A headteacher who was found guilty of running an unregistered school has been handed a community order.

Nadia Ali was sentenced to 120 hours’ unpaid work for her role as head of Ambassadors High School in Streatham, south-west London.

She was also told to pay costs of £1,000 and an £85 victim surcharge.

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Ali, 38, and her father Arshad Ali, both of Rosemead Avenue in Mitcham, South London, and the Ambassadors High School had all denied running an unregistered school contrary to the Education and Skills Act 2008.

But last week, Judge Emma Arbuthnot, sitting at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, said the school had five or more pupils studying full time, and found them and the company guilty.

The court heard that a school has to register with the Department for Education if it is providing education to five or more children of compulsory school age full time.

Arshad Ali, 73, was last week fined for his role as director of the unregistered school.

Judge Arbuthnot said she accepted Arshad Ali had a limited role as director of the Ambassadors High School company, and fined him and the company £100 each.

The prosecution resulted from an investigation by Ofsted.

Commenting on the convictions last week, Ofsted’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman said at the time: “We will continue to expose these places, and make sure they either close or become properly registered and subject to regular inspection.

“Only then can we make sure all children are safe from harm and receiving a decent education that prepares them for life in modern Britain.

“And we need the government to tighten the legal definition of a school. I urge them again to do so at the earliest possible opportunity.”