Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School

Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School 51–57 Amhurst Park, London N16 5DL

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Context of the inspection

 The inspection was undertaken at the request of the registration authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan.  The school’s last inspection, which was a full standard inspection in June 2015, judged the school as inadequate and reported a significant number of regulations as unmet.  The Department for Education last wrote to the school in April 2016 to confirm the rejection of the action plan the school had submitted.  This inspection was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection and was conducted without notice.  The inspection focused on the school’s progress in Parts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector had meetings with senior leaders, including the chair of the governing body, the school leadership manager and heads of department. The premises on all four sites were inspected and all classes visited. The inspector scrutinised a wide range of documentation and

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Context of the inspection

spoke with pupils during the inspection, particularly at the school’s British fayre. A representative from the local authority was also spoken to by telephone about the school’s progress in relation to provision for children in the early years.

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Quality of education

 The school now meets all the required standards.  The inspection in June 2015 reported that the curriculum did not cover all the required areas of learning, such as science in Years 10 and 11. The early years curriculum did not include written and spoken lessons in English, and physical education was not sufficiently taught in all classes. The personal, social, health and education curriculum did not ensure pupils were being well prepared for life in modern Britain as the syllabus was limited. Careers guidance was insufficient and ongoing checks on pupils’ progress were inconsistent.  This inspection found the quality of education to have significantly improved.  Planning and resources are now in place to support the teaching of science, which is timetabled twice weekly for all pupils. GCSE science is being offered to pupils from September 2016.  A new physical education teacher has been employed. Planning and resources are now in place

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Quality of education

to support the teaching of physical education, which is also timetabled twice weekly for all pupils.  Provision for children in the early years has improved. In addition to there being an English- speaking practitioner in every class, a full lesson of English is taught every afternoon. This is having a positive impact on children’s development of reading, writing and speaking skills in Monitoring report: Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School, 14 July 2016 2 of 6

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Quality of education

English. The school’s early years manager is fully engaged in all the training opportunities made available by the local authority and has ensured that funding has been made available to improve the range and quality of resources available for children in the early years.  A full-time member of staff has been employed to oversee a new, bespoke assessment system. This system tracks pupils’ progress in all subjects and is particularly detailed in English and mathematics. The framework ensures pupils’ work is assessed regularly and that the assessment information is then used to plan teaching, which is now more focused and thorough. It caters effectively for pupils’ different ages, aptitudes and needs.  An independent careers adviser has been employed to provide impartial advice to pupils as part of a new careers programme for pupils in Years 8 to 11. Pupils are encouraged to fulfil their potential and are given impartial, personalised support to consider their career options. An

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Quality of education

annual careers trip is now also part of the Year 8 curriculum and work experience placements are now timetabled for pupils in Year 10.  Personal, social, health and economic education has also improved and the school effectively promotes fundamental British values. The focus on tolerance and mutual respect is especially celebrated all around the school. On the day of the inspection, the inspector saw both sports day activities and the school’s British fayre, during which pupils in Year 11 took part in an inspirational event organised by their peers. Thorough planning, creative skills and focused research saw pupils engage in a carousel of interactive learning activities on the Commonwealth, democracy, the journey of a bill to a law, the monarchy and ‘diversity – all different, yet together’. Pupils have been on a number of trips this year, including to the state opening of Parliament, the Royal Courts of Justice and HMS Belfast. The school will also be

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Quality of education

offering a GCSE in citizenship studies from September 2016.

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Welfare, health and safety

 The school now meets all the required standards.  The arrangements for safeguarding now meet all requirements. The procedures for safer recruitment have improved. Two professional references are consistently requested and verified before a member of staff is appointed.  The school’s updated health and safety policy meets requirements. There are now daily safety checks of all classrooms and maintenance logs. New staff have been employed to ensure that all sites are safe, well-maintained learning environments. Significant investment has seen several improvements to playground areas, fire exits and pupils’ toilets.  Arrangements for fire safety now meet requirements. Fire exits are clear and safe, and a new exit has been created at the Warwick Grove school site. Fire drills and the checks and maintenance of fire safety equipment are regularly and accurately logged. Actions suggested as a result of external risk assessments, last carried out at all school sites in September 2015, have

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Welfare, health and safety

been effectively followed up.  There is now a clear risk assessment policy. The school now risk assesses all trips, buildings, classrooms and activities, such as physical education lessons. These assessments are effective in reducing identified risks.

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Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

 The school now meets all the required standards.  Two professional references are now consistently requested and verified before a member of staff is appointed. These checks are recorded, alongside all other appropriate checks, on the school’s single central register.

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Premises and accommodation

 The school now meets all the required standards.  All four school sites seen during the inspection were safe. Significant investment in redecoration works, new playgrounds and the new building in Bethune Road have improved, and continue to Monitoring report: Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School, 14 July 2016 3 of 6

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Premises and accommodation

improve, the quality and safety of the premises.  Following the previous inspection, external lighting has been installed to ensure safe entry and exit to and from all the school’s premises.

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Leadership and management

 The school now meets all the required standards.  Leaders and governors have worked tirelessly to remedy the failings identified over a year ago at the previous inspection. The school’s action plan, which was judged to require improvement, does not accurately reflect the effective actions taken to address each unmet standard. As a result, leaders are now fulfilling their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are being met and the well-being of pupils is actively promoted.

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The school meets The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014

and associated requirements . Monitoring report: Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School, 14 July 2016 4 of 6

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Information about this school

 Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School is an independent day school for girls and boys aged 2–19. The school has an Orthodox Jewish faith ethos.  There are 1,500 pupils on roll, including 349 in the early years, 84 of whom attend part time.  Fifteen pupils have an education, health and care plan or statement of special educational needs.  The school is situated in the London Borough of Hackney, across four sites. Girls in the early years and Year 1 attend the Cazenove Road site. Those in Years 2 and 3 attend the Warwick Grove site and pupils in Years 4 to 11 attend the main Amhurst Park school site. All boys attend school at the premises on Bethune Road.  Previous temporary premises at 92–94 Stamford Hill are no longer used by the school and have now been demolished.  The school’s leadership structure includes headteachers for each school site, overseen by the senior leadership team manager. The governing body, including its chair, is very actively

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Information about this school

involved in the life of the school.  At the time of the inspection, there was no sixth-form provision operating.  The school’s most recent inspection was a full inspection in June 2015 when the school was judged to be inadequate in all areas and many independent school standards in Parts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8 were not met.  The school does not have a website. Hard copies of all policies and procedures are made available to parents on request. Monitoring report: Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School, 14 July 2016 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 100293 Inspection number 10020365 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 Jewish faith school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 2–19 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 1,500 Number of part time pupils 84 children in the early years Proprietor Beis Rochel d’Satmar Charitable Trust Chair of governors Rabbi S Lew Senior leadership manager Elka Katz Date of previous school inspection 2–4 June 2015 Annual fees No fees stated, but voluntary contributions are made. Nursery fees are £10,000. Telephone number 020 8800 9060 Email address beisrochelschool@gmail.com Monitoring report: Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School, 14 July 2016 6 of 6

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School details

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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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.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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