Abu Bakr Al-Ihsaan Academy

Abu Bakr Girls School 154-160 Wednesbury Road, Palfrey, Walsall, West Midlands WS1 4JJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1)(a), 2(2)(b) and 2(2)(h)  The school prioritises the teaching of reading. Teachers follow a whole-school approach when teaching reading. Pupils apply their phonics knowledge to segment and blend unknown words and check for understanding of new words.  Leaders have ensured that the schemes of work in each subject are carefully sequenced and build on what pupils have learned before.  Staff are supported with access to teaching resources to support planning and assessment.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part are met. Paragraphs 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(f), 3(g) and 4  Teachers have good subject knowledge. They take account of pupils’ previous learning and different abilities when planning lessons and activities.  Teachers regularly make reference to prior learning and encourage pupils to reflect. For example, in a Year 10 English lesson, pupils reflected on Dicken’s choice of

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Main inspection findings

language on the deaths of Tiny Tim and Scrooge.  Pupils take pride in their work. They have access to teaching resources and books to record their answers in. Pupils reflect on marking and feedback to identify what else they need to do to improve their work. Pupils display a motivation to learn and improve.  Classrooms are resourced with textbooks and workbooks. Across all lessons seen during the inspection, pupils had access to appropriate resources.  The standards in this part are met. Paragraph 3(j)  The school is registered as one mixed school from 4 to 16 but it is operating a separate school for girls aged 11 to 16 on the site which is known as Al Ihsaan Academy Secondary School. Leaders are acting in the belief that their registration agreement with the Department for Education (DfE) allows them to admit both boys and girls to the four to 11 provision and only girls to the 11 to 16 provision. However,

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Main inspection findings

the school is registered as a mixed school from ages four to 16. As the school does not allow boys to be admitted to the 11 to 16 provision, they are acting in breach of their registration and are separating pupils by sex, which amounts to unlawful discrimination.  The separation by sex amounts to a detriment to the girls in the 11 to 16 provision, as they do not have an opportunity to interact with pupils of the opposite sex during the school day.  Leaders told us that they are taking steps to address this by applying for a separate unique reference number for the 11 to 16 provision.  This standard is not met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(a), 5(b), 5(b)(i), 5(b)(ii), 5(b)(iii), 5(b)(iv), 5(b)(v), 5(b)(vi), 5(b)(vii), 5(c), 5(d), 5(d)(i), 5(d)(ii) and 5(d)(iii)  Leaders have planned a curriculum that promotes pupils’ understanding of life in modern Britain. Pupils access regular personal, social and health education lessons for

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Main inspection findings

the younger pupils and citizenship lessons for the older pupils. These lessons teach pupils about values such as democracy and the rule of law.  Pupils have opportunities to learn about different faiths and religions. They also discuss and understand different types of families and relationships. The school promotes learning about other cultures, and pupils show respect when talking about their learning. The school offers a wide range of hands-on learning experiences to teach pupils about the curriculum, how to keep themselves safe and about the lives of others.  The standards in this part are met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7(a) and 7(b)  The child protection and safeguarding policy takes account of the most recent government guidance and is available on the school’s website.  Leaders have completed suitable training in relation to their safeguarding roles. They are aware of their duties and the importance of establishing and maintaining a strong

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding culture.  The standards in this part are met. Paragraph 11  The health and safety policy is comprehensive and regularly reviewed. Leaders carry out regular checks to ensure that the policy is being implemented effectively.  This standard is met. Paragraph 15  Leaders ensure that admissions and attendance registers are maintained. These records include the necessary information. However, leaders do not admit boys to the 11 to 16 provision despite their mixed registration status.  This standard is not met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(1), 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e) and 18(3)  The single central record contains the full range of pre-employment checks. It is stored centrally in an electronic format.  The school has appropriate recruitment procedures in place. This includes obtaining

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Main inspection findings

two references and carrying out a medical check prior to appointment.  The standards in this part are met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c) and 25  Across the school, there are a number of toilets for pupils to use. For pupils based in the portacabins, this involves a walk across the school site.  A new shower and changing facility has recently been built for the older pupils, with three showers and five toilets.  The premises are generally maintained to a good standard.  The standards in this part are met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 32(1)(g) and 32(3)(a)  Leaders ensured that all information requested in connection with the inspection was provided in a timely manner. Inspectors were also given access to the school’s admission and attendance registers.  The standards in this part are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  Leaders have ensured that the majority of standards that were checked during this inspection were met. These include quality of education; welfare, health and safety; and premises and accommodation. However, boys are not admitted to the 11 to 16 provision which is in breach of the school’s registration status and constitutes separation by sex. This has led to unmet standards.  The standards in this part are not met. Paragraph 34(1)(c)  Leaders have carefully planned the curriculum to ensure that they actively promote the well-being of pupils.  This standard is 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. 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 All-through Islamic day school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £4,000 to £4,300

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School details

Website www.abubakrgirlschool.org www.abubakrprimaryschool.org Email address info@abubakrschool.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 8 to 10 March 2022

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Information about this school

 In August and September 2023, the 11 to 16 provision relocated to the Wednesbury site where the primary school is located.  At the start of the current academic year, the number of pupils attending the school has significantly reduced to half the previous number.  The school is part of the Abu Bakr Trust.  The school does not comply with its registration agreement as it is recorded on DfE’s Get Information about Schools website (GIAS). The school has recently changed its name to Abu Bakr Al-Ihsaan Academy, but at the time of the inspection, this had not been recorded on GIAS.  The school operates a policy of separation by sex, as they do not admit boys into the 11 to 16 provision. This amounts to a detriment as the girls do not have an opportunity to interact with pupils of the opposite sex during the school day.  The school has an Islamic ethos.  The school’s last standard inspection was on 8 to 10 March 2022.

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Information about this school

 The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was carried out at the request of the DfE, the registration authority for independent schools. This inspection was commissioned following a complaint received by the DfE about the school. The purpose of the inspection was to check leaders’ compliance with a number of standards and other requirements in respect of the quality of education; welfare, health and safety; premises and accommodation; and leadership and management.  This was the first emergency inspection since the standard inspection in March 2022. It was conducted without notice.  The inspectors met with the executive headteacher, a school adviser and staff. An inspector spoke to the proprietor on the phone. They reviewed the curriculum policy, plans and schemes of work. An inspector visited a range of lessons across the primary and secondary schools.  The inspectors spoke with pupils about their experience of school and about

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Information about this inspection

safeguarding matters. The inspectors also spoke with teaching staff.  The inspectors examined a range of documents, including the safeguarding policy.  An inspector conducted a tour of the premises.

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Inspection team

Emma Gater, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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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- – 3(j) does not discriminate against pupils contrary to Part 6 of the 2010 Act[10].

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006[13].

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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 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

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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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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