Skip to content

Help us get it right

Sign in (free) to send feedback, so we can tell you when it's fixed.

Other · Ofsted report

Al Khair Primary School

Inspected — · published 16 Oct 2026 · URN 141001

Help us get it right

Sign in (free) to send feedback, so we can tell you when it's fixed.

Original PDF ↗

Summary

No overall grade in this framework

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

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

very positive

The 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.

+64Positivemore positive than 61% of reports of this type

In line with other reports of this type.

Praiseindependenteffectivelysecurevery wellhigh expectationsclearlyhigh-qualitywell-planned
Criticismconcernsseriouslyerrors

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsLeadershipSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings914w+53
  • Leadership207w+71
  • Safeguarding205w+56

Strengths

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

Concerns

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

No strong criticism found.

Next steps

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

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

Findings 54%Leadership 12%Safeguarding 12%About the inspection 21%

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

p.1

Emergency inspection report: 23 September 2026

p.1

Overall outcome The school meets all of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection

p.1

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.

p.1

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.

p.1

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.

p.1

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.

p.1

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

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Curriculum and teaching

The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met.

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

pupils

The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met. Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 3

p.2

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

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Part 6. Provision of information

The proprietor has ensured that the ISS checked in this part are met.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

About this inspection

The focus of the inspection was safeguarding, governance, safer recruitment, and compliance with the Prevent duty.

p.5

About this inspection

The inspection was conducted without notice.

p.5

About this inspection

The last standard inspection of the school took place on 20 to 22 February 2024.

p.5

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.

p.5

About this inspection

Inspectors reviewed a range of documents and electronic recording systems, visited lessons and scrutinised pupils’ work.

p.5

About this inspection

Inspectors confirmed the following information about the school:

p.5

About this inspection

The Al-Khair Foundation comprises this school and 3 other schools. They all have the same proprietor and governing body.

p.5

About this inspection

The school is registered as having a Muslim religious character.

p.5

About this inspection

The school uses no alternative provision.

p.5

Lead inspector

Mel Ford His Majesty's Inspector Al Khair Primary School, 23 September 2026 6

p.5

educational needs (SEN) support

Email address admin.oldbury@alkhairschool.org.uk

p.6

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

p.6

educational needs (SEN) support

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

educational needs (SEN) support

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

educational needs (SEN) support

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7

Discuss this inspection

Members compare notes on inspectors and inspections here. Join free to read and post.

Join the discussion