Darul Uloom London School

School and boarding material change report

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Darul Uloom London School Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, BR7 6SD

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provision is implemented

Boarding provision outcome The school is unlikely to meet the relevant

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 8 (a) and 8(b)  The school has an up-to-date safeguarding policy that includes the most recent changes to the government’s statutory guidance. Parents and carers can access this policy via the school’s website.  Leaders and school staff receive the training needed to keep pupils safe. Staff receive training at the start of the school year. Leaders provide staff with safeguarding updates during weekly staff meetings.  Staff know how to report any concerns they may have about a pupil’s welfare. Staff know who the designated safeguarding leaders are and they seek advice quickly if they have any concerns. Staff complete concern forms and these are recorded and stored by leaders. Leaders work closely with outside agencies to ensure that pupils receive the support they need.  Pupils are taught to keep themselves safe physically and online. Pupils said they feel

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Main inspection findings

safe in school and they know who to speak to if they have any concerns. Pupils trust staff to resolve any issues that may arise.  However, systems and procedures to deal with allegations made about staff are not always followed as rigorously as they should be and as described in the school’s safeguarding policy. Leaders have not ensured that all agreed measures are fully implemented to protect both pupils and staff at all times.  The independent school standards in these paragraphs are not likely to be met if the material change is approved. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14 and 16  The school has suitable health and safety policies in place. Detailed records are kept of any actions that are taken as a result of issues identified on the premises. Leaders keep records of any accidents that occur at the school and the action that was taken. Leaders have identified potential risks to pupils and staff and have a risk assessment

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Main inspection findings

policy. Leaders also identify potential risks and put procedures in place to mitigate these risks. This includes risk assessments for educational visits.  The school makes sure that it complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. An annual fire safety check is carried out and leaders implement swiftly any recommendations arising from the subsequent report. There are regular checks of fire safety equipment, including alarms, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Fire evacuation drills are practised half termly.  The school has daily duty rotas to ensure there is adequate supervision of pupils outside of lessons. This includes indoor and outdoor areas and the dining hall. There are sufficient numbers of staff to supervise pupils at these times. If the school were to expand, leaders plan to increase the number of staff on duty using the new staff who will be appointed as part of the expansion programme.

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Main inspection findings

 The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  Leaders understand the importance of safe recruitment of staff. Leaders make sure that checks for new staff are carried out in accordance with statutory guidance.  The school’s singe central record of pre-employment checks accurately records all the required checks on leaders, staff and the board of trustees.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The school premises were purpose built over twenty years ago. There are 23 classrooms and they are well proportioned and well lit. There is a well-equipped science laboratory within the school building. The generous accommodation currently allows for small teaching groups for Islamic Studies. There is sufficient space to

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Main inspection findings

accommodate the additional 70 pupils proposed by leaders.  The school’s educational premises’ acoustics, toilet, washing and medical facilities are all likely to be compliant with the independent school standards. Water supplies are safely regulated and there is suitable, labelled drinking water. There is plenty of outdoor space for recreation and physical education, and these are suitable for the proposed increase in pupil numbers.  The proprietor has not ensured that the relevant National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools are met and therefore the school is not likely to meet the relevant paragraph in this part.  The independent school standards in this part are not likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  Generally, leaders demonstrate secure knowledge and skills in relation to meeting the

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Main inspection findings

independent school standards They have systems in place to check whether the school is meeting these standards.  However, when dealing with allegations made against staff, leaders do not follow the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy regarding the supervision of adults. This potentially puts both pupils and staff at risk from harm or further allegations. The independent school standards in these paragraphs are not likely to be met if the material change is approved. Boarding provision The national minimum standards that were assessed during this inspection Standard 2  Leaders showed evidence of oversight of the boarding provision and are appropriately experienced for their roles. However, shortfalls in the quality and safety of the boarding accommodation indicate that insufficient action is taken to address shortfalls.  Leaders and those with responsibility for safeguarding are aware of day-to-day

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding arrangements. However, when dealing with allegations made against staff, leaders have not ensured that supervision of adults is rigorous and follows the guidance set out in the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy.  The national minimum standards standard is not likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 4  The school has a large area of boarding accommodation, large parts of which are not currently in use and have not been used for many years. It will take considerable time and resources to bring these areas up to a good standard and is not ready for use. Leaders are aware of how much work is needed to ensure the standard of boarding accommodation at the school is good.  Pupils have bedroom furniture that meets their basic needs. However, a considerable amount of this furniture is poorly maintained. For example, several wardrobe doors were missing and many cupboard doors were scratched or had graffiti on them. There

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Main inspection findings

is also graffiti on many walls in the bedrooms, some of which appears to be several years old. Window curtains are poorly maintained in some pupils’ rooms, hanging by only one or two hooks.  Inspectors noted that some windows were broken or cracked. Leaders told inspectors that they are aware of these but were not sure how long they had been broken and had not had them replaced. In addition to these maintenance concerns, there were large cobwebs in places and in some rooms, there was a considerable build-up of dust. Pupils’ bedroom doors were scratched or had paint peeling off them. These issues do not reflect an environment that is of an acceptable standard for pupils to live in.  Leaders have not ensured that bathrooms and washing facilities for pupils in the boarding accommodation are kept to a good standard. Leaders’ oversight of the maintenance and cleaning of the boarding washing facilities has not identified and

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Main inspection findings

addressed issues such as a lack of shower curtains, black mould on sealant around showers and baths, a broken mirror, and areas where walls appeared to be crumbling and dirty. In addition, some bathroom and other external walls showed signs of damp. As a result, pupils do not all have sanitary areas to wash, and the condition of some areas poses a risk to pupils’ wellbeing.  Leaders have not ensured that all pupils are safe in their rooms. In a small number of rooms there were broken electricity sockets and holes in walls next to light switches.  The national minimum standards standard is not likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 5  Leaders have made sure that pupils can store their possessions securely while staying at the school. Pupils informed inspectors that they are confident their possessions are safe and they can also ask staff to keep them safely for them if needed. Leaders also

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Main inspection findings

ensure that pupils have access to laundry facilities, and there is sufficient room to increase the laundry facilities if needed.  The national minimum standards standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 6  Pupils take a variety of meals at the school, which they told inspectors they enjoy. The school has large dining hall, and leaders can extend a partition wall to make this area bigger if needed.  The national minimum standards standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 7  Staff attend to pupils’ health needs appropriately. There is a clear process for the administration of medication. There is an area within the school’s boarding provision specifically set aside for use when pupils are unwell. This area has the potential to be expanded if needed. This indicates that leaders have planned to deal with any medical issues that may occur at the school.

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Main inspection findings

 Staff have appropriate training so that they can administer emergency medication if needed. For example, staff are trained to use epi-pens. The school’s leaders ensure that a daily audit of medication is completed. As a result of staff vigilance, there have been no reported medication errors for some time.  The national minimum standards standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 8  The school has an up-to-date safeguarding policy that includes the most recent changes to the government’s statutory guidance. Parents, carers and staff can access this policy via the school’s website.  Leaders and school staff receive the training needed to keep pupils safe. Staff receive training at the start of the school year. Leaders provide staff with safeguarding updates during weekly staff meetings.  Staff know how to report any concerns they may have about a pupil’s welfare. Staff

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Main inspection findings

know which staff have designated safeguarding leadership roles and they seek advice quickly if they have any concerns. Staff complete concern forms and these are recorded and stored by leaders. Leaders work closely with outside agencies to ensure that pupils receive the support they need.  Pupils are taught to keep themselves safe physically and online. Pupils said they feel safe in school and they know who to speak to if they have any concerns. Pupils trust staff to resolve any issues that may arise.  Systems and procedures to deal with allegations made about staff are not always followed as rigorously as they should be and as described in the school’s safeguarding policy. In addition, although leaders have completed risk assessments following allegations about staff, but these are not adhered to. Leaders are also not clear about concerns that need to be shared with the local Designated Officer and those that relate

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Main inspection findings

to potential child-on-child abuse. This confusion leaves staff and pupils vulnerable. Leaders have not ensured that all agreed measures to protect pupils and staff are fully implemented as required.  The national minimum standards standard is not likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 9  Leaders have suitable policies in place and carry out suitable risk assessments. These are clear about the measures that staff need to take to ensure health and safety in the school. However, these measures are not adhered to. Despite these measures being in place, leaders have failed to identify broken electricity sockets in pupil’s bedrooms and holes in walls next to electric light switches. In addition, there were places where carpets were poorly fitted and pose a trip hazard, which have not been addressed in line with the school’s risk assessment of the boarding area. Some windows were cracked or had holes in them. Finally, the boarding risk assessment identified that areas

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Main inspection findings

should be regularly cleaned and vacuumed. However, the boarding accommodation was not clean in several areas. These failures mean pupils are potentially at risk from harm.  The national minimum standards standard is not likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 10  Leaders have ensured that the school is regularly assessed for fire risks. Any actions that are identified are quickly addressed.  Pupils complete regular fire drills and staff and pupils know what to do in the event of an emergency.  The national minimum standards standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 19  Leaders understand the importance of safe recruitment of staff. Leaders make sure that checks for new staff are carried out in accordance with statutory guidance.  The school’s single central record of pre-employment checks accurately records all the required checks carried out on leaders, staff and the board of trustees.

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Main inspection findings

 The national minimum standards standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved. Standard 20  Leaders ensure there is sufficient staffing to care for the pupils in boarding time. Staff know the school and pupils well. They know the whereabouts of pupils during boarding time and offer supervision and support as needed.  Most boarding staff are resident at the school. Staff know the protocols to follow were pupils to go missing from the school. In addition, sometimes staff who teach in the school also support pupils during boarding time. Pupils said this helps to create a sense of community at the school.  The national minimum standards standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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standards for boarding schools

The school is unlikely to meet 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 are relevant to the material change, because it does not meet the standards as set out in the annex of this report.

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School details

Social care unique reference number SC006927

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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. 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

Date of previous standard inspection 11 to 12 July 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 19 No change Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 155 225 155

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 155 225

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities None None

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School's current position School's proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan None None

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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 None None

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 22 25

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff None None

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 8 13

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Information about this school

 Darul Uloom London is an independent boarding school for boys. It is registered for 155 pupils aged 11 to 19 years. There are currently 153 pupils on roll. All are boarders. The school has a Muslim ethos.  The school and boarding provision are located at Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst BR7 6SD.  All pupils board in accommodation that is located on the school premises. Most pupils return home every other weekend.  Leaders do not use any alternative provision.  At the last emergency school inspection and boarding progress monitoring inspection in July 2023, the school met all the independent school standards that were checked. The school also met all the national minimum standards that were checked during this inspection. The previous social care inspection of the school was in January 2023.  The previous standard inspection of the school was in March 2022. The inspection judged that the overall effectiveness of the school was good. The school met all the

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Information about this school

independent school standard and national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first material change inspection commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to consider Darul Uloom London School’s application to make a change to its registration agreement. The requested change was to increase the number of pupils from 155 to 225. All additional pupils would also be boarders.  The inspection was conducted with two days’ notice.  The DfE requested that inspectors consider whether independent school standards contained within parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 are met and are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved. Inspectors were also asked to consider whether particular national minimum standards contained within parts A, B, C, E and I are met and are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.  Inspectors met with pupils and staff. They held meetings with a representative of the proprietary body, the headteacher, the designated safeguarding lead, and other

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Information about this inspection

leaders. The leader with responsibility for safeguarding is also the head of boarding at the school.  Inspectors toured both the school and the boarding accommodation. Inspectors also reviewed documentation, including that related to safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and risk assessment.

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Inspection team

Mark Smith, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection team

Dorothy Thompstone Social Care Inspector

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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;  8 Where section 87(1) of the 1989 Act applies in relation to a school the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 8(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of boarders while they are accommodated at the school; and – 8(b) such arrangements have regard to the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or, where applicable, the National Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 30 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that, where the school provides accommodation, regard is had to Standard 4 of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or, where applicable, Standard 9 of the National Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools.

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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 – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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residential special schools

 Standard 2 – Management and development of boarding – The school’s leadership and management fulfil their responsibilities consistently and effectively so that the standards are met (NMS 2.4) – The school’s leadership and management and governance actively promote the wellbeing of pupils (NMS 2.5)

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residential special schools

 Standard 4 – Boarding accommodation – Good quality sleeping accommodation is provided for boarders. It is well organised and managed with ongoing assessments of risk (which should be documented) and findings acted upon to reduce risk for all boarders. Accommodation gives boarders appropriate privacy, taking into account sex, age and any special requirements. Where children share a bedroom, they are able to express a preference about whom they share with (NMS 4.1) – Boarding houses and other accommodation provided for boarders are well lit, heated and ventilated, cleaned and maintained, and reasonable adjustments are made to provide accessible accommodation for any boarders with disabilities (NMS 4.4)

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residential special schools

 Standard 8 – Safeguarding – The school should ensure that:  arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and  such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (NMS 8.1) – Keeping Children safe in education sets out that boarding schools have additional factors to consider with regard to safeguarding. As such it will be important that the boarding school’s child protection policy (and/or other policies if appropriate) reflect:  the school’s policy on sexual relationships between children (and importance of boarders understanding this policy);  the school’s approach to child-on-child abuse, reflecting the unique nature of board- ing accommodation and the risks associated with children sharing overnight accom- modation;  the approach to protecting children where there is a significant gender imbalance in the school; and  the approach to harmful online content and how boarders’ devices are managed in

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residential special schools

terms of bringing a device into the school, and harmful content that may already be downloaded on to it, and the opportunity to download harmful content via 3,4 and 5G that will bypass the school’s filtering and monitoring systems (NMS 8.4)

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residential special schools

 Standard 9 – Safety of Boarders – The school premises, accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured, and they are provided a safe environment in which they can live and learn (NMS 9.2) – The school ensures that the welfare of boarders at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy and appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified (NMS 9.3) 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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residential special schools

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residential special schools

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residential special schools

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residential special schools

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residential special schools

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residential special schools

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