Head defends ‘inadequate’ Islamic school

Iqra High School in Glodwick: rated inadequate

AN Oldham Islamic high school for girls has been told it is not up to standard.

The Department for Education (DfE) ordered a review of Iqra High School in Glodwick after it was rated “inadequate” by Ofsted inspectors last year.

Inspectors returned unannounced this month to check progress and found it still doesn’t meet independent school standards.

But head teacher Mohammad Farooq said the report was a cause for celebration: the school fell short on only a couple of points he is confident of meeting.

The £2,000-a-year secondary in Waterloo Street has 40 pupils in years 7-9, for whom it aims to provide an education that “embraces the opportunities of modern Britain while maintaining the teachings of the Muslim faith”. The school opened in September 2014.

Inspectors who visited in April last year said the school’s leadership and management and the behaviour and safety of pupils were inadequate. Teaching and pupils’ achievements required improvement.

But they added: “There is no doubt students demonstrate respect for and an understanding of all beliefs and cultures they have been introduced to.”

Since then, the school’s improvement plan has twice been found to be inadequate, and the DfE asked for a follow-up visit by Ofsted.

This visit found that some requirements have now been met such as prohibition checks on staff and the introduction of sex, sexual orientation and equal opportunities policies.

Mr Farooq said, “As far as we are concerned the report is a cause for celebration. There are more than 120 standards and we come down on just one or two. We have only been here for a year and a half and we have made tremendous progress. We are very, very confident we will meet every area set by Ofsted.”