Torah Vodaas

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Torah Vodaas Brent Park Road, London NW9 7AJ

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 3, 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(f), 3(g) and 4  The inspection in November 2016 identified that the quality of teaching and learning did not ensure that pupils made good progress from their various starting points. In particular, the most able pupils were not always sufficiently challenged so that they made the progress of which they were capable. Assessment information was not used effectively to plan for the learning needs of pupils. Also, teachers did not consistently make good use of the available resources to support pupils’ learning.  The school’s action plan is detailed, identifying clearly defined actions with realistic timescales. For example, the plan states that leaders will monitor teaching more closely, including weekly checks on teachers’ lesson plans and termly lesson observations and scrutiny of pupils’ work. An assessment coordinator has been appointed and appropriate training has been provided for teachers. The school also provided supplementary

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Main inspection findings

information including a suitable assessment policy and information about the use of an assessment tracking tool.  This inspection confirmed that all the proposed actions identified in the action plan have been effectively implemented. The assessment coordinator has wasted no time since January 2017 in implementing an effective system to track pupils’ progress from their starting points. This now forms an integral part of teachers’ planning. This, alongside the more rigorous programme of monitoring, has seen improvements in the quality of teaching and has helped to raise standards. The increased training opportunities for staff have also helped raise expectations and focused teachers on ensuring that the most able pupils are more consistently challenged. Leaders have also invested in new teaching resources, including textbooks, assessment software and classroom technology, to make lessons more stimulating. As a result, leaders have improved the quality of education

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Main inspection findings

provided and can now reliably demonstrate the positive progress that pupils are making.  The independent school standards in this part are now met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 5, 5(b)(v)  At the previous inspection, the school’s work on preparing pupils for life in modern Britain was not sufficiently developed. Pupils did not have enough opportunities to learn about the different cultures and religions represented in the United Kingdom.  The school’s detailed action plan outlines a range of appropriate activities. These show clearly how leaders intend to address the lack of opportunities for pupils to learn about cultural and religious diversity in modern Britain. For example, the plan names those invited into the school to present different traditions, beliefs and ethnicities. Furthermore, the plan identifies appropriate additions to the curriculum, including linking work on diversity to creative writing. Also, poets and writers from various backgrounds have been invited into school to lead workshops.  This inspection found that pupils are now being suitably prepared for life in modern

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Main inspection findings

Britain. Assemblies, displays and the planned poetry and creative writing projects provide pupils with many opportunities to learn, respect and appreciate other cultures. Pupils spoke confidently and in detail to the inspector about religions, cultures and lifestyles that differ from their own. They were knowledgeable and clear about the importance of respecting others, regardless of difference.  The independent school standards in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  As at the November 2016 inspection, the school’s safeguarding policy and procedures meet the requirements of the independent school standards, as they have regard to the latest national guidance, ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2016).  Though the school does not have a website, the safeguarding policy is made available to parents in hard copy on request.  Designated safeguarding leaders have completed the appropriate level of training to fulfil their responsibilities and most recently provided staff with refresher training in January 2017.  Arrangements for safeguarding pupils continue to be effective. As a result, the relevant independent school standards continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  At the last inspection, leaders and governors had not ensured that all the independent school standards were met.  The school’s action plan provides a wide range of detailed and appropriate information about the actions it intended to take to meet the standards.  This inspection found that leaders have embraced the concerns identified at the previous inspection. By working as a team to implement their action plan, leaders have shown they have the skills and knowledge required to make the necessary improvements. As a result, all the independent school standards are now met.

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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 teaching enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught (paragraph 3, 3(a)).  Ensure that teaching involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time (paragraph 3, 3(c)).  Ensure that teaching shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons (paragraph 3, 3(d)).  Ensure that teaching utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range (paragraph 3, 3(f)).  Ensure that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress (paragraph 3, 3(g)).  Ensure that a framework for pupil performance to be evaluated, by reference to the

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

school’s own aims as provided to parents or national norms, or to both, is in place (paragraph 4).  Ensure that principles are actively promoted which 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, 5(b)(v)).  Ensure that those with leadership and management responsibilities demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role and fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)).

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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 primary day school

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 1–3 November 2016

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Information about this school

 Torah Vodaas is an independent Orthodox Jewish primary school for boys.  The school is located in Hendon in the London borough of Barnet.  This is the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since the school’s full inspection in November 2016, when it was judged to require improvement.  In the absence of a website, policies are made available in hard copy to parents.

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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.  The school’s last full standard inspection was in November 2016 when it was judged to require improvement, and some of the independent school standards were unmet. The school drew up an action plan for improvement in response to the report, which was evaluated by Ofsted in February 2017 and judged to be acceptable. It was subsequently accepted by the Department for Education in April 2017.  This is the school’s first progress monitoring inspection. The inspector was asked to focus on particular requirements contained within Parts 1, 2 and 8 of the independent

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Information about this inspection

school standards.  The inspector briefly observed learning in all classrooms and looked at pupils’ work. He also scrutinised leaders’ monitoring of the quality of teaching and pupils’ progress.  He met with a group of pupils in Years 5 and 6, who spoke with him in depth about their learning, progress and understanding of other cultures.  He also held discussions with the leadership team, conducted a premises tour and scrutinised documentation including curriculum planning and the school’s safeguarding policy.  The inspection took account of the 115 recent responses to the Ofsted online survey (Parent View).

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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

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

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