Summary
Mel Ford (lead), Al Khair Primary, Helen Forrest
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Inspectors AI-checked
Al Khair Primary, Helen Forrest, Mel Ford
- Name on report verified
Al Khair Primary School
- URN verified
141001
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
very positiveThe independent school meets all checked standards, with strong safeguarding, leadership and curriculum found by inspectors.
This emergency inspection, commissioned by the Department for Education over safeguarding, governance, recruitment and Prevent concerns, found the school meets all independent school standards checked. Leaders have a clear Islamic ethos and a well-planned national curriculum. Inspectors reported strong safeguarding culture, good behaviour and well-maintained premises and records.
Going well
- Meets all independent school standards checked during the inspection
- Strong safeguarding culture embedded in daily practice, reinforced by leaders
- Pupils behave well and feel safe, cared for and known by staff
- Recruitment checks completed and recorded appropriately, with only minor administrative errors
Summary written by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the report text. It can miss nuance: the report itself is the record.
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Pupils say that staff know them very well, so they feel safe and cared for. p.3
- Overviews for all subjects, including personal, social, health and economic education, are supported by detailed schemes of work which ensure that pupils experience a well-planned and sequenced curriculum that prepares them effectively for life in modern Britain. p.2
- All staff have high expectations and pupils are keen to meet them. p.3
- The proprietor and school leaders have a clearly defined ethos and purpose: to provide a high-quality education within an Islamic environment. p.1
- Phonics is taught effectively and embeds an early enjoyment of reading. p.2
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
No strong criticism found.
Next steps
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- They have the support and training they need to recognise signs that may indicate a problem and use the established reporting systems to ensure that all information is shared, reviewed and analysed carefully. p.3
- There is an appropriate recording and communication system in place should that ever change. p.4
- The school does not use supply staff, but leaders are clear about the checks agencies should make and share and those which they should carry out themselves, should this situation change. p.4
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Teaching & assessment3
“School leaders take risk assessment very seriously.” p.3Health & safety3
“School leaders take risk assessment very seriously.” p.3
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 7
- Words of findings
- 1,326
- longer than usual (typical 1049)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 51, typical 45
- Average sentence
- 17 words
- Next steps
- 3
- typical 5
- Hedged sentences
- 3%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 1 Al Khair Primary School 61/63 Oak Way Green, Off Causeway Green Road, Oldbury, West Midlands B68 8LR
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Emergency inspection report: 23 September 2026
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Overall outcome The school meets all of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection
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This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), which is the registration authority for independent schools. It was commissioned because of concerns raised with the DfE about safeguarding, governance, safer recruitment and compliance with the Prevent duty.
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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools
When we carry out emergency inspections of independent schools, we report on the school's likely compliance with part 8 of the independent school standards (ISS) first. Under part 8, the proprietor is required to ensure that the school meets all of the ISS consistently. The standard in part 8 is intended to ensure that the quality of leadership and management at the school is sufficient for that purpose.
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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools
The proprietor and school leaders have a clearly defined ethos and purpose: to provide a high-quality education within an Islamic environment. They aim to provide an education that encompasses Muslim and universal values so that pupils are taught the national curriculum, within a wider curriculum that celebrates difference and diversity and values interpretation and questioning of beliefs. The wellbeing and progress of pupils is demonstrably at the heart of this.
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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools
Leaders demonstrate a confident understanding of the ISS. They actively seek out training to keep themselves up to date with current guidance, particularly with regard to safeguarding. Their work with a range of other educational institutions is selected to enhance their own skills and those of all staff.
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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools
The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 2
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Curriculum and teaching
The school delivers the national curriculum in its entirety. This includes studying a range of religions as well as Islamic studies. The carefully considered curriculum policy sets out the underlying principles for both academic learning and personal development and readiness for the wider world. Respect and tolerance for all is integral to this. Overviews for all subjects, including personal, social, health and economic education, are supported by detailed schemes of work which ensure that pupils experience a well-planned and sequenced curriculum that prepares them effectively for life in modern Britain.
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Curriculum and teaching
Teachers have good subject and pedagogical skills and ensure that the curriculum is adapted to meet the needs and abilities of all pupils. Phonics is taught effectively and embeds an early enjoyment of reading. Reading is a priority and the school uses a wide range of texts to cover different genres and cultures. Pupils’ work reflects study of a wide range of religions, cultures and beliefs which are clearly integral to their learning. For instance, pupils’ work includes studies of women of achievement, the slave trade and the democracies of the world. Pupils are able to relate their learning to the fundamental British values in their daily lives, resulting in an impressive understanding of these values.
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Curriculum and teaching
The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met.
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pupils
The school’s faith-based ethos is woven throughout all its work. Pupils develop a secure understanding of right and wrong and show maturity in understanding that they have responsibility for their words, choices and actions.
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pupils
Through the thoughtfully designed curriculum, pupils quickly grasp the importance of respect and tolerance, democracy and the rule of law. Older pupils can articulate how these are developed through their experiences at school. Leaders ensure that all visitors are carefully vetted and that any political views remain outside the school gates, actively protecting the school’s commitment to a balanced, fair and inclusive education.
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pupils
The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met. Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 3
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Safeguarding
The school has an appropriate child protection and safeguarding policy in place, which is firmly embedded in daily practice. The culture of ‘it could happen here’ is reinforced by leaders on a regular basis. All staff receive rigorous induction training from the designated safeguarding lead, as well as annual refreshers to ensure their knowledge is always current. Leaders check staff understand their responsibilities. They know that safeguarding is not something that is just updated annually. They are alert to risks that may arise in the locality and are quick to act. As a result, there is a strong culture of safeguarding which is clearly articulated by both staff and pupils.
p.3
Safeguarding
All members of staff are well versed in the processes for raising concerns, no matter how small they may seem at the time. They have the support and training they need to recognise signs that may indicate a problem and use the established reporting systems to ensure that all information is shared, reviewed and analysed carefully. Pupils say that staff know them very well, so they feel safe and cared for.
p.3
Safeguarding
Those with responsibility for recruitment have had suitable training. They ensure that all the appropriate checks are completed and that these are recorded accurately.
p.3
Behaviour and supervision of pupils
Pupils behave well during lessons and around the school. All staff have high expectations and pupils are keen to meet them. They show respect to staff, each other and visitors. Even the youngest pupils understand and respect the rules and appreciate the rewards they can earn. Older pupils show a mature attitude to the occasional need for consequences. These are seen as steps taken by staff to help them change their behaviour and manage their feelings, rather than punitive measures. Consequently, there is a calm and focused learning atmosphere in classrooms and happy, lively social times during which pupils get along well together. They feel very secure because staff know them well and are ‘always nearby’.
p.3
Risk assessment
School leaders take risk assessment very seriously. A suitable policy is in place which is used across the Al-Khair schools. This is built into the school’s routine practice. Leaders know the risks within the school and more widely, keeping themselves apprised of local information. There are very regular reviews to check that the right actions are being taken to secure pupils’ safety within the school and during wider activities in the community. Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 4
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Use of restrictive interventions
The school does not use physical restraint. However, they have a suitable policy that meets all the most recent requirements. There is an appropriate recording and communication system in place should that ever change.
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Use of restrictive interventions
The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met.
p.4
The recruitment checks made on staff, supply staff and the proprietor
All required checks are completed and recorded appropriately. The school does not use supply staff, but leaders are clear about the checks agencies should make and share and those which they should carry out themselves, should this situation change. The proprietor has had the necessary checks from the Secretary of State and has ensured that all those in leadership roles have the relevant additional checks.
p.4
The single central record of these recruitment checks
The single central record is well maintained. The governor with responsibility for safeguarding regularly checks this record for accuracy, reporting to the proprietor as required. Some very small administrative errors were noted that were quickly rectified during the inspection.
p.4
The single central record of these recruitment checks
The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met.
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needs of pupils
The school premises are well maintained. Regular checks and risk assessments ensure that when problems do occur, they are quickly addressed. Classrooms are of a suitable size for the number of pupils and are well lit with appropriate acoustics. Consequently, pupils learn in a safe, healthy environment.
p.4
needs of pupils
The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met.
p.4
Part 6. Provision of information
Throughout the inspection, a range of information, including records and policies, was requested. These were provided without delay. Inspectors were given access Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 5 to electronic information and records and, where required, staff provided time and support to ensure that inspectors could navigate any unfamiliar systems to secure the evidence required.
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Part 6. Provision of information
The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met.
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About this inspection
Inspectors carried out this inspection under sections 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. Inspectors checked the school's compliance with the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.
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About this inspection
Following our renewed inspection framework, all inspections are now led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) or by Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) who have previously served as HMIs.
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About this inspection
The focus of the inspection was safeguarding, governance, safer recruitment, and compliance with the Prevent duty.
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About this inspection
The inspection was conducted without notice.
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About this inspection
The last standard inspection of the school took place on 20 to 22 February 2024.
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About this inspection
Inspectors spoke with the headteacher and other senior leaders in the school, the proprietor and members of the governing body, teachers, pupils and parents.
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About this inspection
Inspectors reviewed a range of documents and electronic recording systems, visited lessons and scrutinised pupils’ work.
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About this inspection
Inspectors confirmed the following information about the school:
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About this inspection
The Al-Khair Foundation comprises this school and 3 other schools. They all have the same proprietor and governing body.
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About this inspection
The school is registered as having a Muslim religious character.
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About this inspection
The school uses no alternative provision.
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Lead inspector
Mel Ford His Majesty's Inspector Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 6
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educational needs (SEN) support
Email address admin.oldbury@alkhairschool.org.uk
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educational needs (SEN) support
Website http://www.alkhairschool.org.uk Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 7 providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people
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educational needs (SEN) support
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educational needs (SEN) support
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educational needs (SEN) support
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
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