News

DfE finally takes action against failing private school

The government is finally taking action against a private school that has failed to meet independent school standards on eight different inspections.

Rabia Boys and Girls School, an independent Islamic school in Luton that charges annual fees from £1,950 to £2,300, has also been graded “inadequate” in four full Ofsted inspections. That’s the most failed inspections of any private school in the country.

The school’s improvement action plan was deemed inadequate and the school is now forbidden from taking more pupils.

The Department for Education started enforcement action this August, but Rabia is appealing the action and the government has confirmed the school is not facing closure.

The department closed the Rudolf Steiner School Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, despite it failing standards fewer times than Rabia school.

Two years ago, Sir Michael Wilshaw, the former chief inspector, wrote to Nicky Morgan, the then-education secretary, urging action against the Rabia school.

A Schools Week investigation last month revealed that the government had shut just two of the 10 worst offending private schools for failing repeated school standard inspections.

Since September 2017, the government has also issued warning notices to almost 150 private schools for a series of failings.

According to government guidance, enforcement action includes forbidding new pupils or closing a building, as well as full closure. A school is more likely to close where it “has failed to meet the standards for a sustained period”.

Rabia did not respond to a request for comment.

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *