Mechinoh School

Mechinoh School 13 Upper Park Road, Salford, Lancashire M7 4HY

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(ii)  At the time of the last inspection in January 2019, it was found that the school’s curriculum did not encourage respect for all groups of people, particularly people with the protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010.  The curriculum, including work relating to personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, covers a wide range of relevant issues to help prepare pupils for life in modern Britain. However, leaders are resolute in their decision that they will not actively promote all nine of the protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010.  Leaders remain clear that the school does not actively develop pupils’ understanding of all of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010. They are also clear that some aspects of the relationships and sex education curriculum will not be

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Main inspection findings

taught.  The school does not meet all of the requirements for this standard.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5, 5(b), 5(b)(vi)  At the previous inspection, weaknesses in the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) understanding were found. Leaders did not promote respect for all of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010.  Leaders and staff encourage pupils to have tolerance and respect for everyone. The curriculum does encompass a wide range of SMSC aspects. The curriculum encourages pupils to have tolerance and respect for anyone, no matter who they are. Pupils are taught about other faiths and beliefs. Leaders promote the British values of democracy, the rule of law, mutual respect and individual liberty. This is done through visitors to the school and trips, such as that to the Slavery Museum, linked to pupils’ history topics. However, the curriculum does not pay full regard to all of the protected

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Main inspection findings

characteristics, as set out in the Equality Act 2010.  Due to lack of parental consent, inspectors were unable to obtain views from pupils about the school’s work to promote respect for those with protected characteristics. Furthermore, they could not assess pupils’ knowledge and understanding of other cultures and faiths.  As a result, inspectors could not gather sufficient evidence to confirm that the standards are met. Therefore, paragraphs 5, 5(a) and 5(b)(vi) continue to be unmet.  The school does not meet all of the requirements for this standard.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  As at the time of the last inspection, the school does not have a website. However, the school continues to make the safeguarding policy available to parents and carers on request.  The requirements of this paragraph continue to be met. Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(g)  At the previous inspection, parents requested that inspectors did not speak with their children. This hindered the collection of pupils’ views in checking the school’s compliance with the independent school standards. There was no evidence that the school had taken any steps to make this possible. Parents remain adamant in their views that pupils should not meet with or speak to inspectors regarding the Equality Act 2010.  As a result, the inspectors could not gather sufficient evidence to confirm that the standards are met. Therefore, the requirements of this paragraph remain unmet.  The school does not meet all of the requirements for this standard.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the previous inspection, parents requested that inspectors did not speak with their children. This hindered the collection of pupils’ views in checking the school’s compliance with the independent school standards. Leaders have not attempted to encourage parents to give their consent for their children to speak with inspectors.  Leaders actively promote a culture of tolerance and respect for everyone. However, this is in general terms. They do not ensure that pupils have a secure understanding of people whose characteristics are protected under the Equality Act 2010.  The requirements of this paragraph remain unmet.  The school does not meet all of the requirements for this standard. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010

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Main inspection findings

 At the time of the inspection in January 2019, inspectors judged that the school did not meet Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. This was because leaders did not actively promote all nine of the protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010.  The PSHE education curriculum promotes British values and the teaching of tolerance and respect for all. However, leaders are clear that, while pupils are taught to respect and have tolerance for all, they will not actively promote all of the protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010.  Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 is still unmet.

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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. 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 8–10 January 2019

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Information about this school

 Mechinoh School offers secondary education for up to 73 Orthodox Jewish boys, aged between 11 and 16 years, with provision for both Kodesh (religious) and Chol (secular) studies.  The school aims ‘to provide a comprehensive religious education for its pupils and to prepare them for entry into yeshivas (Talmudic colleges) to further their religious education’. In addition, it aims ‘to equip pupils with the basic skills required for adult life, such as literacy, numeracy and general knowledge, while placing great emphasis on developing a high standard of ethical behaviour’.  No pupils attend any alternative off-site educational provision.  The school received its previous standard inspection in January 2019.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education. The inspection was carried out under section 109 of the Education Act 2014 and was unannounced.  I was asked to report against unmet requirements within Parts 1, 2 and 8 of the independent school standards. In addition, I was asked to check the school’s safeguarding policy, its implementation and availability to parents.  I met with the proprietor, headteacher and deputy headteacher.  I was not able to speak to pupils at any time during the inspection. The school’s leaders showed evidence that parents had expressed their objections to this.  I checked the school’s single central record of staff checks, the safeguarding policy and its implementation. I scrutinised a range of documentation related to the independent school standards. These included documentation on the PSHE education curriculum, health and safety matters, and safeguarding.

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Information about this inspection

 There were no responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View, at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection team

Simon Hunter, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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; and

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(2)(d) personal, social, health and economic education which-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(2)(d)(i) reflects the school's aim and ethos; and

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(2)(d)(ii) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act[9];

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

 5 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor-

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

– 5(b)(vi) encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act; and

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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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; 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

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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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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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