Lubavitch Yeshiva Ketanah of London

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Lubavitch Yeshiva Ketanah of London Rear of 1117 Finchley Road, NW11 0QB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 2(2)(h) and 2(2)(i)  At the full standard inspection in February 2018, these standards were unmet because the secular curriculum was not sufficiently broad and did not lead to consistently strong pupils’ outcomes. The secular curriculum did not provide sufficient opportunities for pupils to learn and make progress. Opportunities for pupils to learn about the cultures, traditions and faiths represented in modern Britain were limited.  The action plan submitted by the school to the Department for Education (DfE) detailed that a curriculum audit would be completed to identify cross-curricular opportunities to further development of pupils’ reading, comprehension and writing skills. In addition, leaders would source additional curriculum material to enhance mathematical problem- solving skills.  At the time of the emergency inspection in January 2019, there were no staff or pupils

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Main inspection findings

present, so these aspects could not be inspected.  The school has a curriculum policy. However, it does not include all the required areas of learning. There is no provision for teaching technology, either as a subject, or as a cross- curricular activity.  There are curriculum plans and schemes of work in place for mathematics and citizenship, including pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development. However, there are only short-term plans until the end of July 2019 for English, science, geography and physical education (PE). There are no curriculum plans and schemes of work for technology and aesthetic areas of learning.  Detailed curriculum plans for citizenship are in place, supported by appropriate commercially published course books. Work in pupils’ books indicates that plans are being followed and course books are used. Pupils know about protected characteristics and equality and diversity. They know about respecting other religions. As a result, this

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Main inspection findings

aspect of the standard is now met (paragraphs 2(2), 2(2)(i)).  Overall, the curriculum plans and their implementation do not give all pupils the opportunity to learn and make progress. Leaders have started taking the actions in the action plan but there is more to do to fully embed these. As a result, these aspects of the standards are unmet (2(2), 2(2)(h)). In addition, the curriculum plans do not exist for all subjects, and technology is not included in any short- or long-term plan. So, in addition, these standards are unmet (paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(a)).  Overall the requirements of this paragraph are unmet. Paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f)  At the 2018 standard inspection, these standards were unmet because teachers’ expectations of the standards that pupils can achieve were not high enough. Teachers did not use resources and assessment effectively to match work to pupils’ abilities, and

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Main inspection findings

the work set for pupils did not provide sufficient challenge.  The action plan submitted by the school to the DfE detailed a wide range of actions. These included purchasing new textbooks and teaching materials, ensuring that teachers have high expectations of pupils and that this is reflected in planning. Support and training would be provided to improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. Leaders would carry out classroom observations, scrutiny of pupils’ work and assessments.  At the time of the 2019 emergency inspection, there were no staff or pupils present, so these aspects could not be inspected.  In May 2019, leaders appointed new staff for the secular curriculum. Staff are now well qualified, and some bring experience from mainstream schools. Staff’s subject knowledge is evident from class visits and pupils’ books. Leaders have provided appropriate commercial texts, coursebooks and worksheets, which are used effectively.

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Main inspection findings

Practical resources are provided for PE. Pupils are positive about the secular curriculum and can describe the difference since May. They like working in exercise books instead of on paper. They are enthusiastic about their learning. These standards are met (paragraphs 3(e) and 3(f)).  More work is needed to complete the actions and for them to have an impact on pupils’ learning. Pupils have completed base line tests in English, mathematics and science. Leaders and subject staff have used these to design the short-term plans. A new assessment system has been developed. However, these actions have not ensured that lessons are sufficiently well planned. Assessment is not used effectively, because pupils with different prior attainment are given the same work to do. This limits their progress.  Overall, the requirements of this paragraph are unmet.  The school does not meet all the requirements for this part.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  At the 2018 standard inspection, these standards were unmet because leaders and governors failed in their statutory responsibility to inform the local authority about pupils who were being privately fostered. Consequently, the local authority had not been able to carry out the appropriate safeguarding checks. As a result, these pupils were at risk.  The action plan submitted by the school to the DfE detailed moving all pupils previously in private fostering to stay with family members. It also detailed that the procedures related to private fostering would be documented, staff training provided, and the child protection policy updated.  At the time of the 2019 emergency inspection, there were no staff or pupils present, so these aspects could not be inspected. However, the building was not secure, the inspector gained access and one pupil was in the building unsupervised.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have now completed the actions outlined in the action plan. The pupils now board on weekdays with family members. The inspector saw documentation relating to this and the headteacher and compliance officer understand the process. This is now reflected in school policies.  The site is secure. The synagogue entrance is locked and not used by pupils. Pupils are well supervised. The school now starts at 8.30am instead of 8.00am so there is no overlap with the synagogue times.  The safeguarding policy meets requirements and is available to parents. All leaders and staff are trained. The headteacher, who is also the safeguarding lead, demonstrates a strong commitment to a culture of safeguarding and can identify risks to pupils. Leaders check staff understanding with detailed tests. Records are kept of who has done the test and when, with outcomes. Staff also demonstrate their knowledge of safeguarding

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Main inspection findings

procedures. Pupils know who the safeguarding leads are and how to stay safe, including online.  The requirements of this paragraph are met.  The school meets all the requirements for this part. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  At the 2018 standard inspection, leaders had not ensured that all the independent school standards were met.  The action plan submitted by the school to the DfE was comprehensive and detailed. Resources were identified to address the unmet standards and arrangements made to monitor and evaluate success, with senior leaders working with governors to lead and, subsequently, monitor progress.  At the time of the 2019 emergency inspection, there were no staff present, so these aspects could not be inspected.  These standards remain unmet because standards remain unmet. Additional standards which were met at the time of the previous full standard inspection are now unmet at

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Main inspection findings

this inspection.  Leaders have made a positive start to improving the school after the temporary closure. The new governors and the headteacher are committed to developing the secular curriculum. Leaders observe applicants for new teaching appointments before the offer of a job is made. Leaders check the quality of staff teaching and check the quality of work in pupils’ books. Leaders are developing links with a partner school. This is starting to have a positive impact on curriculum planning. However, leaders acknowledge that they are at the beginning of their journey and that more work needs to be done to meet the standards required.  On ‘Get information about schools’ (GIAS), the headteacher is not named. The proprietor is named as an individual and not Chabad Lubavitch UK Ltd. Leaders report that they have not requested a change of these details and cannot account for it. Leaders have undertaken to correct this.

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Main inspection findings

 The requirements of this paragraph are unmet.  The school does not meet all the requirements for this part.

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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, 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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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

Date of previous standard inspection 5 to 7 June 2018

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Information about this school

 The school is an Orthodox Jewish independent day school for boys. The school was established in the 1960s and was previously known as ‘The Mechina’. The school has been based in the London Borough of Barnet since 2010.  The school closed in January 2019 and re-opened in May 2019.  The school occupies buildings adjacent to a synagogue in Golders Green, in the London Borough of Barnet. The premises have been adapted for school use. The school uses Hampstead Heath for PE and occasionally for outdoor recreation.  The school is registered for up to 60 boys between the ages of 13 to 16. There are currently 17 pupils on roll.  There have been a number of significant changes in leadership and staffing since the school re-opened in May 2019. A new governing body was formed in April 2019. A new school improvement officer has been appointed to lead the development of the secular curriculum. The teaching staff for the secular curriculum have been appointed within the

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Information about this school

last three months. Leaders are continuing to recruit to the remaining vacancies.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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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 previous full standard inspection took place in February 2018, where the overall judgement was inadequate, and standards were unmet. The unmet standards related to the curriculum and teaching, safeguarding of pupils and leadership and management.  The school submitted an action plan to the DfE. This was judged to be acceptable with modifications, in November 2018  This was the first monitoring inspection since the full standard inspection in February 2018. The inspection took place without notice. The previous progress monitoring inspection in January 2019 was converted to an emergency inspection because the

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Information about this inspection

school appeared to have closed.  The inspection focused on Parts 1, 3 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector made a tour of the building and visited classes in the secular curriculum and accompanied pupils to Hampstead Heath for a PE lesson.  The inspector talked informally with pupils at breaktime and met with a group of pupils across year groups.  The inspector did a work scrutiny of pupils’ books in English, mathematics and science, with senior leaders. The inspector also looked at pupils’ work in citizenship and the range of resources to support pupils’ learning across subjects.  The inspector held telephone conversations with two governors representing the proprietor. Meetings were also held with the headteacher and senior leaders and the inspector talked to staff.  The inspector scrutinised a range of documentation, relating to safeguarding and the curriculum.

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Inspection team

Janet Hallett, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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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 un-met at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub-paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively.  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are– – 2(2)(h) that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress.  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school– – 3(a) 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; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) 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.

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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. Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub-paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively.  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are– – 2(2)(a) full-time supervised education for pupils of compulsory school age (construed in accordance with section 8 of the Education Act 1996), which gives pupils experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education.

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standards

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if–  2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively.  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are–  2(2)(i) effective preparation of pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society.

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standards

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school– – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range.  7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. 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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standards

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standards

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standards

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standards

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standards

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standards

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