Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School

Emergency inspection school report Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School 51-57 Amhurst Park, London, N16 5DL

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Reason for the inspection

 This inspection was conducted without notice to the school, at the request of the Department for Education (DfE), the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 109 of the Education Act 2005.  The purpose of the inspection was to report on the school’s compliance with independent school standards Part 3 (the welfare, health and safety of pupils) and Part 5 (premises and accommodation).  The inspector assessed the regulatory requirements for the school’s premises, and accommodation, and the arrangements made by the proprietor to promote the welfare of pupils A tour of the school was undertaken, meetings were held with senior leaders and records relating to the requirements being checked were scrutinised.  The proprietor has relocated Key Stage 2 and Year 7 pupils to a temporary site at 92-94 Stamford Hill, N16 6XS whilst building works at its main premises (Amhurst Park) are completed.

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Reason for the inspection

The Department for Education (DfE) asked Ofsted to check if the school continues to meet parts 3 and 5 of the independent school standards following this change and to check pupils’ safety at the temporary premises.

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 The arrangements made by the proprietor to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils do not meet the independent school standards. Premises are unclean and in a poor state of repair. There are shortcomings in the assessment of risk posed by the premises. Standards related to health and safety are unmet.  Stairs are in a poor state of repair. Missing sections of floor covering on some steps pose a hazard for pupils and visitors. The stairwell is littered with rubbish and is unclean.  The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority assessed the school premises on 11 November 2014. The report states the required action to be undertaken by the school to conform with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The school was required to conform with these regulations by 16 January 2015, four days prior to the date of this unannounced inspection. The proprietor has changed the position of smoke detectors to meet

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

one requirement. However, two other requirements have not been addressed. There is no protected route to the designated fire exits. The school’s fire alarm system and that used by the occupiers of the premises below are not connected. The fire risk assessment advised that this should be corrected. The premises do not meet independent schools standards.  The school’s written policies on behaviour, first-aid, health and safety and child protection are not fit for purpose. They are identical to those used for the rest of the school and not adapted to the temporary premises.  Suitable records of accidents are kept, but they do not record treatment given. Attempts which Emergency inspection: Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School, 20 January 2015 2 of 6

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

may have been made to communicate with parents are not recorded. Records of serious behaviour incidents are kept but do not provide sufficient detail about sanctions or follow-up provided.  The school’s anti-bullying strategy is written in plain language, has been recently reviewed and meets requirements.  Pupils are closely supervised and there is a written supervision statement for each staff member. Closed circuit television cameras monitor the premises, supervised by staff. A staircase leads to one of three fire exits. It is cluttered at the bottom with discarded furniture and boxes. It poses a risk when pupils need to visit the toilet. The staircase is at the edge of a large open area used by pupils for play during breaks. There is no written assessment to indicate that the risk posed to pupils has been recognised or steps have been taken to manage it.  The admission and attendance register seen by the inspector is maintained in accordance with

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

the relevant regulations and meets requirements.

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Premises of and accommodation at the school

 Separate toilet and washing facilities are provided for pupils and staff. The pupils’ toilets are not clean. In the washing area, dirt is ingrained deeply on the floor. The walls of the pupils’ toilets are damaged. Loose, fibrous cavity wall installation is exposed. Some of this material is within reach of pupils, and poses a risk to them. There is no evidence of action taken to recognise or manage this risk.  There are no shower facilities or changing accommodation on the premises. Swimming lessons are provided at a nearby pool, with shower and changing accommodation. No other arrangements are made for the provision of physical education for the pupils using the school site.  The medical examination and treatment room available is not suitable. There is no hand- washing facility. There are insufficient medical supplies and disposal facilities in the medical room .There are no suitable arrangements for replenishing and checking medical supplies.

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Premises of and accommodation at the school

 Records of routine checks on the maintenance and cleanliness of the premises are inadequate. Unclean premises and the poor state of repair indicate these checks are ineffective. As a result the health, safety and welfare of pupils is not ensured.  Acoustic conditions and the sound installation of rooms are acceptable for their purpose. Lighting has been provided to an acceptable level. There is external lighting at the school entrance which meets requirements.  A drinking water supply is available and labelled. This supply is used to fill jugs for pupils to drink while in other parts of the school. There are adequate cold water and washing facilities in toilets. The temperature of the hot water supply is controlled adequately so that it does not pose a scalding risk to users.  The outdoor space on the premises is a small rectangular area of ground near the school entrance. It has been created by the erection of temporary fencing. Its size, shape and the

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Premises of and accommodation at the school

nature of the surfaces makes it unsuitable for either physical education or play. Pupils do not get the opportunity to play outside as a result.

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The school must take action to meet The Education (Independent School Standards)

Regulations 2014 and associated requirements.  Ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school (paragraphs 7, 7(a)).  Ensure that such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraph 7(b)).  Ensure that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective Emergency inspection: Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School, 20 January 2015 3 of 6

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The school must take action to meet The Education (Independent School Standards)

implementation of a written health and safety policy (paragraph 11).  Comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(b) (paragraph 12).  Ensure that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written first aid policy (paragraph 13).  Ensure that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff (paragraph 14).  Ensure that the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy (paragraphs 16, 16(a)).  Ensure that appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified (paragraph 16(b)).  Ensure that suitable toilet and washing facilities are provided for the sole use of pupils (paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a)).  Ensure suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or

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The school must take action to meet The Education (Independent School Standards)

over at the start of the school year who receive physical education (paragraph 23(1)(c)).  Provide a hand-washing facility in the medical room (paragraphs 24(1), 24(1(b)).  Ensure that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured (paragraph 25).  Ensure that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable pupils to play outside (paragraphs 29(1), 29(1)(a)).  Ensure that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable physical education to be provided to pupils in accordance with the school curriculum (paragraph 29(1)(b)). Emergency inspection: Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School, 20 January 2015 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Andrew Wright, Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School opened on 3 January 1978. It provides education for pupils between the ages of two and 19 years. Girls and boys are admitted to the school but are educated in different departments which have different procedures and policies. The sixth form admits girls only. There is a head of school with overall responsibility for the different departments. Each different department, including the premises inspected, has its own headteacher.  On this inspection, only the temporary premises were visited. The first floor of a commercial building is being used. Temporary fencing has been erected to provide a secure entrance to the premises. The proprietor has arranged for the space to be partitioned into rooms of various sizes. Some of these are used as classrooms. Others are used for administrative and other purposes. A large open area remains which is used by pupils at break times. The suspended

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Information about this school

ceiling contains interstices through which a corrugated metal roof space is visible. The building is occupied on the ground floor by a commercial tiling company and is open to the public. The premises are being used to educate up to 200 boys between the ages of seven and 12 years. School leaders say pupils were moved to the temporary premises in September 2014 while new premises at the main school site in Amhurst Park are being completed. It is the proprietor’s intention that the school will vacate these premises on 15 February 2015.  The majority of the pupils are from the Satmar community of Orthodox Judaism.  The majority of pupils speak Yiddish as their first language and English as an additional language.  On the premises inspected, five boys are registered as having disabilities or special educational needs. Three of them have statements of special educational needs.  The school does not charge fees but parents are asked to make a voluntary contribution to the

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Information about this school

school if they are able to.  The school had its last full inspection in February 2012. A material change inspection was carried out at the same time. Its purpose was to report on the incorporation into the school of a boys’ department on separate premises. The change was not recommended as, at that time, the school failed to meet a significant number of regulations and Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. The school submitted an action plan in April 2012. This was considered unsatisfactory and further progress monitoring visits took place in June and November 2012. After the progress monitoring visit in November 2012, the school was judged to be making satisfactory progress in implementing its action plan and met all the necessary regulatory requirements. Emergency inspection: Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School, 20 January 2015 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 100293 Inspection number 461237 DfE registration number 204/6296 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008.

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School details

Type of school Independent Jewish day school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 2–19 years Gender of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils in the sixth form Girls Number of pupils on the school roll 1439

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Number of part time pupils 276 Proprietor Mr W. Low Chair Mr W. Low Headteacher Mrs E. Katz Date of previous school inspection 8 February 2012 Annual fees (day pupils) 0 ( Voluntary contributions are requested) Telephone number 0208 800 9060 Email address beisrochelschool@gmail.com Emergency inspection: Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School, 20 January 2015 6 of 6

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guidance 'Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 , or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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

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