FAILINGS at a boarding school for boys have been revealed after an unscheduled Ofsted inspection took place prompted by concerns about 'leadership and management".

The Government's education watchdog judged Al Jamiatul Islamiyah in Deane to be "inadequate" after it failed to meet the independent school standards (ISS) or the national minimum standards for boarding schools.

Ofsted found there had been disputes between different groups within the school's trustees and wider community which had led to an "abrupt" change in the school's leadership ­— with the principal, trustees and some members of staff resigning in May.

Aspects of the administration of the school was described as "chaotic" with current leaders saying that a number of documents, computer files and pieces of equipment were not available after the previous staff had left.

But said Ofsted "current senior leaders and trustees express a determination to improve the school and ensure that it provides the best possible education for pupils".

And the school told The Bolton News it was seeking support from outstanding schools.

A team of Ofsted inspectors were drafted into the school after concerns were raised to the government's department for education.

Safeguarding was slammed as being "ineffective" with leaders not ensuring identity checks are carried out on new staff and records on suitability of members of staff being incomplete.

Ofsted found that boarding staff "do not have sufficient knowledge of boarders' healthcare needs leaving young people at "risk of harm".

Inspectors also found that students incurred charges for using some items, including disposable plates and for any damage they caused ­— with some of the charges "levied in the past" said to be high in relation to the actual costs incurred by the school.

"Current leaders have decided that such charges will no longer be made," reported inspectors, who added: "However, tables setting out charges are still on display the boarding accommodation".

It was also found that boarders "do not live in an environment that is homely and well maintained" with leaking pipes in one bedroom, windows that did not open, with some showers not working and areas in need of redecoration.

The school's curriculum is divided into Islamic subjects, normally taught in the morning, with other subjects taught in the afternoon.

The Islamic curriculum was described as "well established and effective", but time spent on teaching some other subjects was limited because of a number of vacancies and results in English were below average, although those in maths were above average.

Behaviour of pupils was described as good and Ofsted said that through surveys they were found to be "generally happy in school" ­— and that they were protected from the impact of sudden changes in leadership.

All areas of the school were described as inadequate apart from quality of teaching, learning and assessment and outcomes for pupils both of which were in need of improvement.

A school spokesman said: “A new leadership team is in now in post and is seeking support from outstanding schools in Bolton to take the school forward and that help is forthcoming.


“Past differences have been put aside and this is a new start for the school and we are urgently addressing the points outlined in the Ofsted report.  

"Ofsted recognise in the report that ‘current senior leaders and trustees express a determination to improve the school and ensure that it provides the best possible education for pupils’. We are pleased that Ofsted found that students’ behaviour is good and that results in maths are above average and science in line with the average.

"We are now looking to build on that and improve results in other subjects.” 
He added that work to improve the lodgings had already begun and vacancies were being addressed.