Beis Ruchel D'Satmar London

School progress monitoring inspection report

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117 Stamford Hill, London N16 5RS Inspection date 22 May 2017

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1)(b)(ii), 2(2)(d)(ii), 3(i), 3(j), 5(a), 5(b)(v) and 5(b)(vi)  The previous inspection found that the curriculum was not broad enough because it did not give pupils opportunities to learn about other faiths or the protected characteristics, as identified in the Equality Act 2010.  The school’s action plan made no reference to these standards.  This inspection confirmed that the school has not revised its policy, planning or approach to the explicit teaching of other faiths, religions, cultures or lifestyles. The school’s leaders continue to teach pupils the importance of universal respect, but insist that there is no possibility of teaching pupils about all of the protected characteristics.  The requirements in this paragraph continue to be not met. Paragraph 2(2)(f)  At the previous inspection, the unregistered early years provision was judged as

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Main inspection findings

inadequate.  The school’s action plan refers to the recruitment, training and retention of early years staff.  This inspection found some positive progress in the early years provision. However, the requirements of this paragraph continue to be unmet, as the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage continue to be unmet, as detailed on page 4.  The independent school standards in this part continue to be not met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils  The school’s registered age range is five to 11 years, and its maximum capacity is 200.  At this inspection, the school’s operational age range was three to 13 years and its number on roll was 572. Leaders intend to continue to increase the school’s roll and age range.  To consider an increase in number and a change in age range, the Department for Education (DfE) requested that the inspector also consider the requirements in Parts 3, 4

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Main inspection findings

and 5 of the independent school standards. Paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  The school’s safeguarding policy is too sparse. It does not pay explicit enough regard to the latest national statutory guidance, ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (September 2016). It is wrongly marked as having been reviewed in November 2015 and the date the policy was adopted is mistyped. It lacks detail in very many areas and does not provide sufficient guidance for staff or parents.  The school’s approach to safer recruitment is weak. It does not pay regard to statutory guidance. The school’s single central register of pre-employment checks does not meet requirements in many respects, as detailed in Part 4.  The requirements in this paragraph are not met. Paragraphs 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 16(a), 16(b) and 25  The school’s premises are currently accommodating triple its registered maximum capacity. Despite this, the buildings and facilities are not being checked or maintained in

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Main inspection findings

line with the school’s appropriate health and safety policy. As a result, the building’s users are at risk of harm. As examples, the inspector found exposed wires in three areas of the school, mattresses were being stored above pupils’ desks in a classroom, and an unmarked door leading to a basement containing workers’ tools was left unlocked.  The school does not meet the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The inspector found a fire exit to be locked, and another leading to a cluttered corridor. Checks on the fire alarm system and the fire extinguishers were last undertaken in November 2015. Checks on the emergency lighting are not undertaken and/or logged.  The school does not have a written risk assessment policy. Risk assessments of the premises lack rigour and detail. Daily checks on the school’s premises to ensure that they are safe are too weak. As a result, pupils’ safety is endangered.

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Main inspection findings

 Most of the requirements in these paragraphs are not met.  The independent school standards checked in this part are not met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  The school’s single central register of vetting checks on staff does not meet requirements. There are significant gaps. Until the inspector explained this, the school’s leaders were unaware of the need to undertake barred list, overseas and section 128 direction checks. Prohibition checks were last completed for only some staff during the previous inspection. New staff have been allowed to start work without enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.  Many requirements in these paragraphs are not met.  The independent school standards checked in this part are not met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The school’s toilet and washing facilities meet requirements. Suitable changing and

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Main inspection findings

shower facilities are available to pupils aged 11 years and over.  Pupils obtain drinking water from clearly marked drinking water taps throughout the school. The water supply is appropriately regulated.  The acoustic conditions and sound insulation are suitable throughout the premises, as are arrangements for indoor and outdoor lighting.  There is an appropriate amount of outdoor space for physical education and play.  The school has a suitable medical room space. However, there was no operational water supply or appropriate first-aid supplies available at the time of the inspection. The requirements of paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a) and 24(1)(b) are therefore not met.  Some of the requirements are not met.  Not all of the independent school standards checked in 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 previous inspection found that these standards were not met because leaders had

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Main inspection findings

failed to ensure that the independent school standards were being met consistently.  The school’s action plan lacks clarity and timescales. It does not refer to the unmet standards, but instead focuses on developing leadership, employing a head of early years, employing and training qualified early years staff and developing assessment systems.  This inspection found the school to have regressed since the previous inspection. Many more standards are now judged as not met, including in relation to serious concerns with regard to safeguarding, health and safety, and fire safety.  The school has admitted large numbers of pupils, despite not having the registration to do so. Leaders have admitted pupils far outside their registered age range and there are 372 more pupils than the school’s registered capacity allows. Leaders intend to continue admitting new pupils, up to the age of 16.  The independent school standards in this part continue to be not met.

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Main inspection findings

 The request for a material change to the school’s registration is not recommended. Statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage  The school continues to operate unregistered early years provision. This provision now comprises 210 children.  The previous inspection judged the early years provision to be inadequate. Inspection evidence found that leaders had failed to identify starting points for children entering the early years. The requirements identified in sections 1 and 3 of the statutory framework, especially in relation to the areas of learning and staff qualifications, were judged as unmet.  The school’s action plan focused largely on the recruitment, training and retention of early years leaders and staff.

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Main inspection findings

 This inspection found there to have been some positive improvements since June 2016. An appropriately qualified head of early years has been appointed and currently works one day a week and will be at the school full time from September 2017. She has helped to lead work on redeveloping the early years curriculum, resourcing and redesigning the nine classrooms and ensuring that planning and assessment are focused on the seven areas of learning and development. An increased number of staff are now appropriately qualified. Formal teaching in and of English is planned to begin in the early years in September 2017.  As the current work being undertaken is in the early stages of implementation, the vast majority of the previously unmet requirements continue to be not met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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 does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain unmet at this inspection  Ensure that the curriculum policy, plans and schemes of work do not undermine the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (paragraph 2(1) and 2(1)(b)(ii)).  Ensure that the school’s policies and schemes of work relating to personal, social, health and economic education encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010 (paragraph 2(2) and 2(2)(d)(ii)).  Ensure that the school’s programme of activities for pupils below compulsory school age is appropriate to their educational needs in relation to personal, social, emotional and physical development, and communication and language skills (paragraph 2(2) and 2(2)(f)).  Ensure that the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school does not undermine

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (paragraph 3 and 3(i)); and does not discriminate against pupils contrary to Part 6 of the Equality Act 2010 (paragraph 3 and 3(j)).  Ensure that the proprietor actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (paragraph 5 and 5(a)).  Ensure that the proprietor promotes further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures (paragraph 5 and 5(b)(v)).  Ensure that the proprietor promotes principles which encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

(paragraph 5 and 5(b)(vi)).  Ensure that the proprietor ensures 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; and that they fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)). Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection  Ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school and have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)).  Ensure that the proprietor complies with relevant health and safety laws by implementing effectively the health and safety policy (paragraph 11).  Ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (paragraph 12).

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

 Ensure that appropriate first-aid supplies are available throughout the school, including in the medical room (paragraph 13).  Ensure that the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by ensuring that a written risk assessment is effectively implemented and that risk assessments are specific and that appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified (paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)).  Ensure that barred list, enhanced criminal record, prohibition from teaching, section 128 direction and overseas checks are completed for all staff (paragraph 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(d) and 18(2)(e)).  Ensure that an accurate single central register of vetting checks is kept which shows all of these checks (paragraph 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(viii) and 21(3)(b)).  Ensure that the medical room includes a working washing facility and is appropriately

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

stocked with first-aid supplies (paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a) and 24(1)(b)).  Ensure that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured (paragraph 25).  Ensure that leaders actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraph 34(1) and 34(1)(c)). Statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage  Ensure that the proprietor implements both the safeguarding and welfare requirements and the learning and development requirements of the early years foundation stage as described in the statutory framework (paragraphs 1.5–1.12 and paragraphs 3.20–3.26).

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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 for girls

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 28–30 June 2016

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Information about this school

 Beis Ruchel D’Satmar London is an Orthodox Jewish independent day school in Stamford Hill in the London Borough of Hackney.  It is registered for up to 200 girls between the ages of five and 11 years. However, the school is operating with 572 girls between the ages of three and 13 years. There are 210 children in the unregistered early years provision. There are 46 pupils in Years 7 and 8.  The school is also operating a crèche for which it is currently seeking separate registration.  At the time of the last standard inspection in June 2016, the school’s overall effectiveness was judged to be inadequate.  There have been no recent responses to the Ofsted online survey, Parent View.  The school does not make use of any off-site training for older pupils.  The school does not have a website, but the required policies are available from the school office upon request.

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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 to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspection was carried out without notice.  This first progress monitoring inspection focused on the school’s progress in meeting particular requirements in Parts 1, 2 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector was also asked to consider particular requirements in Parts 3, 4 and 5 in consideration of a proposed increase in age range from five to 11 years to three to 12 years and an increase in the number on roll from 200 to 490. However, since this request was made, the school has increased its number on roll further to 572 and its age range to three to 13 years.  At the time of the last standard inspection in June 2016, the school’s overall

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Information about this inspection

effectiveness was judged to be inadequate. Leaders were asked to submit an action plan. This was judged by Ofsted as not acceptable in December 2016 and subsequently rejected by the Department for Education.  The inspector held discussions with the school’s coordinator (who is responsible for the daily management of the school) and the head of early years. He also met briefly with the headteacher. He toured all of the premises and observed learning in all nine of the early years classrooms. He scrutinised a wide range of documentation related to the independent school standards, including those related to safeguarding, health and safety, and the early years provision.

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Inspection team

James Waite, 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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