Keser Torah Boys' School

School and residential material change report

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Gateshead Jewish Primary School 18–19 Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 4EA

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3(j)  Leaders have a clear understanding of the requirements of the standard which asks that schools do not discriminate against pupils contrary to the Equalities Act 2010. Much of the work of the school ensures that teaching supports groups identified within the Act. For example, school leaders have forged links with a non- denominational special school locally with a high number of disabled pupils. Staff and pupils have raised funds for the school and leaders have plans to develop even closer links, including visits for pupils. This has enabled pupils to gain a deeper understanding and respect for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  However, leaders do not feel that they are able to identify to their pupils groups of people who are gender reassigned or have sexual orientation other than heterosexuality, as this contravenes some aspects of the community’s Jewish faith.

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Main inspection findings

 As a result, this standard cannot be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  Leaders and staff ensure that pupils understand what constitutes British values. Wall displays around the school enable pupils to recognise the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law and individual liberty. They also help pupils develop a mutual respect and tolerance of those people with different faiths and beliefs and those without faith.  The culture within the school is caring. For example, a box on a wall in school enables pupils to post anonymously, if wished, ideas, suggestions and concerns. This enables pupils to have a voice in the life of the school. Leaders are also clearly focused on ensuring that pupils develop self-esteem and self-worth. This is effectively fostered through both the secular and the Kodesh curriculum, and particularly through the school’s Project Me, which aims to ensure that pupils develop a belief in

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Main inspection findings

themselves, their actions and their aspirations.  Staff ensure that pupils are aware of the difference between right and wrong through the Kodesh curriculum. Pupils also learn about the rule of law and the importance of justice in the United Kingdom.  Pupils make annual visits to the Gateshead council chambers. When there, they meet with elected representatives and the mayor. Often, they are able to observe activities in the council chambers; this enables pupils to develop an understanding of how democracy runs in a British institution.  Pupils’ behaviour in school is effectively managed. The current headteacher has put in place a behaviour policy which promotes positive behaviour and rewards. This, combined with the work undertaken by pupils in Project Me, ensures that pupils understand the importance of managing their own behaviour, both inside and outside school, and the effect it has on others.

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Main inspection findings

 Pupils are taught the importance of their own culture through studying the Torah and through living within the immediate community. Pupils also learn about other religions and cultures through, for example, linking with a Catholic primary school in Carlisle.  Leaders however, as previously explained in this report, feel they are unable to recognise all groups protected by the Equalities Act 2010 and discuss them with pupils. As a result, pupils are unaware that families may be made up of a range of different adults, including same sex parents.  As a result, school leaders have not ensured that this standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  Staff ensure that pupils are safe, both inside and outside school. They receive regular safeguarding updates from the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and the deputy DSL. Staff spoken to during the inspection knew what to do if they had a safeguarding concern and were clear about potential concerns within the locality.  The school’s safeguarding policy is fit for purpose and meets current legislative requirements. The school does not have a website. Parents and carers are given direction, both from notices on the wall in school and from information provided when a pupil joins the school, about where to obtain the school’s safeguarding policy.  Staff receive regular training and safeguarding updates from the DSL, who is also a member of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 9  Staff have a clear understanding of the behaviour policy and take a consistent

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Main inspection findings

approach in classrooms.  Pupils behave well in school and are polite and friendly to each other, staff and visitors. There are very few serious behavioural incidents and no exclusions of pupils from school have taken place in the past academic year.  Senior leaders are aware of the need to record serious incidents. However, sanction records were insufficiently detailed and actions were not clear.  Senior leaders have not ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 10  School leaders have ensured that pupils are clear about the different forms bullying can take and who to turn to should they have concerns. For example, the school has a postbox where pupils can post feedback on their feelings which are then picked up by staff.  The school’s anti-bullying policy is regularly updated and clearly defines different types of bullying.  The school embraces national anti-bullying week and uses it to enable pupils of all

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Main inspection findings

ages to develop an understanding of how to deal with bullying, both inside and outside school.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 11  The school’s health and safety policy identifies the main roles and responsibilities for health and safety within the school. Regular health and safety checks are carried out, both inside and outside the school. For example, the school has security guards on duty who are responsible for carrying out checks outside the school buildings. They report to senior leaders each morning. Checks on the inside of the school are carried out by the site manager.  Staff are clear about the storage of hazardous chemicals, such as cleaning materials. Regular checks are carried out by the administrator on the effect of the current refurbishment work on health and safety in school.  At the time of the inspection, some rooms were in need of refurbishment. This work

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Main inspection findings

is part of a rolling programme of ongoing works to improve the building. Some minor concerns were raised by the inspector, including a small amount of loose plaster and pulled wires, which had resulted from recent building refurbishment. School leaders ensured that the necessary repair work was done immediately.  School leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 12  The school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. A comprehensive fire risk assessment is in place which identifies potential sources of ignition within the building.  Fire exits and escape routes are checked daily and staff receive regular update training in fire safety. For example, a recent concern was raised about pupils who may be in the toilets at the time of the fire drill. A further marshal check has consequently been put in place.  Fire evacuation drills are carried out four times a year and records show that the time

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Main inspection findings

of evacuation is noted.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 13  The school has four qualified first aiders who ensure that first aid cover is always maintained. They are backed up by the community first response volunteers who work within the Hatzola service, a volunteer medical service.  First aid incidents are attended to and logged effectively. Information is sent home to parents when necessary, for example if a pupil receives a blow to the head.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 14  Senior leaders ensure that all classes have sufficient numbers of staff to ensure pupils’ health and welfare.  Observations during the inspection showed that pupils are well supervised by staff when outside in the playground and when in classrooms.  Leaders have ensured that this standard has been met. Paragraph 15  The school has in place an admissions register which is compliant with requirements,

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Main inspection findings

including pupils’ destinations.  Daily attendance registers are in place and record pupils’ attendance twice daily. Analysis of daily attendance is carried out and pupil absence is followed up.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 16  The school has in place a risk assessment policy which clearly outlines the requirements for completing risk assessments for taking pupils off the school premises.  Most risk assessments are completed by staff who follow the requirements of the policy; however, one or two risk assessments had not been completed correctly.  Although previous incomplete risk assessments did not cause a risk to pupils’ safety overall, the lack of consistency in writing risk assessments means that leaders have not ensured that this standard has been met.  Leaders have not ensured that all standards in this part have been met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23  School leaders have ensured that that there are sufficient toilets to meet the needs of the 250 pupils that leaders have requested registration for.  Currently, toilets are located on each floor and within easy reach of pupils in all year groups. A separate disabled toilet with a shower is located on the ground floor. All other toilets are single cubicles and all have handwashing facilities.  Leaders have ensured that this standard has been met. Paragraph 24  Senior leaders have ensured that space is available in one of the school staffrooms as a medical facility for the short-term care of pupils. This ensures that pupils have access to a toilet which is closely located to a sink. Initially this was not deemed satisfactory by the lead inspector. However, further adjustments were then made by leadership. These included signage, which made clear that the toilet was for the use

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Main inspection findings

of sick children only when the medical room was in use, and the preparation of food in the kitchen was not allowed when the medical room was in use.  Senior leaders also recognise that this is a temporary arrangement while the building refurbishment is continuing.  Taking into account these adjustments, leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 25  The school is undergoing a programme of refurbishment. Some areas of the building are awaiting refurbishment, others have been completed. As a result, some areas of the school are finished to a higher specification than others.  Some minor adjustments were identified as being needed, at the beginning of the inspection, in some areas of the school awaiting refurbishment. For example, loose plaster needed attending too. All issues were resolved before the end of the inspection.  Leaders have ensured that this standard has now been met. Paragraph 26 and 27

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Main inspection findings

 Checks carried out during the inspection on the acoustics and lighting in all classrooms showed that the acoustics within each classroom enabled learning to continue without interruption of noise from neighbouring classrooms.  Outside floodlights give strong illumination.  All lights in each classroom work and give good illumination to pupils no matter where they are sat in the classroom.  The standards in these paragraphs are met. Paragraph 28  Pupils are amply provided with water fountains which are clearly marked as drinking water.  Hot water supplies across the school are kept at a temperature below that which would offer a risk of scalding.  Each toilet block has running water.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Paragraph 29  The outdoor space around the school is sufficient for pupils to play at breaktimes and lunchtimes. Leaders have ensured that breaktimes are staggered to maximise space

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Main inspection findings

and give breaks to staff.  There is sufficient space for physical education to be effectively taught within the outside space.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32  The school does not have a website; however, signs displayed in school show that leaders have made sure that parents are aware of how to access a copy of the safeguarding policy and other policies should they wish to.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools  Leaders have made improvements to the building in preparation for the changes required to become a boys’ school.  However, leaders and trustees have not ensured that all the independent school standards were met during this inspection. As a result, the school is unlikely to meet the requirements for a material change.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is unlikely to meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) that are relevant to the material change, as set out in the annex of this report.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Proprietor Committee of Gateshead Jewish Primary School

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Community contributions

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 1–3 March 2016

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 11 5 to 11 5 to 11

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 250 250 250

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 250 250

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities NA NA

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan NA NA

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 24 24

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Information about this school

 The school previously separated girls and boys over two different sites. School leaders recognised that this segregation was no longer lawful and has already divided the school into a girls’ school and a boys’ school on separate sites.  There has been a change of headteacher and some of the teaching staff have moved to the girls’ school.  The previous standard inspection was carried out by Ofsted during 1 and 3 March 2016.  The school has a religious character. The school is Jewish and teaches both secular and Jewish studies curriculums.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department of Education commissioned the inspection to establish whether the school was ready to make the required changes needed to become a wholly boys’ school.  The school is already operating as two schools; however, not all the standards could be met on this inspection, the school’s first material change inspection.  The inspector held discussions with senior leaders, including governors, the headteacher and administrator. The inspector also held discussions with three teachers and an adviser to the school.  The inspector analysed documents, including those required for safeguarding, health and safety, and spiritual, moral, social and cultural education.

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Inspection team

Marian Thomas, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school: – 3(j) does not discriminate against pupils contrary to Part 6 of the 2010 Equality Act.

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Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

– 5(b) ensures that principles are actively promoted which: – 5(b)(vi) encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 9(c) a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that: – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school: – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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