School progress monitoring inspection report

The Japanese School
87 Creffield Road, Acton, London W3 9PU

Inspection date

26 April 2022

Overall outcome

The school meets all of the independent
school standards that were checked
during this inspection

Main inspection findings
Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 12◼ At the time of the last inspection, leaders did not have effective systems in place forchecking fire safety procedures and equipment. They did not ensure routine
maintenance of fire prevention resources or respond swiftly to recommendations forimprovements.
◼ The post-inspection action plan indicates that leaders have revised their systems toensure they have oversight of matters relating to the safety of the school site,including fire safety. They have commissioned several fire risk assessments andcompleted the recommended works. Leaders have clarified lines of responsibility andaccountability to ensure that site safety is checked regularly and appropriate actions
taken to mitigate any risks.
◼ Leaders have ensured that external fire safety checks have been completed. They
have responded swiftly to all the recommended actions. This included replacing
emergency lighting, improving signage and defining escape routes clearly, andremoving potential hazards.
◼ Leaders have compiled a comprehensive list of site safety checks, including thoserelating to fire prevention. These checks are completed frequently by suitably qualifiedstaff. More staff have received fire warden training. There are clear processes in place
for the reporting and follow up of any reported risks.
◼ Leaders have implemented all but one of their intended actions to ensure that theschool complies with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order2005. The remaining area to be completed is the replacement of fire doors, which isdue to take place in August 2022. In the meantime, leaders ensure that the existing
fire doors are maintained and used properly.
◼ The school’s child protection and safeguarding policy is published on the school’swebsite.
◼ The school now meets the previously unmet requirements in this part.

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)◼ The proprietor body has taken swift and effective action to ensure that previously
unmet standards are now met. Leaders have worked with external specialists toimprove their understanding of statutory requirements relating to site safety. New
leaders have worked closely with experienced colleagues so that there has been
continuity in leaders’ oversight and implementation of the action plan. Leaders’revised systems for routine risk assessment and fire safety procedures areembedded and demonstrate commitment to ensure the independent school
standards continue to be met.

Inspection report: The Japanese School, 26 April 2022

Page 2 of 6Compliance with regulatory requirements
The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent SchoolStandards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associatedrequirements that were checked during this inspection. This included the standards andrequirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not
all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.
The school now meets the following independent school standards
Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils◼ 12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with theRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools◼ 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if theproprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at theschool–– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that theindependent school standards are met consistently;– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards
are met consistently; and– 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

Inspection report: The Japanese School, 26 April 2022

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School details
Unique reference number

101958DfE registration number

307/6070

Inspection number10237042

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act
2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about theschool’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.
Type of school

Other independent school

School status

Independent school

Age range of pupils

6 to 15

Gender of pupils

Mixed

Number of pupils on the school roll

286

Proprietor

The Japanese School Limited

Chair

Daisuke Mototani

Headteacher

Masahiko Sato

Annual fees (day pupils)£3,402

Telephone number020 8993 7145

Websitewww.thejapaneseschool.ltd.uk/nihonjingakko/

Email address

ron-nichi@thejapaneseschool.ltd.uk

Dates of previous standard inspection

13 and 15 July 2021

Information about this school◼ The previous standard inspection was in July 2021.
◼ Since the previous inspection, a new headteacher has been appointed. There is also a newschool secretary who has oversight of matters relating to the welfare, health and safety ofpupils.
◼ The school does not make use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection◼ This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority forindependent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress theschool has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirementsthat it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.
◼ This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection. It was conducted withoutnotice.
◼ Since the school’s last standard inspection in July 2021, leaders were asked to submit anaction plan. Ofsted judged the school’s action plan to be acceptable on 4 February 2022.
The Department for Education requested that this first progress monitoring visit consider
whether particular independent school standards contained within Part 3 and Part 8 are
now met.
◼ The inspector met with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the school secretary
and the vice-chair of the proprietor board. The inspector also held a telephone
conversation with the school’s external adviser.
◼ The inspector toured the school site accompanied by school leaders. The tour included
consideration of works completed as part of the implementation of leaders’ action plan.
The inspector also scrutinised a wide range of school documents relating to the welfare,
health and safety of pupils, including fire risk assessments, records of regular site safety
checks and staff training.
Inspection team
Amanda Carter-Fraser, lead inspector

Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Any complaints about the inspection or the report should be made following the procedures set out in theguidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website:www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of
the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.
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