ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Welcome to our new website on opening an independent school.
Opening a new school is a difficult and challenging task. We hope the website will provide you with the information you need to get started. It is important that you read each section carefully. Applications are not considered by the Department of Education if they are incomplete.
Do contact us should you have any questions about any part of the application process.
Wasalaam.
THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL STANDARDS
THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL STANDARDS
The Independent School Standards Schools must demonstrate their ability to meet the Independent School Standards (ISS). These are the requirements that school must meet in order to operate as an independent school. These can be found below:
The Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations 2014
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/3283/contents/made
Some of these standards were updated in January 2015. These changes can be found in the document below:
Revised independent school standards
Registration of independent schools
Schools must show how they will meet all the required standards:
• Quality of education provided
• Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students
• Welfare, health and safety of students
• Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors
• Premises of and accommodation at schools
• Provision of information
• Manner in which complaints are handled
• Quality of leadership in and management of your school
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS REGISTRATION
All schools must register with the Department for Education (DfE), the body responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England, before running an independent school.
It is illegal to operate an unregistered school, without approval from the Secretary of State, if you provide full-time education to:
- 5 pupils or more of compulsory school age – this is from the school term after their 5th birthday and the last Friday in June in the year they turn 16
- 1 or more pupils of compulsory school age with an education, health and care (EHC) plan or statement of special educational needs (SEN).
- 1 or more pupils of compulsory school age who are looked-after by the local council
WHAT IS FULL TIME EDUCATION?
What is full-time education?
There is no legal definition of what constitutes full-time education.
An institution is considered to be providing full-time education if it is intended to provide, or does provide, all, or substantially all, of a child’s education.
Factors in determining whether education is full-time include:
- the number of hours per week that is provided – including breaks and independent study time;
- the number of weeks in the academic term/year the education is provided;
- the time of day it is provided;
- whether the education provision in practice precludes the possibility that full-time education could be provided elsewhere.
A school could be considered full-time if it was operating during the school day and for at least 18 hours a week. This is because the education being provided is taking up a substantial part of the week in which it can be reasonably expected to educate a child.
Oftsed, the inspectorate responsible for regulating schools on behalf of the Department for Education, may inspect unregistered independent schools should they feel organisations are providing substantially all of a child’s education.
For further information, see the following documents:
- Independent School Standards
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
uploads/attachment_data/file/800615/Independent
_School_Standards-_Guidance_070519.pdf
- Independent schools: regulatory and enforcement action policy
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
uploads/attachment_data/file/809551/
Ind_schools_enforcement_policy_statement_post_consultation_130619.pdf - Prosecuting unregistered schools
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
uploads/attachment_data/file/826588/
Prosecuting_unregistered_independent_schools_policy_statement_21_August.pdf - Unregistered independent schools and out of school settings
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
uploads/attachment_data/file/690495/La_Guidance_March_2018.pdf
Early Years
Schools that meet the criteria to operate as an independent school and have children registered at their school under the age of 5 must also demonstrate compliance of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Further information of the EYFS can be found in the section, Useful Documents.
16-19 Provision
An organisation that provides solely for students over compulsory school age does not need to register with the DfE as an independent school.
Some organisations which are within the further, or higher education sectors are not “schools” (see section 4 of the Education Act 1996), and therefore cannot be registered as independent schools – even if they have pupils of compulsory school age.
Schools that cater for pupils over the age of 16, as well as those of compulsory school age, and which meet the definition of an independent school, will be required to register and must be registered before admitting pupils.
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
Method 1
The application form should be completed and returned on-line via GOV.UK.
https://www.gov.uk/independent-school-registration
Method 2
Where an on-line application is not possible, the registration application form may be requested from and submitted to:
registration.enquiries@education.gov.uk
Method 3
Applications with supporting evidence can be posted to:
The Independent Education and Boarding Team
Department for Education
Level 3
Bishopsgate House
Feethams Darlington
DL1 5QE
Applicants are advised to submit all supporting documents electronically.
Application to register should be made well in advance of the proposed opening.
The DfE expects that once an application is made, the proposed school must be ready to undergo a pre-registration inspection. Premises, therefore, need to be in a state which allows the preregistration inspection to take place and reach a conclusion on whether the standards applicable in relation to premises are likely to be met. Schools are advised not to submit applications if there may be a possibility that the school will not be ready for a pre-registration inspection.
documents electronically.
Your application must include information about:
• the age range, sex and maximum number of students
• whether the school will provide accommodation for students, if a boarding application
• whether the school will be organised to provide for students with special educational needs
An inspection will take place in your school once the application has been received and reviewed. will be inspected and your details will be entered onto the register if it is suitable.
DfE Application to register an independent school
In addition to information, which will be provided as a consequence of completing the application form, certain other information must also be provided.
The supporting documents required are as follows (and the last 7 need to be compliant with the ISS if an application is to be granted):
- A statement that the school is an independent school
- A plan showing the layout of the school premises and any accommodation provided
- A written policy on the curriculum as well as curriculum plans and schemes of work
- These need to take into account the ages and aptitudes and therefore should cover all year groups at the school
- A written framework for the evaluation of pupil performance
- A written policy on behaviour setting out, amongst other matters, the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupil misbehaviour
- Particulars of the school’s arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school
- Particulars of the school’s arrangements to ensure that relevant health and safety laws are complied with
- The school’s anti-bullying strategy
- The school’s procedure for the handling of complaints from parents of pupils
All applications must also be accompanied by:
If the proprietor is an individual:
Their full name and any previous names, usual residential address, telephone number, email address (if the individual has one), date of birth and national insurance number
If the proprietor is a body of persons corporate or incorporate:
Its name and the address, telephone number and email address (if it has one) of its registered or principal office and;
The full names and any previous names, usual residential addresses, dates of birth and national insurance numbers of each member of the body of persons, including the chair of the body.
In relation to the proprietor or, if the proprietor is a body of persons corporate or incorporate, the chair of the body:
- a statement of the proprietor’s, or chair’s employment history for the period of five years prior to the date on which the application was made containing the name of the institution(s) at which any post was held and the title of any post held
- a photograph, which is a current likeness of the proprietor or, as the case, may be, the chair.
Applications which do not include all of the information required by legislation will not be considered formally.
Proposed school names which either imply a Royal connection, university or business title are required to gain approval.
For a school name which may imply Royal connection, write to:
The Constitutional Policy Team
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AS
Email: royalnames@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
For a school name which contains a business title or the word ‘university’ write to:
Privy Council Office
2 Carlton Gardens
London
SW1Y 5AA
Tel: 0207 747 5310
Without approval, schools will not be admitted to the register of independent schools under such titles.
Once a completed application form for registration is received, Ofsted will be notified and requested to undertake a pre-registration inspection and report to the Secretary of State on the extent to which the school is likely to meet the Independent School Standards and where applicable, the EYFS requirements.
The inspector(s) will:
- before the inspection, examine the documentation which accompanied the application
on the day of the inspection inspectors will;
- look at the proposed premises and judge their suitability
- discuss with the school’s team, plans they have for operating the school and how they aim to ensure all the ISS will be met.
INSPECTION
INSPECTION
Ensure that proprietor(s) and the person(s) who will be responsible for the day-today operation of the school are present during the pre-registration inspection or at the very least, available to speak to the inspectors on the day of the inspection, to answer any questions they may have. Should this not be possible, inspectors may not have the evidence they need to conclude whether all of the relevant ISS (and applicable standards in the EYFS) are likely to be met.
The report inspectors produce is an integral part of the evidence for the DfE’s consideration of the application, which will only be approved if it can be concluded that all of the ISS are likely to be met once the school opens its doors to pupils.
A draft time-table of what can be expected can be found can be found below.
New school inspection draft timetable
Pre-registration inspection
Draft time-table
Documentation required | |
Meeting at school site – Introduction and agree plan for the day | |
Discussion about the school context and plans for opening | |
Part 1 – Quality of education provided; Part 2 – Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils | Curriculum policy, planning and schemes of work Planning for careers information advice and guidance (secondary) Promoting/developing pupils’ literacy (including reading) and numeracy Developing pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values and the protected characteristics |
Part 3 – Welfare, health and safety of pupils | Safeguarding policy, staff training, behaviour policy and proposed recording systems; anti-bullying policy and proposed recording systems and health and safety policy; evidence of compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; first aid policy and proposed practice; proposed supervision arrangements; proposed procedures for admissions and attendance registers; risk assessment policy and examples of proposed risk assessments. |
Part 4 – Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors | SCR and related files Safer recruitment checks and training |
Premises Tour Part 5- Premises of and accommodation at schools | |
Part 6 – Provision of information, including accessibility plan (Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010) | Proposed arrangements for communicating with parents and carers. How will parents have access to key school documents: this includes Admissions Policy and Safeguarding Policy, reports on pupils’ progress and attainment and SEND provision |
Part 7 – Manner in which complaints are handled | Complaints Policy |
Part 8 – Quality of leadership and management of schools |
|
Reflection |
|
Final feedback | |
The Secretary of State will consider the report from Ofsted and any other relevant evidence, which is available in coming to a decision.
The final decision on whether to register any school lies with the Secretary of State.
If the Secretary of State decides that the standards are likely to be met once the institution becomes registered as an independent school, then the school will be registered.
The application process is expected to take approximately six months from receipt of a fully completed application.
Should your application not be successful, the DfE will provide you with the reasons for rejecting your application. You may reapply but before doing so should carefully consider the reasons why your original application was unsuccessful and what steps are needed to meet all the ISS as well as EYFS requirements where this is applicable.
It is possible to appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal against a decision by the Secretary of State. Should a Tribunal not confirm the Secretary of State’s decision, it can only refer an application back to the Secretary of State for reconsideration. The Tribunal cannot guarantee registration.
All applicants are therefore advised to carefully consider whether to appeal or re-apply. Further advice should be sought from the Association of Muslim Schools in this eventuality.
At no time, should schools operate without approval from the Secretary of State. In any case, a school should not begin to operate before registration is granted. It is illegal to do so and anyone who does maybe l able on conviction to a fine and/or imprisonment.
Can I request a deferral for a pre-registration inspection?
A request for a pre-registration inspection to be deferred is only likely to be granted in exceptional circumstances and would need to be agreed by DfE and Ofsted.
Where exceptional circumstances are not provided, schools may withdraw their application. In this instance, school will have the opportunity to re-apply should they wish to do so.
Should a school not withdraw, a pre-registration inspection will continue as planned.
After the pre-registration inspection has been undertaken, Ofsted will write a report about the extent to which the ISS (and EYFS, where relevant) are likely to be met.
A draft copy of the pre-registration report will be sent to both the proposed school to check for factual accuracy with a timescale for comments, and also to the DfE.
Schools can normally expect to receive a copy of the finalised inspection report within 23 working days after the end of the inspection.
It is normal practice for the final report will be published on Ofsted’s website within 28 working days after the inspection, although this can vary.
A final version of the report will also be sent to the DfE and a decision on registration will be made after receipt.
STAFF
STAFF
Once the application is received, the DfE will carry out a number of checks on individuals who are named on the application form.
These checks will include due diligence checks along with any other checks that the DfE considers appropriate in order to enable it to decide whether all of the ISS (and where relevant, the EYFS) are likely to be met, including those in Part 4 of the ISS, which sets clear requirements regarding for the suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors.
Suitability of Proprietors.
On receipt of your application, the Department for Education will write to you to check the suitability of individuals to be proprietors of individual schools.
- In order to check the suitability of the proprietor, the regulations require the following:
An enhanced criminal record check, countersigned by the Secretary of State
Checks confirming the individual’s identity and their right to work in the United Kingdom
If the individual is living, or has lived outside the United Kingdom, further checks as the Secretary of State considers appropriate
This will be done before the pre-registration inspection takes place.
One of the requirements of the ISS is compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which came into force on 1 October 2006.
The order places responsibility on a ‘responsible person’, which in the case of an independent school will ordinarily be the proprietor, to:
- carry out a fire risk assessment, formally recorded and regularly reviewed so as to keep it up to date
- produce a fire risk policy which includes the elimination or reduction of risks from dangerous substances
- develop fire procedures and provide staff training, repeated periodically where appropriate
- ensure the safety of staff or anyone else legally on the school premises
- carry out fire drills and contact emergency services when necessary
- appoint one or more competent persons, with sufficient training, experience and knowledge to assist in taking preventive and protective measures, including firefighting and evacuation
- have a suitable system for the maintenance of: clear emergency routes and exits, with doors opening in the direction of escape, signs, notices, emergency lighting where required, fire detectors, alarms and extinguishers. The maintenance should be completed by a ‘competent person’ (for example, ISO9001 certified or BAFE approved)
- provide staff and any others working on the school site with fire safety information.
Additionally, staff are required to take reasonable care in carrying out their duties.
Applicants should invite their local Fire and Rescue Service and advise them of their proposed site and request that it inspects the proposed premises for their suitability.
The Ofsted pre-registration inspection will look at the school’s compliance with the 2005 Order only in terms of a completed fire risk assessment, evidence of a request to the Fire Safety Order, and whether the school has the required fire precautions in place.
Whilst no fee is payable to the department for the registration of an independent school, a fixed charge will be payable to Ofsted for any pre-registration inspection.
If a further pre-registration inspection is necessary for the same registration application then the fee would need to be paid again.
Schools have the option of withdrawing their application before a further inspection if they consider they need more time to demonstrate compliance with the standards; but if the registration application was then re-submitted, there would need to be another pre-registration inspection in due course – with the fixed fee payable to Ofsted. Details of fees can be found below:
Fees for a pre-registration inspection
The proprietor of a relevant institution who applies, under section 98(1) of the 2008 Act (applications for registration), to the Secretary of State for the institution to be entered on the register must pay to the Chief Inspector a fee of £2,500 for each inspection undertaken under section 99(1) of the 2008 Act (determination of applications for registration).
The must be paid no later than 28 days after the Chief Inspector gives the proprietor a notice requesting payment of the fee.
Any additional inspections will require the same payment to be made again,
Fees for Full Inspections
It is a requirement that proprietor must pay the chief inspector for Inspection of a relevant institution under section 109 of the 2008 Act within 28 days of the request for the inspection fee.
Number of pupils attending the institution | Fee |
Fewer than 100 | £400 plus an additional £16 per pupil |
100 or more but no more than 120 | £2200 |
121 or more but no more than 149 | £2200 plus, in respect of the 121st pupil and every pupil up to and including the 149th, an additional £10 per pupil |
150 or more but no more than 399 | £2500 |
400 or more | £2750 |
In accordance with regulation, three individual payments are to be made, within the three-year period beginning on the day on which the inspection was completed.
Fees are not refunded if an inspection does not take place.
Fees for progress monitoring inspections and additional monitoring inspections
Where a progress monitoring inspection takes place, promoted by a full inspection where one or more Independent School Standard is not being met, the fees in (a) applies.
Where, a second or more monitoring inspections take place, the fees in (b) applies.
The fee payable in respect of an institution is provided in the table below.
Number of pupils attending the institution | Fees (a) | Fees (b) |
150 or fewer | £300 plus an additional £9 per pupil | £400 plus an additional £15 per pupil |
151 or more | £2000 | £3000 |
LONG TERM PLANS
LONG TERM PLANS
Below are downloadable examples of Long Term Plans (LTP) that can be used in secondary settings.
Triple Biology curriculum LTP - Secondary
Triple Chemistry curriculum LTP - Secondary
Triple physics curriculum LTP - Secondary
Arabic curriculum LTP - Secondary
Art curriculum LTP - Secondary
Citizenship curriculum LTP - Secondary
Computing curriculum LTP - Secondary
English curriculum LTP - Secondary
Geography curriculum LTP - Secondary
History curriculum LTP - Secondary
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
For advice and support email: admin@ams-uk.org.uk