To report our neighbours to Ofsted?

[Allfednonedead]

We live next to a school. I'm pretty sure it's not registered (doesn't show up on Ofsted website if I search our postcode).
It's a religious school, with boys from about 8 to teens, and they are a complete pain in the arse as neighbours. Always noisy, children playing outside late in the evening unsupervised, occasionally having religious festivals with amplified music outdoors till middle of the night. They do no property maintenance, which means it looks hideous, but also might be damaging for our property as it is a terrace (we're end-of-terrace).
The latest amusement for the boys seems to be throwing glass bottles from windows and roof into the concrete backyard.
I also know one of our other neighbours, a lovely woman in her 80s, has been on the receiving end of racist abuse from the boys.
I am considering emailing Ofsted about the situation, because the boys are so little supervised, I seriously concerned for their safety. I'm also not at all convinced they are getting a reasonable education.
Would this be reasonable?
I'm worried I'm being spiteful because they are such a pain to live next door too. Also because the masters in charge will literally not speak to or look at me if I do try to engage because I'm a woman. This really winds me up!

After reading that article i think you really do need to report it to OFSTED.

Child protection nightmare - please, please report. These children deserve better in a myriad of ways. So does the society they will inhabit as adults.

I'd report to social services, too.

There are lots of schools like this near me (Stamford Hill has dozens). None has ever been prosecuted, although it has been pursued by the council, because they claim not to be schools in the legal definition of the term.

It's still worth reporting, as they may come under pressure to improve the safety of the building. However the law currently lacks teeth to close them down, even though they obviously present all kinds of risks.

Have you thought of the Planning department at your local authority as they may not have the correct permission for the building.
You cannot change a domestic house into a school without involving the building regulations.

Report, report, report

Ofsted
Your LA education department
Police
The independent schools team at DfE

Report to planning as well. If they haven’t got planning permission for the religious centre/ school use.

There must be some legal recourse. There is a legal obligation for parents to ensure their children are in full-time education. I'm not up to speed on who checks that's happening or how if they're not at a registered school, but there must be something. If they're actually going to a filthy, underheated building staffed by unqualified teachers who whack them round the head at will and teach them fundamentalist religion and not much else, surely SS could say that's neglect?

If you are worried about a possible child safety issue you must report. The rule is always “if you are in any doubt, there is NO doubt”.
Police and social services would rather have an incorrect call than to miss a problem. They can easily investigate. A good school or youth group would also rather you report them in error (they should be happy to show the authorities around anytime if there is nothing to hide).
However it sounds to me like there is a problem that should be investigated. Children playing with broken glass isn’t great in any setting.

Take photos and video of the bottles being dropped. Report the music to the council if it goes on past 11pm. Keep a log of all antisocial behaviour. Also report to the education authority, there are all sorts of health and safety issues - sufficient toilets, fire safety etc.

Gasp0de the parents state that their children are being home schooled.

A school in a terraced house?! Really? Have you checked what their planning permission covers, and if there are any restrictive conditions about times of use? What the hell are they doing there at 2am? I mean, I know - throwing bottles - but what I mean is what legitimate reason would a school be occupied at that time. I'd be reporting to anyone I could think of tbh. They need a bloody ASBO.

I am normally very opposed to people sticking their beaks in and reporting neighbours to the authorities, but this sounds like one of those rare cases when action should be taken for the sake of those poor kids.

If it is an unregistered school then OFSTED aren't going to care.
I believe that you can operate as a school without registering if you have under a certain amount of pupils.

I would contact the police and child services.

Needs reporting to Ofsted, LA, police and social services.

If it is an unregistered school then OFSTED aren't going to care.

Ofsted will care. Read the BBC article I linked to. They may not have the legal powers to do anything about it, but if they don't know about it, they can't even try. And the more evidence they can collect about unregistered schools, the better they can make a case for additional powers.

Also because the masters in charge will literally not speak to or look at me if I do try to engage because I'm a woman.

Everyone knows that men who see women as sub-human are the healthiest role models for impressionable young boys.

Try contacting every listed body above. The whole set up sounds very sketchy.

Report!

Sounds bloomin' weird
Report!

Fire Brigade can enter a property to check fire safety even when other authorities can't - so worth alerting them, too.

Ok, I wasn’t clear. It definitely IS a school (the headmaster gave my DH his number when he went round to tell them to STFU one time) and I’m 95% sure it’s unregistered.
My AIBU is whether I am being reasonable to report given that I dislike them intensely. The education they provide will certainly not fit the children for wider society, but it is what that community seems appropriate. I have no reason to believe the children are actively mistreated.

Yes, report them. Ofsted can take a view on the education on offer.

Report definitely

OP - it doesn't matter whether you love the owners and the children that attend the "school" or you loathe them. You are right to report it to the relevant authorities (Ofsted, LA, police and DfE)

Ofsted have relatively extensive powers to enter premises that they believe to be unregistered independent schools, and to remove materials that demonstrate that a school is being run.

The LA have powers related to child protection as well as education

The police have powers that can be used in support of other agencies where a crime is believed to have been committed (and running an unregistered independent school is a crime)

DfE have powers to commission investigations and pursue a legal case against the owners of the "school"

This DfE publication sets out what can be done regarding unregistered independent schools

The contact details for the team at DfE is in this link

This link allows you to search for any registered school in England (so you will be able to tell with 99% certainty whether it is registered or not)

This sounds unsafe and inappropriate. PP are absolutely right that SS and the Police would rather investigate and be satisfied that all is OK, than have abuse and unlawful activity taking place