Recognition of quality in Bradford supplementary schools

Bradford Council, in partnership with the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education(NRCSE), piloted its new quality recognition scheme, amended in line with government requirements and guidance on safe and effective out-of-school education with the following Bradford supplementary schools:

1. Bradford Polish School
2. Bradford Chinese School
3. Gurdwara Singh Sabha
4. Madrasah Madania Tahfeezul Quran (MMTQ)

The Lord Mayor of Bradford has been invited to present the awards.

On 27 February 2016, Bradford held a seminar to promote its commitment to working with NRCSE to support supplementary schools in the development of safe and effective practice.

Since then several training days, individual school visits by Javed Bashir (Bradford Diversity & Community Cohesion officer) and Gosia McKane (NRCSE Regional Development Manager), an acclaimed and exceedingly well-attended conference in July 2017 and much hard work from volunteer management committee members and teaching staff in community-led supplementary schools, has taken place.

Following a Recognition Meeting held on 22nd September 2017 where portfolios of evidence were presented to education experts, three schools have achieved the NRCSE Quality Mark and MMTQ achieved Bradford’s Bronze Award for the demonstration of safe practice in out-of-school provision.

The participating schools also received a detailed report highlighting the good practice observed and recommendations for future development.

The Quality Mark is given in accordance with best practice in each of the following eight standards:

1. Creating and effective learning environment
2. Teaching and learning
3. Recording and celebrating achievement
4. Resources
5. Planning including monitoring and evaluation
6. Staff and volunteer management
7. Safeguarding
8. Financial management