AN Islamic school has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.

Inspectors at Al Islah Girls’ High School in Blackburn said there was 'a lack of clarity about the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of different levels of leadership'.

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A new headteacher was appointed at the independent school, which charges an annual fee of £1,200 and has 63 pupils on the roll, this month. At its previous inspection in 2013, it was rated ‘adequate’.

Inspectors also raised concerns about the Audley Range school’s child protection policy and the filtering and monitoring of its internet connection.

School bosses said they do not ‘believe (the judgement) to be a true representation of all the good areas identified’.

The school was told to ensure appropriate safeguarding checks on the suitability of staff are carried out, review the safeguarding policy so it is in line with the Department for Education and review and clarify the the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of governors and school leaders.

Lead inspector John Nixon said the school should also improve the quality of teaching by enhancing the opportunities for pupils to undertake scientific enquiry.

He said: “School leaders have not fulfilled their responsibilities to ensure that all of the independent school standards are met.

“Development planning is not sharp enough and does not focus sufficiently on enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, including the opportunities for practical scientific enquiry.

“Proprietors, governors and leaders have not carried out the required prohibition checks on teachers and leaders.”

* Since the publication of the original report, Ofsted has made changes to the 'governance' and 'information about the school' section of the report which referenced a former headteacher who had left the Audley Range school before the inspection was carried out.

A spokeswoman for Ofsted said: "The original report reflected the information provided to Ofsted at the time of the inspection, but it was changed when additional information was provided by the former headteacher and current school leadership."

However he praised the teaching, curriculum, and pupils’ progress and behaviour rating the quality of teaching, learning and assessment as ‘good’.

He added the school is also caring and well-maintained.

Headteacher Sabiha Patel said: “I am extremely disappointed with the overall judgement given in our Ofsted report.

“I do not believe it to be a true representation of all the good areas identified and can only reiterate that the education, progress made and behaviour is good at Al Islah School.”

“Although some issues raised by Ofsted were judged as inadequate, at the time of the inspection, most of these standards were immediately and proactively undertaken and met. All others are work in progress and are being closely monitored to ensure full compliance.”