Al Risalah Secondary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 February 2025

Pupils feel a real sense of belonging in this school. They appreciate the shared values and ethos among the small school community. Pupils get to know each other well. They forge trusting relationships with staff. The school takes care of its pupils and provides a nurturing environment. In the Nursery, staff work closely with families to help children settle into new routines. They ensure that children get a strong start to their education. Pupils are polite and respectful, both to their classmates and to staff. Teachers are quick to help pupils resolve any occasional friendship issues. Pupils conduct themselves well and follow the school rules. This helps to create a harmonious atmosphere around the school. Pupils rise to meet the school's high expectations and they achieve very well. Alongside their academic studies, pupils play an active role in school to develop skills such as leadership and teamwork. They take on responsibilities such as 'subject leaders' to help others. School prefects in Year 11 take their responsibilities seriously and support younger pupils. The school encourages pupils to be aspirational. Older pupils, for example, enjoyed their recent trip to the Supreme Court where they learned about women in the legal profession.

What the school should improve

• In a few foundation subjects, the curriculum is not implemented fully as leaders intend. This is due to difficulties with recruiting and retaining staff. In these subjects, pupils have not been taught some essential subject content, and their learning is not secure as a result. The school should ensure that staff address gaps in pupils' knowledge and implement the ambitious curriculum as intended in all subjects.
• There are some inconsistencies in how well children's language and communication skills are promoted and supported in the Nursery. This means that, sometimes, children do not learn as well as they could. The school should ensure that children benefit from high-quality interactions with staff which promote their language and communication skills well.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)