North Road Academy

School progress monitoring inspection report

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North Road Academy North Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST6 2BP

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b)  The school has fostered a positive safeguarding culture where pupils’ well-being is promoted. Adults understand safeguarding risks in the school’s local area and work hard to protect pupils from potential harm. Leaders make safeguarding everyone’s responsibility and staff are alert to any signs that pupils may need help. Staff in the early years are clear about their role in promoting the early years welfare arrangements. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) works well with external agencies to protect and support pupils when necessary. All this means that pupils feel safe at school.  Leaders make the necessary checks on the suitability of adults before allowing them to work at the school.  The safeguarding policy is made available on the school’s website. However, the policy does not reflect all of the guidance issued by the Secretary of State. It does not ensure

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Main inspection findings

that sufficient lines of accountability are in place to maintain robust oversight of safeguarding procedures. This is because the DSL and deputy DSL are the proprietors of the school. This means that safeguarding roles are not able to be discharged with sufficient independence.  These standards are not met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  Leaders have ensured that the safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website.  This standard remains met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  Leaders have worked diligently to embed the improvements in the quality of education that were noted at the time of the previous monitoring inspection. They have implemented successfully the school’s improvement action plan and continue to monitor its impact on pupils’ education. This means that the school is able to demonstrate that part 1 of the independent school standards (the standards) is met more consistently

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Main inspection findings

over time.  The school has welcomed external support from educational consultants. This support has helped to develop the expertise of subject leaders. In turn, these subject leaders have provided training and development opportunities for staff. This has boosted staff’s expertise and confidence in teaching the curriculum.  Despite improvements in the quality of education provided by the school, some of the standards in part 3 are unmet. The school cannot demonstrate that all of the independent school standards are met consistently.  These standards remain unmet. Paragraph 34(1)(c)  The school has not ensured that the DSL discharges duties with sufficient independence. The DSL is also a proprietor of the school. This leadership structure does not ensure that the well-being of pupils is promoted as robustly as it might be. The school has not ensured that the safeguarding policy reflects all of the guidance of the Secretary of

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Main inspection findings

State.  This standard is not met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders ensure that the school meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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

Proprietor Naeem Bashir and Imran Siddique

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School details

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

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School details

Email address Naeem.bashir@northroadacademy.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 28 February to 2 March 2023

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Information about this school

 North Road Academy is an independent day school with a Muslim ethos.  The school operates with a proprietor body that consists of two directors.  There is a separate nursery on site that is managed by the same proprietor.  The school does not use alternative provision.  The most recent standard inspection took place in March 2023.

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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.  After the previous inspection, the Department for Education required the school to prepare an action plan. This action plan was judged to be acceptable on 15 December 2023.  The inspector held discussions with the school’s two proprietors, who are also the head teacher and DSL. These discussions focused on the progress made against the previously unmet independent school standards and the arrangements for safeguarding.  The inspector spoke to some subject leaders and a group of staff who teach the curriculum. He considered subject leaders’ approach to monitoring the curriculum and reviewed a sample of pupils’ work.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector reviewed the single central record of checks made about the suitability of adults. He also looked at a range of other documents, including the school’s safeguarding policy and a sample of safeguarding records.  This inspection was conducted without notice.

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Inspection team

Jonathan Leonard, 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 un-met 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; and

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be 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)(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

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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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