Tashbar of Edgware

Emergency inspection school report Tashbar of Edgware 47–49 Mowbray Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7PH

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Reason for inspection

This inspection was conducted by Ofsted at the request of the Department for Education, following concerns raised by parents and carers. Her Majesty’s Inspector was asked to look at the way that pupils’ safety is ensured through the maintenance of the school buildings, including arrangements for checking the electrical installations and equipment. Her Majesty’s Inspector was also asked to investigate whether pupils are left unsupervised in classrooms for extended periods, particularly when the teacher has to leave a lesson.

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Conclusions

This inspection showed that a number of independent school regulations are not being met. The school has not undertaken regular electrical checks and parts of the school building are in poor condition.

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Conclusions

 The school confirmed that a recent electrical fault caused smoke to emit from a light fitting. An electrician was called and remedial action taken to repair the light fitting. However, the main school building’s fixed electrical circuitry for power and lighting has not been checked since it was installed in 2002. This is now six years overdue from the recommended service date. As the faulty light has shown, the electrical installation has the potential to present a risk of fire; failure to maintain the school premises in this respect is a breach of the fire safety regulations. In addition the annual testing of portable equipment is not up to date.

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Conclusions

 The governing body has recently acquired an existing primary school building, next door to the current school site, to enable the Tashbar’s expansion. The fabric of some of the classrooms now being used is poor with peeling paint and plaster and, in one case, a leaking ceiling. This does not provide a suitable learning environment and does not meet regulations.

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Conclusions

In the course of the inspection, the school’s admission and attendance records were scrutinised.

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Conclusions

 The admission register does not record, where appropriate, the names and addresses of schools that pupils attended before joining the Tashbar. When scrutinising the attendance register, the inspector noticed that a pupil’s unauthorised absence of over 10 days had been recorded. This absence had not been reported to the local authority, as required, and is therefore a further breach of the independent school regulations.

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Conclusions

The inspector spoke to pupils and staff, and scrutinised the school’s policy documents, to consider if pupils were properly supervised during lesson times. The school’s health and safety policy makes it very clear that pupils should never be left alone in a classroom. Emergency inspection: Tashbar of Edgware, 12 December 2013 2 of 5

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Conclusions

Pupils told the inspector that, while their teacher sometimes does get called away during lessons, they are never left unsupervised and that another teacher, Rabbi or member of the administrative staff is present until the teacher returns. Independently, the headteacher also said that this was the case. The inspector did not find any evidence that pupils were left unsupervised by an adult in classrooms for extended periods. The school’s policy provides evidence that staff are appropriately aware of the need for pupils to be kept under constant supervision.

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Ensure that the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is complied with. Paragraph 13

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Ensure that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006(e). Paragraph 17

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

Ensure that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard that, so far as is reasonably practical, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured. Paragraph 23(C) Emergency inspection: Tashbar of Edgware, 12 December 2013 3 of 5

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Inspection team

Mark Phillips, Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Tashbar is an independent ultra-orthodox Jewish boys’ school in Edgware, North West London, which opened in September 2005; it moved to the present premises in the Kol Yaacov Synagogue in 2006. It has recently acquired an adjacent building from a maintained primary school, where some of the classes are now taught.  There are currently 180 pupils aged between three and 11 years on roll. No pupils have a statement of special educational needs. The curriculum is made up of two strands; Kodesh (religious studies) in the mornings and Chol (secular studies) in the afternoons. The school aims to ‘provide an education that will aid the boys to develop their knowledge and allegiance to Judaism… and equip them with the vital skills for life’. Emergency inspection: Tashbar of Edgware, 12 December 2013 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 130826 Inspection number 433355 DfE registration number 302/6081 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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School details

Type of school Primary School status Independent Age range of pupils 3–11 Gender of pupils Boys Number of pupils on the school roll 180 Number of part time pupils 0 Proprietor Tashbar of Edgware Headteacher Rabbi N Jaffe Date of previous school inspection 17 March 2009 Telephone number 020 8958 5162 Fax number 020 8958 5162 Email address secretary@tashbar.co.uk Emergency inspection: Tashbar of Edgware, 12 December 2013 5 of 5

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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