Bnois Jerusalem Girls School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Bnois Jerusalem Girls’ School 79/81 Amhurst Park, London N16 5DL

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  The progress monitoring inspection in November 2016 found that some checks on the suitability of staff to work at the school had not been undertaken before they took up their posts. Procedures for assuring pupils’ safety on the school premises were not rigorous enough. As a result, leaders were compromising pupils’ safety.  The school’s action plan indicates that two members of staff will check the single central record of recruitment checks twice a month and that the compliance officer will report the findings to governors. The plan also states that the majority of actions concerned with improving the safety of the premises have already been completed.  Since November 2016, all the required recruitment checks have been completed and meet statutory requirements. Staff recruitment procedures have been strengthened by the introduction of a risk assessment for the recruitment process to ensure that

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Main inspection findings

all checks are completed for all staff. All the required actions have been successfully taken to address the health and safety concerns identified at the last inspection, the details of which are set out below in Part 5.  The school’s comprehensive and effective safeguarding policy reflects the Secretary of State’s latest guidance, ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2016), and ‘Working together to safeguard children’ (March 2015). The school does not have a website, but this policy and all others are available upon request from the school’s office.  The proprietor and leaders have created a strong safeguarding ethos in the school. They take safeguarding very seriously and engage well with parents and outside agencies to help keep pupils safe. Effective risk assessments are in place for a range of activities. All the appropriate pre-employment checks have been carried out on newly appointed staff, who have completed the required safeguarding training,

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Main inspection findings

including preparation for their duties in connection with the ‘Prevent’ duty.  The requirements for this paragraph are now met.  All the requirements for this part are met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2) and 18(2)(a)  In November 2016, the progress monitoring inspection found that there were weaknesses in the school’s recruitment procedures. Before new staff took up their appointments, leaders were not always following statutory guidance by systematically carrying out the necessary checks of applicants’ names against the list of individuals barred from working in schools.  The action plan states that all the necessary checks have been implemented since December 2016.  Scrutiny of the single central record of recruitment checks and a sample of three personnel files shows that all the required checks have been completed and now meet statutory requirements.

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Main inspection findings

 The requirements for this paragraph are now met.  All the requirements for this part are met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1) and 23(1)(c)  The progress monitoring inspection in November 2016 found that the changing and showering facilities were not sufficient for a class of 20 pupils. The action plan indicated that additional changing accommodation was being created.  Since that time, more changing and showering facilities have been created.  The requirements for this paragraph are now met. Paragraph 25  In November 2016, the monitoring inspection found some concerns about the school premises in relation to the safety and well-being of pupils. In particular, the toilet doors could not be unlocked from the outside in case of emergency, the playgrounds were in poor condition and the cleaning and decoration were deficient, especially in the early years classrooms.  The action plan stated that actions to rectify these shortcomings would be completed

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Main inspection findings

by 10 April 2017.  Since November 2016, new toilet locks have been fitted so that pupils’ exit can be assisted from the outside in the event of an emergency. The playgrounds to the rear of the school have been resurfaced. The planned programme of redecoration of the classrooms, corridors and staircases has now been completed. Classrooms are clean and tidy and provide an attractive learning environment.  The requirements for this paragraph are now met. Paragraph 29(1), 29(1)(a) and 29(1)(b)  The monitoring inspection in November 2016 found that planned works to resurface the rear main playground had not been completed and that there was not enough space in the early years outside area and the rear playground for children’s play and recreation.  The action plan indicates that action to remedy these shortcomings has already been taken. This includes relocating year groups to different play spaces and staggering

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Main inspection findings

the lunchbreaks.  Since November 2016, the outside areas have been resurfaced. The early years outside area has been remodelled so that it is now fenced and has a new entrance from the main building, together with a new security system. Through the effective use of a number of creative strategies, there is now sufficient outdoor space for children’s play and recreation. The actions taken have included relocating year groups to different play spaces, staggering lunchbreaks and teaching physical education in groups of 10 pupils at a time.  The requirements for this paragraph are now met.  All the requirements for this part are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  The proprietor and senior leaders have made good progress towards meeting the unmet independent school standards. They have made a considerable investment in, and commitment to, improving the fabric of the school, including classrooms and the

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Main inspection findings

outside learning environment.  Leaders, including the proprietor, have successfully addressed all the issues relating to the unmet standards identified at the last progress monitoring inspection in November 2016.  Staff in leadership posts have demonstrated that they possess the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities in meeting the independent school standards.  The requirements of this paragraph are now met.  All the requirements for this part are now met.  The inspector was asked to consider the school’s proposal to increase both the age range and the number of pupils on roll. The required schemes of work and suitable resources have been prepared to reflect the proposed increases in the age range and number of pupils. The building has the capacity to accommodate such an expansion. This inspection recommends the extension in the age range from 3−16 years to

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Main inspection findings

2−16 years and a rise in the number of pupils on roll from 658 to 850.  Evidence was presented during the inspection that planning permission for the development of 71 Amhurst Park, London N16 5DL is to be confirmed shortly.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 Ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)).  Ensure that no member of staff is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act where that person is or will be engaging in activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 4 to that Act (paragraph 18(2) and 18(2)(a)).  Ensure that suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education (paragraph 23(1) and 23(1)(c)).  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).

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 Ensure that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable physical education to be provided to pupils in accordance with the school curriculum; and for pupils to play outside (paragraph 29(1), 29(1)(a) and 29(1)(b)).  Ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)).

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School details

Type of school Orthodox Jewish day school

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School details

Proprietor Bnois Jerusalem Girls’ School

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Paid on a voluntary basis

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 7−8 February 2012

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Information about this school

 Bnois Jerusalem Girls’ School is an orthodox Jewish school which is registered for 658 pupils aged from three to 16 years. The school is located in Stamford Hill, north-east London, and opened in 1962.  At the time of the last standard inspection in February 2012, its overall effectiveness was judged to be good. In December 2013, a material change inspection took place to check the suitability of the school’s premises to accommodate additional pupils. The material change was not agreed because of weaknesses in the school’s welfare and health and safety procedures, and shortcomings in the premises and accommodation.  The school then received three progress monitoring inspections in September 2014, November 2015 and November 2016. The progress monitoring inspection in November 2016 judged that a number of independent school standards were still unmet. This is the fourth progress monitoring inspection to judge whether the school

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Information about this school

meets all the independent school standards.  Since the last full inspection in 2012, the school has continued to expand its premises and has admitted more pupils. There are currently 829 girls on roll, whose ages range from two to 16. There are 173 children in the early years provision, which includes 12 two-year-olds. All children in the early years receive government funding and attend full time.  Children are currently being educated below the school’s agreed registration age of three and leaders have exceeded the school’s registered capacity of 658 pupils.  There are 10 pupils who have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care (EHC) plan, all of whom are in receipt of local authority funding. A further 34 pupils have been identified as needing additional learning support.  All pupils come from Yiddish-speaking homes and speak English as an additional language.  There were no responses to the Ofsted online survey (Parent View).

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Information about this school

 The school does not have a website, but all the required policies are available from the school office upon request.  The school does not make use of any off-site education or training for pupils.  The school aims ‘to deliver a high-class education, which is firmly based on the principles of the Torah, combined with those of the national curriculum to produce healthy members of society.’

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged not to comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspection was carried out without notice.  The inspector was asked to report against the requirements contained within Parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards.  In February 2012, Ofsted undertook a standard inspection of the school and judged it to be good. Following the third progress monitoring inspection in November 2016, the school drew up an action plan for improvement in response to the report. This was evaluated in March 2017 and judged to be ‘acceptable with modifications’.  This was the fourth progress monitoring inspection since the full standard inspection in

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Information about this inspection

February 2012. Its purpose was to judge whether the school has met all the independent school standards.  The inspector was also asked to consider the school’s proposed increase in age range from 3−16 years to 2−16 years and an increase in the number on roll from 658 to 850. He was also asked to check whether planning permission had been granted for 71 Amhurst Park, London N16 5DL.  The inspector, together with senior leaders, toured the school site, visiting all classrooms, outside areas and the changing and showering accommodation. He held discussions with the senior staff and scrutinised a range of documentation related to the independent school standards. The inspector also reviewed key documents and policies, including those related to safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

David Scott, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 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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Inspection team

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

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

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Inspection team

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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