to part 4 of the independent school standards were met. This was still the case during a progress monitoring inspection that took place in May 2023.  During this inspection, it remained the case that leaders make careful checks on the suitability of staff that they employ at the school. The single central record is well maintained. Leaders ensure that checks are carried out prior to staff beginning employment with them.  Governors have access to the safeguarding systems in the school and ensure that they have oversight of how leaders ensure the safety of pupils.  It is likely that the standards in part 4 will continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22 to 29  During the standard inspection of June 2022, when the material change proposed

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Main inspection findings

here was last considered, inspectors found that the outdoor space provided was insufficient for the number of pupils proposed, should the change be implemented.  Since that inspection, leaders have gained the use of another outdoor space a very short walk from the main school site. When pupils access this space, for example at social times, they are accompanied and supervised by staff from the school.  Leaders also have plans to split lunchtimes and breaktimes so that the space available in the main school building will be used by fewer pupils at any one time.  There is sufficient space in the current school buildings to accommodate the proposed number of pupils. The number of pupils in individuals classes is low. The rooms in the school that are proposed to become classrooms are of suitable size.  The standards in part 5 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 6. Provision of information

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 32(1)(c)  This paragraph relates to the provision of information about arrangements to keep pupils safe. This information is available on the school website. It outlines the approach that the school takes to keep pupils safe. Leaders ensure that these policies are enacted in the school.  This standard is likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietors and leaders are aware of the strategic approach that is needed in response to a change to the number of pupils on roll. They have plans in place to adapt timetables and convert rooms into classrooms.  Leaders take account of the space available in the school and consider how best to manage this to ensure that they can continue to support pupils if the numbers increase. The addition of outdoor space ensures that pupils have ample space in

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Main inspection findings

which to socialise.  Changes made in response to findings from the previous standard inspection have created more capacity around safeguarding. These staffing structures are now well embedded. This provides assurance that leaders will be able to handle any potential increases in the numbers of pupils on roll.  These standards are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders are aware of the need to ensure that the site is accessible to pupils. For example, a lift ensures that any pupils with mobility issues can access all areas of the building. The short journey to the new outdoors space is along flat walkways.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Chair Yasir Patel (also known as Yasir Master)

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14 to 16 June 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 11 to 16 11 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 120 154 154

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 120 154

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 8 8

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this school

 This is a secondary school for girls with an Islamic ethos.  The school is situated in the Zakaria Education Centre. Pupils attend a local sports and recreational centre for physical education lessons.  The school’s previous standard inspection was in June 2022. At that time, a material change inspection was carried out regarding a change to the age range and number of pupils admitted. The school was found to be unlikely to meet the standards to grant this change due to insufficient outdoor space. There were also some independent school standards which the school did not meet at that time. A subsequent progress monitoring inspection was carried out in May 2023. That inspection found that all standards were now met.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  No pupils in the school have education, health and care plans.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  The inspection was carried out at the request of the Department for Education (DfE), the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to determine whether the school would meet the independent school standards if the number of registered pupils was increased from 120 to 154.  The inspector met with the headteacher and proprietor. He had a tour of the premises, including the new outdoor space. The inspector also reviewed documents relating to the standards that the DfE requested to be checked.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector reviewed the single central record, took account of the views of leaders and pupils and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector met with a group of pupils to talk about their experiences of the school, including safeguarding.

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Inspection team

Matthew Vellensworth, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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