Wiznitz Cheder School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Wiznitz Cheder School 126b Stamford Hill, Hackney, London N16 6QT

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1)(a), 2(2)(d)(ii), 2(2)(i), 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f)  The previous inspection reported that curriculum plans required further development. For example, the programme for reading, literacy and English did not take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils. As a result, pupils’ literacy skills were poor. There was also no evidence that pupils were provided with an appropriate art programme. It was reported that teachers had poor subject knowledge and that they over-relied on commercial worksheets. In addition, the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme did not pay due regard to all the protected characteristics.  This inspection found there is still very significant work to do to improve the quality of education. The proposal in the school’s action plan to implement new curriculum plans in English, mathematics and science has not been realised. The school’s programme for

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Main inspection findings

reading, literacy and English, including early reading and phonics in the early years, is slowly improving but still not good enough. Leaders have not yet timetabled discrete phonics sessions for children in the early years. The work seen in Year 6 pupils’ books is of low quality, sparse, poorly presented and reflects poorly sequenced, ad-hoc teaching. There continues to be no evidence of pupils’ learning in art. There remains a reliance on commercial plans and photocopied booklets of worksheets. Although there is evidence of increased training opportunities for teachers, further work is required to develop teachers’ subject knowledge. The PSHE education programme is delivered through religious studies and continues to not pay due regard to all the protected characteristics.  As a result, the independent school standards in this part (listed above and in full in the annex to this report) are again judged as not met.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5(b)(v) and 5(b)(vi)  As was the case at the previous inspection, the PSHE education programme does not pay due regard to all the protected characteristics. Leaders are clear that making pupils aware of sexual orientation and gender reassignment in Year 7 goes against the school’s Orthodox Jewish ethos. As a result, no reference is made to these characteristics, which means that leaders are unable to meet this requirement of the independent school standards.  As a result, the independent school standard in this part (listed above and in full in the annex to this report) is again judged as not met.  Leaders have not ensured that the independent school standard in this part is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7(a) and 7(b)  Leaders continue to ensure compliance with safeguarding requirements. This includes implementing a suitable child protection policy which pays regard to the latest national statutory guidance. The school’s commitment to keeping pupils safe from harm remains appropriate.  As a result, this independent school standard continues to be met. Paragraphs 11, 16(a) and 16(b)  At the previous inspection, the school’s risk assessment and health and safety policies were not being implemented well. This remains the case. During the inspection, the inspector found unclean shower and toilet facilities and a cluttered medical room. Portable electrical devices, such as heaters, have not been safety checked by a qualified professional for some years.  As a result, the independent school standards in this part (listed above and in full in the annex to this report) are again judged as not met.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii) and 21(3)(b)  During routine checks of the school’s safeguarding processes, the inspector found the single central register (SCR) of vetting checks on staff to not be compliant with the requirements. Though the required vetting checks are being completed on all staff and proprietors, they are not all being recorded correctly on the SCR. Barred list checks are not recorded. One check is incorrectly marked ‘probation’ and confusingly accounts for both ‘prohibition from teaching’ and ‘prohibition from management’ checks. Leaders are wrongly recording checks relating to ‘disqualification by association’. Additionally, some checks are simply marked with a tick, and are not dated.  As a result, some additional independent school standards in this part (listed above and in full in the annex to this report) are now judged as not met.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have not ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  In the absence of a website, leaders ensure that their child protection policy is readily available in hard copy.  As a result, this independent school standard continues to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34, 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  This is the fifth consecutive inspection in which leaders have failed to ensure compliance with all the independent school standards.  As a result, the independent school standard in this part (listed above and in full in the annex to this report) is again judged as not met.

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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 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

Type of school Strictly Orthodox Jewish day school for boys

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) No fees are charged

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 12–14 June 2018

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Information about this school

 Wiznitz Cheder School is an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish school for boys aged 3 to 13. In practice, pupils attend up to age 12. There are currently 118 pupils on roll. The school is therefore operating in line with its registration agreement with the Department for Education.  The school’s most recent full standard inspection was in June 2018, when its overall effectiveness was judged to be inadequate and a number of independent school standards were judged to be unmet. There have been two progress monitoring inspections since, in January 2019 and June 2019 respectively. Both judged some of the independent school standards to be not met.  Leaders have recently been granted planning permission for a new school building. The school will relocate to their new premises when building works complete in 2021–22.  The school does not make use of 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.  This was the school’s third unannounced progress monitoring inspection since its overall effectiveness was judged to be inadequate in June 2018.  Since the previous progress monitoring inspection, leaders were asked to submit an action plan. Ofsted judged this plan to be not acceptable; it was subsequently rejected by the Department for Education.  The registration authority asked Ofsted to check the school’s compliance with some of the requirements in Parts 1, 2, 3 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector met with the headteacher and the deputy headteacher. He toured the

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Information about this inspection

premises, visited all classrooms, and observed pupils around the building and playing at lunchtime. He spoke briefly with the school’s early years leader and considered a range of evidence, such as pupils’ work, curriculum plans, policies and risk assessments.  There were no recent responses to Ofsted Parent View to take into consideration as part of this inspection.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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 unmet 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)(d) personal, social, health and economic education which: – 2(2)(d)(ii) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act; – 2(2)(i) effective preparation of pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society.  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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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; – 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.

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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: – 5(b) ensures that principles are actively promoted which: – 5(b)(v) further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures; – 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

 11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  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; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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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.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 21(3) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is: – 21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff ("S") appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether: – 21(3)(a)(ii) a check was made to establish whether S is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act; – 21(3)(a)(iii) a check was made to establish whether S is subject to any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction; – 21(3)(b) in relation to each member of staff ("S"), whether a check was made to establish whether S is subject to a prohibition order or an interim prohibition order, including the date on which such check was completed. 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

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

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