School progress monitoring inspection report

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

Inspection dates

12 March 2024

Overall outcome

The school does not meet all of the
independent school standards that werechecked during this inspection

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

Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1)(c)◼ At the previous inspection in June 2023, these standards were not met as a result of
ineffective safeguarding arrangements. At that time, leaders had not ensured that staff
were sufficiently trained or knowledgeable about statutory safeguarding guidance. Staff
had a limited understanding of key risks that pupils might face, including, for example,
online bullying and exploitation.
◼ This progress monitoring inspection found that leaders, including the members of the
proprietor board, have taken a range of suitable actions to address the previous
weaknesses. Leaders have introduced a comprehensive programme of training for all
staff and those responsible for governance. This is implemented to ensure that staff,
including those who join the school directly from Japan, are well equipped to understandthe latest statutory safeguarding guidance. Leaders have established a staff induction
procedure which clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of staff and leaders. It setsout, in a systematic and comprehensive way, what staff need to know and which training
staff must attend.
◼ Staff now have a sharp and up-to-date knowledge of the school’s safeguarding
arrangements. They follow procedures for reporting and recording concerns about pupils’
well-being. Leaders make sure that staff keep up to date with changes to statutory
guidance. Leaders attend regular briefings with the local authority to understand thepotential risks in Ealing and across London. They ensure that all staff are aware of thisinformation.
◼ Leaders have put safeguarding at the top of every agenda. As part of raising the profile
of safeguarding, leaders have provided parents and carers with information, including
workshops, around themes such as online safety. Pupils said that they feel safe and wellcared for in school. They know how to report concerns and said that staff take these
seriously. Through the curriculum, including in physical education and personal, social,health and economic education lessons, pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe.

Pupils hear from visiting speakers, including on specialist topics, such as the dangers ofcarrying knives.
◼ The school’s safeguarding policy is suitable. It is published online for parents to read.
◼ These standards are now met.
Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(d), 20 (6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii),20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i),21(1), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(v),
21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(b), 21(4), 21(6)◼ The previous inspection found that leaders were not following statutory guidance forchecking the suitability of staff who apply to work at the school. For example, leaders
had not ensured that Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks had been completed
on all new members of staff, particularly those who arrive from overseas. Leaders had
not complied with the statutory requirements for schools to obtain a separate barred list
check if a member of staff works with pupils before a DBS certificate is available.
Statutory prohibition from teaching checks had not been carried out. Arrangements forchecking the suitability of members of the proprietor body were unsuitable.
◼ Leaders, including members of the proprietor body, have worked effectively to address
the issues identified at the previous inspection. Leaders now have a clear understandingof what checks must be carried out. The single central record of pre-employment checks
is now compliant. Record-keeping is well organised. It demonstrates that leaders ensurethat all the required checks are conducted before staff begin employment, including
those who join from overseas and members of the proprietor board.
◼ Leaders have established effective systems for checking recruitment arrangements.
Members of the proprietor board check the school’s safeguarding records and leaders
commission audits to assure themselves that procedures are robust.
◼ These standards are now met.
Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

Paragraphs 33, 33(f), 33(g), 33(i), 33(i)(i), 33(j), 33(j)(i), 33(j)(ii) and 33(k)◼ At the previous inspection leaders did not have appropriate systems in place formanaging complaints.
◼ This progress monitoring inspection found that the school now has a suitable complaints
procedure. Leaders have a clear understanding of how to manage complaints, including
at informal stages.
◼ These standards are now met.
Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)◼ At the previous inspection, members of the proprietor body were not familiar with theirstatutory duties relating to safeguarding. As a result, arrangements for safeguarding
were not effective. The proprietor body had not ensured that leaders had the necessary
expertise and knowledge to make sure that the school met the independent school
standards.

Inspection report: The Japanese School, 12 March 2024

Page 2 of 11◼ Leaders have taken seriously the weaknesses found at the previous inspection. They
have used the expertise of external consultants as well as support from the local
authority safeguarding teams. Together, they have overhauled the school’s procedures tomake these fit for purpose and to reflect statutory safeguarding guidance. Leaders’ work
has had a direct impact on the school’s culture of safeguarding. Procedures, including forrecruitment, are now robust. Additionally, staff now have a stronger understanding of
the part they play in keeping pupils safe.
◼ The school now has a larger team of trained safeguarding leaders. No time is wasted inensuring that staff are well trained in safeguarding matters. The revised induction
arrangements, including the staff handbook, are comprehensive and clear. Leaders havegiven particular consideration to the ‘rotation’ of staff and how this should be managed.
This means that the school is now better prepared for changes to staffing when teachersor leaders move to and from Japan.
◼ Leaders have ensured that the previously unmet standards related to safeguarding, staff
suitability checks and the school’s complaints procedure are now met.
◼ However, over time, leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards
have been met consistently. While they have taken effective action to put things rightsince the previous inspection, their work, including these new arrangements andprocedures, needs time to embed, and in turn, ensure that the improvements maderecently can be sustained. Therefore, the standards in this part are not met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements
The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent
School Standards) Regulations 2014 ('the independent school standards') and associatedrequirements that were checked during this inspection, as set out in the annex of thisreport. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to notcomply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associatedrequirements were checked during this inspection.

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School details
Unique reference number

101958DfE registration number

307/6070

Inspection number

10317711

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 roll288

Number of part-time pupils

0

Proprietor

The Japanese School Limited

Chair

Shigeki Okada

Headteacher

Masahiko Sato

Annual fees (day pupils)£3,741

Telephone number

020 8993 7145

Websitewww.thejapaneseschool.ltd.uk

Email address

ron-nichi@thejapaneseschool.ltd.uk

Date of previous standard inspection

6 to 8 June 2023

Information about this school◼ The Japanese School provides for the children of expatriates who are working in London
for a temporary and limited period until they return to Japan. The school is partially
funded by the Japanese government. The senior leadership team and most teachers
come from Japan and work in this school for two to three years before returning toJapan.

Inspection report: The Japanese School, 12 March 2024

Page 5 of 11◼ The proprietor body comprises a group of Japanese companies. The proprietor board
members are representatives of these companies who are currently working in the United
Kingdom. Employees of different companies take on this role on an annual rotation basis.
◼ The school follows the Japanese national curriculum, supplemented by aspects of the
English national curriculum. Almost all teaching is in Japanese, which is spoken by staff
and pupils. The Japanese academic year starts in April.
◼ The school’s is registered to admit up to 400 pupils.
◼ The school’s last full standard inspection took place in June 2023.
◼ Leaders do 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.
◼ The school’s most recent inspection was in June 2023 when it was judged to beinadequate and not compliant with the independent school standards.
◼ Following the inspection in June 2023, the Department for Education (DfE) required theschool to prepare an action plan. This action plan was reviewed by Ofsted in October
2023 and subsequently rejected by the DfE.
◼ This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection.
It was conducted without notice.
◼ The inspector held meetings with senior leaders, members of the proprietor board andgroups of staff. The inspector met with pupils and toured the school building. The
inspector reviewed documentation related to safeguarding, complaints and staff
recruitment.
Inspection team
Gary Rawlings, lead inspector

His Majesty's Inspector

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Annex. Compliance with regulatory requirements
The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection
Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools◼ 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the
proprietor 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.
The school now meets the following requirements of the independent school
standards
Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils◼ 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at
the school; and– 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary ofState.
Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors◼ 18(2) The standard in this paragraph is met if– 18(2)(a) no such person is barred from regulated activity relating to children inaccordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act where that person is or will be
engaging in activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of
Schedule 4 to that Act;– 18(2)(b) no such person carries out work, or intends to carry out work, at theschool in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any
direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act,or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if containedin either such direction;– 18(2)(d) the proprietor ensures that, where relevant to any such person, anenhanced criminal record check is made in respect of that person and anenhanced criminal record certificate is obtained before or as soon as practicable
after that person’s appointment.
◼ 20(6) The standard in this paragraph is met in relation to an individual ("MB"),not being the Chair of the school, who is a member of a body of persons
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corporate or unincorporate named as the proprietor of the school in the registeror in an application to enter the school in the register, if– 20(6)(a) MB– 20(6)(a)(i) is not barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordancewith section 3(2) of the 2006 Act where that individual is or will be engaging in
activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 4 ofthat Act; and– 20(6)(a)(ii) does not carry out work, or intend to carry out work, at the school incontravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction
made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any
disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained ineither such direction;– 20(6)(b) subject to sub-paragraphs (7) to (8), the Chair of the school makes thefollowing checks relating to MB– 20(6)(b)(i) where relevant to the individual, an enhanced criminal record check.
◼ 21(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor keeps a register
which shows such of the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (3) to (7) as is
applicable to the school in question.
◼ 21(3) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is– 21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff ("S") appointed on or after 1st May
2007, whether– 21(3)(a)(ii) a check was made to establish whether S is barred from regulated
activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act;– 21(3)(a)(iii) a check was made to establish whether S is subject to any direction
made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any
disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained insuch a direction;– 21(3)(a)(v) an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained in respect of S;– 21(3)(a)(vi) checks were made pursuant to paragraph 18(2)(d);– 21(3)(b) in relation to each member of staff ("S"), whether a check was made toestablish whether S is subject to a prohibition order or an interim prohibition
order, including the date on which such check was completed.
◼ 21(4) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation to eachmember of staff in post on 1st August 2007 who was appointed at any time
before 1st May 2007, whether each check referred to in sub-paragraph (3) was
made and whether an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained, together
with the date on which any check was completed or certificate obtained.
◼ 21(6) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation eachmember ("MB") of a body of persons named as the proprietor appointed on orafter 1st May 2007, whether the checks referred to in paragraph 20(6)(b) were
made, the date they were made and the date on which the resulting certificate
was obtained.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled◼ 33 The standard about the manner in which complaints are handled is met if the
proprietor ensures that a complaints procedure is drawn up and effectively
implemented which deals with the handling of complaints from parents of pupils
and which– 33(f) where the parent is not satisfied with the response to the complaint madein accordance with sub-paragraph (e), makes provision for a hearing before apanel appointed by or on behalf of the proprietor and consisting of at least threepeople who were not directly involved in the matters detailed in the complaint;– 33(g) ensures that, where there is a panel hearing of a complaint, one panel
member is independent of the management and running of the school;– 33(i) provides for the panel to make findings and recommendations andstipulates that a copy of those findings and recommendations is– 33(i)(i) provided to the complainant and, where relevant, the person complained
about; and– 33(j) provides for a written record to be kept of all complaints that are made inaccordance with sub-paragraph (e) and– 33(j)(i) whether they are resolved following a formal procedure, or proceed to apanel hearing; and– 33(j)(ii) action taken by the school as a result of those complaints (regardless ofwhether they are upheld); and– 33(k) provides that correspondence, statements and records relating to individualcomplaints are to be kept confidential except where the Secretary of State or abody conducting an inspection under section 109 of the 2008 Act requests accessto them.

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