Schoolgirls treated differently to boys - Ofsted

Islamic Tarbiyyah Preparatory School charges £1,700 a year per pupil

Girls at a Bradford primary school told Ofsted inspectors they are treated differently to boys during an inspection last September.

The Islamic Tarbiyyah Preparatory School, an independent Islamic faith school in Manningham, has subsequently been rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted in a report published last month.

Inspectors reported that gender stereotypes are not challenged at the school and girls cannot access the same play opportunities as the boys.

The school did not respond to requests for comment on the report.

"When speaking with inspectors, pupils explained that in Year 6, boys and girls do not have the same options available to them in school," the Ofsted report stated.

"For example, during extended periods of social time, older girls are unable to access the same games and play opportunities as boys.

"During these periods of time, female pupils help the female staff with the youngest pupils, while male pupils play sports.

"This does not support pupils’ understanding that aspirations and interests are not limited by gender."

It added: "Girls say that they are treated differently from boys.

"Female pupils in Year 6 are unable to access the shared space with male pupils at lunchtime and during afternoon breaks.

"This prevents them accessing the same games as boys at lunchtimes and playtimes."

'Stereotypes not challenged'

Inspectors also wrote that boys "dominated" the playground and their behaviour was "often boisterous".

They also raised concerns that the school does not teach "tolerance and respect for different relationships, faiths or cultures".

"Stereotypes linked to girls being emotionally weaker than boys are not challenged," the report went on.

"Equality is only taught through the lens of Islamic values."

Inspectors also said that the school "does not place sufficient focus on preparing pupils for life in modern Britain".

It also "does not plan for important teaching about relationships, British values and equality sufficiently", according to Ofsted.

The report read: "The school’s practice of segregating staff according to gender limits information sharing about pupils’ learning.

"This is preventing the development of a cohesive, progressive curriculum."

Regarding safeguarding, the report said "staff have not received sufficient, statutory training to enable them to identify and support pupils who may need help".

Ofsted has told the school it needs to ensure that staff "implement a well-planned and progressive personal, social and health education curriculum to support pupils’ wider personal development".

The latest report has been published 10 years after the school was subject to a complaint that it taught "inappropriate views".

This led to two successive reports stating Islamic Tarbiyyah Preparatory School 'requires improvement' before the school was given a 'good' rating by Ofsted in 2019.