Markazul Uloom

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Markazul Uloom Park Lee Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 3NY

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1) to 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(d) to 2(2)(d)(ii)  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2024, the inspector found that the school had made a number of improvements to the curriculum, including revising its curriculum policy and ensuring that pupils, including those in key stage 4, experienced the full breadth of curriculum experiences that they must have. However, the associated schemes of work for aesthetic and creative education and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education had not been fully developed. The school was still thinking through exactly what it wanted pupils to learn over the time that they were at the school. The school also needed to give more consideration to curriculum design in regard to the individual needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  When the school’s action plan was evaluated in January 2025, it was judged that leaders’

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Main inspection findings

plans to improve the quality of education for pupils regarding the curriculum were likely to mean that this standard would be met.  The school has worked hard to finalise the schemes of work for aesthetic and creative education and for PSHE. All pupils now receive a thoughtfully planned curriculum in these subjects through regularly timetabled lessons. The topics covered are interesting and suitably wide-ranging. For example, in aesthetic and creative education, pupils learn about a range of artists and art techniques, including art and mediums common to Islamic culture. In PSHE, the curriculum pays full regard to protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010. The school has been thoughtful and pragmatic in its approach as to how these lessons are taught while also reflecting their faith.  As part of the improvements to the curriculum, the school has considered the individual needs of pupils, including those with SEND. Pupils’ literacy and numeracy needs are

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Main inspection findings

taken into account across all subjects taught. In both aesthetic and creative education and PSHE, thought has been given to delivering these subjects in practical ways that make learning easily accessible, for example offering visual and auditory resources such as pictures, videos, and animations where appropriate.  The independent school standards (the standards) checked in this part are met. Part 3. Welfare, health, and safety of pupils Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 20(4), 20(5) to 20(5)(a)(i), 20(5)(b) to 20(5)(b)(iii), 32(1)(c)  The proprietor has continued to ensure that there is a suitable safeguarding policy in place. This policy has due regard to current statutory guidance and is available to parents and carers on request. Posters and leaflets are placed in the school’s entrance to support parents and pupils by offering information on aspects of safeguarding and

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Main inspection findings

welfare. In doing so, it also demonstrates that the school takes the safeguarding of its pupils seriously.  The robust procedures that were seen at the time of the progress monitoring inspection in October 2024 have been maintained. There are thorough systems in place for staff to report any concerns that they might have about a pupil’s welfare. The school communicates effectively with other professionals to ensure that pupils are safe and well when they are not in school.  Staff receive regular safeguarding training. This helps staff recognise when pupils may be at risk from harm. The school has not appointed any new staff since the last inspection in November 2024. However, the proprietor understands that it must carry out the required checks on the suitability of staff whenever they are appointed in future.  The requirement in paragraph 7(a) and the requirement in paragraph 32(1)(c) continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

 The Department for Education (DfE) asked the inspector to consider whether the school meets the requirements in part 4 of the standards listed above, which relate to the suitability of the proprietor, as part of this progress monitoring inspection. This is because, despite numerous reminders since July 2024, the chair of the proprietor body has not applied for the relevant suitability checks to be carried out on a nominated responsible person who is acting on behalf of the proprietor body.  The chair of the proprietor body has not ensured that they have a current and up-to- date Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in place. This means that the proprietor has not provided sufficient assurance of the suitability of the chair of the proprietor body. This oversight has persisted for some time. The proprietor has not acted swiftly to address this, and as a result, no DBS check is in place for the chair of the proprietor

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Main inspection findings

body.  This means that the chair of the proprietor body has neglected his responsibilities in ensuring that he pays full regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State. He has not completed the required checks on his suitability as a chair of the proprietor body directly through the Secretary of State. This serious oversight continues despite numerous reminders from the DfE.  As such, paragraph 7(b), paragraphs 20(4), 20(5) to 20(5)(a)(i) and 20(5)(b) to 20(5)(b)(iii) of the standards are unmet. Paragraphs 11, 16 to 16(b)  At the previous inspection, many aspects of the school’s welfare, health and safety provision were in place. The proprietor had acted on all of the recommendations from statutory bodies. Overall, there were many improvements in health and safety in the school. However, although the proprietor had a revised and sufficiently detailed health and safety policy that complied with all relevant laws, health and safety checks lacked

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Main inspection findings

rigour and precision. Similarly, despite a revised, more detailed written risk assessment policy being in place, risk assessments remained generic, with a tendency to have one risk assessment to cover a wide range of areas. The school did not sufficiently detail the appropriate actions to minimise risks to pupils.  When the school’s action plan was evaluated in January 2025, it was judged that leaders’ plans to improve health and safety and risk assessment in school were not sufficiently detailed to meet these standards.  The school has maintained the improvements that were seen at the first progress monitoring inspection. There continues to be a programme of upgrading, painting, and improving the premises. At the time of this inspection, the school was clean, tidy, and uncluttered. School leaders now complete a more regular and rigorous schedule of health and safety checks. These are logged and then routinely shared with the

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Main inspection findings

governance of the school. Additionally, a nominated trustee walks around the school weekly to identify any potential health, safety, and welfare issues inside and outside the school.  The school has worked effectively with the local authority health and safety team to revise and improve the quality of risk assessments in school. There is now a full suite of appropriate risk assessments in place. They are suitably detailed and competently identify risks and subsequent actions to mitigate and minimise risks to pupils. There is evidence that the school continues to create new high-quality risk assessments as and when needed. There is a schedule set up for reviewing all risk assessments throughout the year.  Overall, some of the standards contained in this part remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2024, it was found that the school had made many improvements to the premises since the previous inspection. However, there remained a few areas that needed attention. The proprietor was still waiting to finalise the installation of a gate at the entrance to the school that ensures pupils’ safety and security when they are in school. Also curtains remained in the computer room while the proprietor was waiting for the arrival of replacement blinds.  When the school’s action plan was evaluated in January 2025, it was judged that leaders’ plans to improve the premises were not sufficient to meet this standard.  The proprietor has maintained the improvements seen at the previous progress monitoring inspection. Additionally, new gates have been installed at the entrance of the school. There is an appropriate system in place to ensure pupils’ safety and security

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Main inspection findings

when they arrive and leave school. While in school, pupils are kept safe by a locked front door that can only be opened via an internal keypad by the school office.  Health and safety checks are now robust and ensure the school premises, accommodation and facilities are maintained to a standard that ensures the health, safety, and welfare of pupils.  The standard checked in this part is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2024, the inspector found that the school had shown determination to turn the school around following the April 2024 standard inspection. The school had acted swiftly and decisively to remedy unmet standards related to safeguarding and welfare, health, and safety, including around behaviour, bullying, supervision, and attendance. However, there remained some standards unmet. These related to the quality of education, the school’s premises and accommodation and the welfare, health, and safety of pupils. As such, the proprietor did not demonstrate that it had the knowledge or skills to meet the standards consistently. Also, it continued to not fulfil its responsibilities to promote the well-being of pupils.  When the school’s action plan was evaluated in January 2025, it was judged that leaders’

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Main inspection findings

plans to improve leadership, and management would not fully address the unmet standards.  The school has worked hard to improve the quality of education. There are now the required schemes of work in place for aesthetic and creative education and PSHE. They are sufficiently detailed and well considered. Pupils report that they enjoy their learning in these subjects. The standards related to the quality of education are now met.  The school has set up a thorough and regular cycle of quality assurance and checks on the quality of education, safeguarding and welfare, health, and safety. The proprietor has set up suitable systems to ensure that leaders at all levels are regularly held accountable for their work, responsibilities, and the ongoing development of the school. This includes regular checks to ensure that the standards are met.  The serious lack of urgency and failure to complete the required DBS checks for the

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Main inspection findings

chair of the proprietor body means that the proprietor has not fulfilled its statutory duties. By failing to ensure that all members of the proprietor body have suitable checks, this may put pupils at risk of harm.  The standards in this part remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2024, the inspector found that the plan, although in place, was generic. It was not precise enough to reflect the day-to-day and long-term issues that the school buildings present.  When the school’s action plan was evaluated in January 2025, it was judged that leaders’ plans would not fully address this requirement.  The school now fulfils its duties under schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. An accessibility plan is in place, which is suitably detailed, kept under review and fully implemented. It reflects the needs of pupils and the school premises.

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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. 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

Date of previous standard inspection 16 to 18 April 2024

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Information about this school

 Markazul Uloom is an Islamic faith school for boys. The school provides both a religious and secular education for its pupils.  The school is registered to admit up to 217 pupils aged from 11 to 19. At the time of the inspection, there were 41 pupils on the school roll. All of which were in key stage 3 or key stage 4.  The school operates from two buildings situated at Park Lee Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3NY. There are also several unoccupied buildings on the same site.  At the same location, the proprietor also operates a school for girls, called Noorul Uloom. The girls’ school is registered separately with the DfE.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.  The proprietor is Markazul Uloom. The trustees act as the governance for the school.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place from 16 to 18 April 2024. A previous progress monitoring inspection, commissioned by the DfE, took place on 3 October 2024.

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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 progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection in April 2024. The first progress monitoring inspection was on 3 October 2024. Both inspections were conducted with no notice.  The DfE required the school to prepare three action plans. The first requiring urgent action and the second following the publication of the standard report. The third was required after the first progress monitoring visit. These plans were statutory. Ofsted evaluated these plans on 13 May, 9 August 2024, and 7 January 2025. At these times, the action plans were evaluated as not acceptable.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector met with the headteacher and deputy headteacher, who are also the designated safeguarding leads. She also met with the teaching staff who are responsible for developing the curriculum.  In the absence of the chair of the proprietor body, who was unavailable at the time of the inspection, the inspector met with a member of the proprietor body.  The inspector looked at curriculum plans, schemes of work and the curriculum policy.  The inspector spoke to all the pupils that were in school that day.  The inspector looked at a wide variety of documentation in relation to the standards checked.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers.  The DfE requested the inspector to consider the requirements in part 4 which relate to

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Information about this inspection

the suitability checks of the chair of the proprietor body. These requirements were not met.

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Inspection team

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

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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(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 20(4) Sub-paragraphs (5) to (8) relate to the suitability of the proprietor where the proprietor is a body of persons corporate or incorporate.  20(5) The standard in this paragraph is met in relation to an individual who is the Chair of the school if- – 20(5)(a) the individual- – 20(5)(a)(i) is not barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act where that individual is or will be engaged in activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 4 of that Act – 20(5)(b) subject to sub-paragraphs (7) and (8), the Secretary of State makes the following checks relating to the individual- – 20(5)(b)(ii) checks confirming the individual’s identity and their right to work in the United Kingdom; and – 20(5)(b)(iii) in the case of an individual for whom, by reason of the individual living or having lived outside the United Kingdom, obtaining an enhanced criminal record

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

certificate is not sufficient to establish the individual’s suitability to work in a school, such further checks as the Secretary of State considers appropriate; and, where an enhanced CRB is made, the Secretary of State obtains an enhanced criminal record certificate relating to the individual.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if- – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and – 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans, and schemes of work- – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes, and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan; and – 2(2) For the purposes of paragraph 2(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(d) personal, social, health and economic education which- – 2(2)(d)(i) reflects the school’s aim and ethos; and – 2(2)(d)(ii) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act[9];

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Part 3. Welfare, health, and safety of pupils

 11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the 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.

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Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

 Arrangements to meet the requirements of paragraph 3 of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. 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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Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

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Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

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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Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

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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Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

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Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

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Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

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