The Gateshead Cheder Primary School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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The Gateshead Cheder Primary School Bede House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 3HY

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(d)(ii), 5, 5(b), 5(b)(vi)  During the previous full inspection and progress monitoring inspection, these standards were judged not to be met.  At the request of the headteacher, I did not discuss the protected characteristics of gender identity and sexual orientation with the pupils. The headteacher confirmed, as at the last inspection, that the school does not discuss these issues with pupils.  During this inspection, pupils of all ages had an understanding that families can be different. They were able to tell me how divorce or death may change a family unit.  Pupils spoke of some of the protected characteristics, such as disability. They spoke of respect for all, such as those who have different religious beliefs than themselves.  Younger pupils spoke of friendship and the traits of a good friend.

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Main inspection findings

 Older pupils had no understanding of stereotypes or the legal status of a marriage, as required by the relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education curriculum.  Senior leaders, along with the headteacher, are planning to begin a consultation with parents about the introduction of the RSE curriculum. This consultation has been delayed by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.  As at the previous two inspections, these standards remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The emergency element of this inspection required that I consider standards in Part 3 relevant to pupils’ health and safety. Senior leaders have taken advice from external agencies and introduced new procedures and processes to improve the health and safety of pupils while they take part in educational visits.  The headteacher, who is also the designated safeguarding leader (DSL), has ensured that the safeguarding policy is up to date with current government guidance. It is made available for parents.  The safeguarding policy highlights useful links, for example to the local authority safeguarding officer and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, should staff need help or advice.  All staff I spoke to knew who the DSL is. They knew they should report any concerns around pupils’ welfare to him. Staff told me that the DSL and pastoral leaders always

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Main inspection findings

took any concerns seriously, and they felt their opinions were valued.  The DSL has recently attended safeguarding information sessions with the local authority and other local DSLs.  The school has a pastoral lead for the primary pupils and another for the secondary pupils. All staff know they can refer any concerns to pastoral leads, who keep a log of all information. This log is not detailed enough. This prevents the information from being useful in making links and seeing potential patterns between pupils and incidents.  Some staff showed limited knowledge of the signs which might indicate a pupil needs help. These staff were aware they should look for signs of neglect, such as lack of appropriate clothing, lack of food or bruising. These staff lacked an insight into other indications of neglect.  Pupils are not taught about how to stay safe online until they reach Year 10. Therefore, all pupils currently in the school have a very limited understanding of how to stay safe

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Main inspection findings

when using the internet. Paragraph 11  The health and safety policy is concise. It makes good links with other policies to support staff in finding the information they may need. Paragraph 13  The first-aid policy makes clear what actions must be taken, for example in the recording of accidents and ensuring a first-aider is present on all trips away from school.  Several staff have first-aid qualifications. Some early years staff have a paediatric first- aid qualification. Paragraph 14  Staff are deployed around the school building to ensure that pupils are supervised appropriately.  The new outings policy clearly states the ratio of adults to pupils that must be adhered to if pupils are taken out of school.  Previously, staff were not skilled enough to evaluate how pupils should be supervised in certain situations, for example outward bound events. School leaders have taken advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to address this issue.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The risk assessment policy is concise and has links to other documentation should further information be required, such as the outings policy.  The new outings policy gives clear guidance on the procedures staff should take when planning external visits. Changes have been made following advice received from the HSE. For example, the head of each department must evaluate and authorise risk assessments that staff have prepared for external visits.  A new and more detailed risk assessment form has been generated, as advised by the HSE. This form requires that a more comprehensive evaluation of risk and procedures takes place than was done previously.  Following a request from the HSE, the school are not currently taking pupils off site. Therefore, the new procedures have not yet been seen to be effective.  Senior leaders are also considering authorising a member of staff to complete further

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Main inspection findings

training, for example educational visits training.  These standards continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(2)(f), 18(3), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(b)(3), 20(6)(c) , 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(4), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(b), 21(5)(c), 21(6), 21(7), 21(7)(a), 21(7)(b)  As during previous inspections, checks on the suitability of adults have been made.  An administrative assistant ensures that all checks are recorded appropriately on the school’s single central register.  These standards continue to be met.

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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), 34(1)(c)  The headteacher and senior leaders are eager to learn from weaknesses that have recently been identified around aspects of pupils’ welfare. They have taken advice from external agencies such as the local authority and the HSE to support improvement.  Senior leaders meet regularly to monitor what is happening in school. Most of these meetings are held informally. In some meetings, formal minutes are taken. However, they are often brief. Minutes demonstrate that leaders are not fully held to account for pupils’ emotional and academic outcomes.  It was identified at the previous inspection that the headteacher had organised a clearer structure of monitoring and accountability within the school. The chair of the proprietor board is aware that a more formal monitoring and accountability structure also needs to

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Main inspection findings

take place with regards senior leaders.  Formal processes and accountability steps have been designed for when pupils will be able to take part in educational visits again. However, the proprietor is aware that this level of formal accountability and challenge must be monitored and must take place across all aspects of pupils’ well-being, emotional and academic progress.  These standards are now 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. 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

School status Independent Jewish boys school

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 2–4 April 2019

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Information about this school

 The school was previously inspected in April 2019 when, following a full standard inspection, it was judged to be inadequate.  This is the school’s second progress monitoring inspection. The school received a progress monitoring inspection in January 2020 to check on unmet standards at the previous full standard inspection. Following this inspection, some of the unmet standards were judged to be met. Other standards remained unmet.  The school is an Orthodox Jewish school providing education for up to 350 boys between the ages of three and 16 years.  The Department of Education (DfE) has approved a material change request since the last inspection allowing the school to accept boys up to the age of 16 years. Previously the school was able to accept boys up to the age of 14 years.  The school does not use any alternative educational provision.  Twenty-two of the younger children attend on a part time basis. There are no pupils in

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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 DfE commissioned an emergency inspection to take place at the same time. The emergency inspection was to consider the health and safety of pupils.  The inspection took place following 30 minutes’ notice. This was to confirm procedures and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.  Following the inspection in April 2019, when the school was judged to be inadequate, the school received a statutory notice from the DfE on 24 July 2019.  The statutory notice required the school to present an action plan to the DfE by 24 August 2019 stating how they would take action to meet the previously unmet

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Information about this inspection

independent school standards. All actions had to be completed by 24 October 2019. This action plan was evaluated as unacceptable by Ofsted in September 2019. The school received a letter from the DfE in October 2019 informing them that the action plan was unacceptable.  This first progress monitoring inspection was unannounced and took place over one day.  I met with the headteacher, the chair of the board of governors and several teaching staff.  I had a telephone conversation with the chair of the proprietor board.  I spoke with several small groups of pupils.  I also reviewed safeguarding documentation, for example the safeguarding policy and the school’s records of recruitment checks.  I studied documentation, such as the health and safety and the risk assessment policies, along with risk assessments to consider how pupils’ health and safety is considered.

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Inspection team

Jo Sharpe, 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; and – 2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matter are- – 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- – 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. 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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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