Beis Ruchel Girls School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Beis Ruchel Girls School 1-7 Seymour Road, Manchester, Lancashire M8 5BQ

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this inspection

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  At the inspection in March 2017, inspectors found that these standards were met.  The school’s safeguarding procedures remain effective. The safeguarding policy is up to date and refers to current government guidance. Leaders recently updated the policy to reflect the changes introduced in September 2018. The school does not have a website. Information about how parents, carers and visitors can get a copy of the policy is on the school noticeboard in the entrance.  Leaders receive up-to-date training on safeguarding. Staff receive annual training which helps them to recognise any signs which show a pupil may be at risk. Regular updates keep this training fresh so that staff know what action to take if they are troubled about a pupil’s well-being.  These standards are met. Paragraph 15  At the previous inspection, this standard was not met because staff were not using the

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correct registration codes when completing attendance registers. Leaders did not have a clear view of attendance rates or patterns of absence for each pupil.  The school action plan of August 2017 identified appropriate actions to address these issues.  At the progress monitoring inspection in December 2017, the inspector found that leaders had taken steps to implement the planned actions. An attendance officer had been appointed to strengthen the leadership of the monitoring of attendance. An electronic attendance analysis system was in place. Despite these actions, the recording of attendance was still inaccurate and irregular. The systems to check and record attendance were not satisfactory. This standard was not met.  The school action plan of April 2018 identified further action to rectify this issue. Leaders planned training for staff to ensure that they used the correct registration codes. They

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planned to strengthen the monitoring and recording of attendance and lateness. Evidence submitted by leaders did not confirm that the school had resolved the weakness.  Leaders’ recording of attendance is now accurate and timely. Staff use codes which are set out in national guidance. The attendance officer monitors attendance diligently. She follows up with parents any reasons for absence or for lateness. Information from paper registers is transferred to an electronic attendance system and leaders check for any patterns of absence. The headteacher and the attendance officer follow up any less- good attendance and take action to support parents and pupils to improve attendance.  Pupils are clear about the importance of attendance and know that any absence is followed up by leaders.  This standard is met.

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this inspection

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 29 (1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  At the previous standard inspection, this standard was not met. This was because the proprietor had not made sure that the school’s outdoor space was suitable for the provision of play or physical education. The surfaces were uneven and very large puddles formed when it rained. The space for outdoor play and learning in the early years was identified as limited.  The school action plan of August 2017 set out suitable action to resurface the outdoor play area with tarmac. Plans included providing staff with training to develop their skills in teaching high-quality physical education (PE) outdoors.  At the progress monitoring inspection in December 2017, the inspector found that the outdoor space was as it had been at the time of the previous inspection. Plans to resurface the area had not been carried out. Although there were more opportunities for

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children in the early years to learn through play, the outdoor space remained limited.  The school action plan of April 2018 set a timescale for the resurface of the entire playground area but no evidence was submitted to show that the work had been completed. Plans did not include any reference to how leaders were to resolve the shortcomings of the outdoor space for play and learning in the early years.  The entire playground area has been resurfaced and provides ample space for play and PE. Pupils are delighted. Many pupils told me that they do not get muddy coats anymore, slip on the wet surface or fall in puddles. Leaders have introduced a new curriculum for PE and have trained staff to teach skills systematically in a wide range of sports and physical activity. Pupils talked enthusiastically about ‘doing PE’ and the different sporting activities they enjoy.  Children in the early years have a spacious outdoor area at the new site.

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this inspection

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)

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 At the standard inspection in March 2017, and the progress monitoring inspection in December 2017, this part was not met. This was because leaders had not ensured that all the independent standards had been met.  The school action plan of April 2018 identified actions that, if implemented effectively, would mean the school was not likely to meet all of the remaining standards that were unmet at the last inspection. Although the planned actions, the timescale allocated and the success measures were suitable, leaders did not provide convincing evidence that the planned improvements were in place.  Leaders have addressed all the standards that were unmet at the time of the previous standard inspection.  Leaders and staff have increased their knowledge and understanding of the independent school standards through joint meetings with the staff from a local independent secondary school.  This standard is 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, as set out in the annex of this report. 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

 The proprietor must ensure that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. (paragraph 15)  The proprietor must 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), 29(1)(b))  The proprietor must 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 and 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), 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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Girls

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School details

Email address mrskrausz@jnr.beisruchel.co.uk.

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 21–23 March 2017

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Information about this school

 Beis Ruchel Girls School is an independent school for girls, which opened in November 1995. The school is located in the Crumpsall area of Manchester, about four miles north of the city centre.  The school is a provider of nursery education.  A below-average proportion of pupils have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities. A small number of pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school provides education for the children of the religious Orthodox Jewish Chassidic communities in Manchester and Salford. Most pupils are members of the Satmar community. Some girls from other Jewish backgrounds also attend the school.  The school offers a religious (Kodesh) and a secular (Chol) curriculum.  The school does not have a website.  The school aims to prepare the girls to become active members of their community, living ethical lives in harmony with others.  The school is currently registered for up to 250 pupils. The number of pupils on roll at this

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Information about this school

site is 233. There are 56 children on roll in the early years.  The proprietor has identified new premises for the school and plans are in place to refurbish these premises to create better accommodation for all pupils.  The proprietor has arranged for the early years children to use a site a short distance away from the main school building. This site is large and includes a spacious outdoor area. The proprietor has informed the Department for Education about this move.

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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.  This progress monitoring inspection was the second since the standard inspection in March 2017 and was unannounced. The first progress monitoring inspection took place in December 2017.  The school submitted an action plan to the Department for Education, which was evaluated as not acceptable in August 2017; and a second action plan, evaluated as not acceptable in April 2018.  Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) held meetings with the headteacher, the proprietor, a group of pupils and a group of staff. HMI made a tour of the school. HMI reviewed the attendance and registration information and considered the school’s approach to the

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Information about this inspection

delivery of physical education. HMI reviewed the safeguarding policy.  Although not in scope for this inspection, HMI visited the site being used for the early years to check that is was sufficiently spacious to accommodate the number of pupils attending.

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Inspection team

Eileen Mulgrew, lead inspector Senior Her Majesty’s 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

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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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