An emergency Ofsted inspection of The British Muslim School in West Bromwich has found that staff used threatening behaviour and threw objects at pupils, leaving children feeling fearful and unsafe. The watchdog visited the £5,000-per-term boarding school in June after serious concerns were raised about safeguarding.
Emergency inspection findings
Ofsted inspectors said that children at the Lodge Road school were not safe, with safeguarding arrangements in the boarding provision described as ineffective. The report highlighted that systems to safeguard boarders were not consistently implemented and that leaders did not respond appropriately to concerns about staff conduct.
Pupils reported that adults used threatening behaviour, inappropriate language and threw objects, according to the report. Some children said they would not approach any adult in the school if they had a worry or concern, which inspectors said indicated a weak safeguarding culture.
Bullying and health and safety concerns
The inspection also flagged up concerns over bullying and health and safety. Inspectors found that pupils described ongoing disruption and intimidation by older pupils, with some reporting bullying including threats, coercion and retaliation after raising concerns. Staff responses did not prevent recurrence, the report said.
Basic fire safety standards were not being met, and boarders' bedrooms were described as being in a poor condition. The school charges £5,000 per year for boarding students.
Principal responds to report
Principal Muhammad Hasan told BirminghamLive that a further emergency inspection took place on September 1, with details yet to be published by Ofsted. He said issues raised after the June inspection had started to be addressed and that standards had improved, with concerns "no longer a problem".
Mr Hasan said claims regarding staff behaviour were being investigated and that the school was working with the local authority. He said some of the claims were "unfounded" while others were still being investigated.
"We had another inspection on September 1 which was fantastic in terms of our students, behaviour and relationships," he said. "The concerns in the previous inspection were no longer a problem. The students spoke positively. We are working on recommendations and already addressing a lot of things. We are working hard on it."
