A BRADFORD school where 'girls say they are treated differently from boys' has been rated 'Inadequate'.

Islamic Tarbiyyah Preparatory School, on Ambler Street in Manningham, received the rating by Ofsted following an inspection on September 19 to 21.

The independent school has 184 pupils on the roll, aged between three and 11 with annual fees of £1,700, and was rated 'Good' at its previous inspection by the education watchdog in 2019.

This time out, it did not meet the independent school standards.

The report reads: "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 from accessing the same games as boys at lunchtimes and playtimes."

It continued: "Stereotypes linked to girls being emotionally weaker than boys are not challenged. Equality is only taught through the lens of Islamic values.

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

"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."

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

This also extends to staff, adding: "The school’s practice of segregating staff according to gender limits information sharing about pupils’ learning." 

The school "does not plan for important teaching about relationships, British values and equality sufficiently well to ensure that pupils learn at an age-appropriate level".

The school’s curriculum is "poorly planned in all subjects" and teachers’ knowledge of this is described as "poor".

Pupils are taught about respect and tolerance linked to Islamic teaching but the school does not provide them with "wider opportunities to learn about tolerance and respect for different relationships, faiths or cultures". 

The report adds: "Pupils do not receive age-appropriate information in lessons about the risks that they may face in the virtual world. Pupils do not have access to computers in school."

When it comes to behaviour, boys at playtimes are described as "often boisterous" and they tend to "dominate the limited space available in the playground."

During the inspection, pupils were "uncomfortable discussing any behaviour incidents that happen in the school".

The report said: "The school’s proprietor body has not ensured that there is a robust culture of safeguarding. Staff have not received sufficient, statutory training to enable them to identify and support pupils who may need help. Systems to record concerns lack precision."

It added: "The proprietor body is aware of the urgent improvements that are needed. It began to rectify some of these errors during the inspection."

The Telegraph & Argus approached the school but it did not wish to comment.