Talmud Torah London

School material change inspection report

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Talmud Torah London 69 Amhurst Park, London N16 5AW

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  The school’s proposed curriculum policy and plans for teaching and assessing secondary-aged pupils are likely to be suitable. The planned curriculum covers all the required areas of learning, including religious education, English, mathematics, science, computing, physical education, music, geography and history.  A personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme is proposed. The thematic scheme of work for secondary-aged pupils includes the encouragement of respect for other people, including paying particular regard to most of the different protected characteristics people have, as identified in the Equality Act 2010. However, leaders are clear that no references to sexual orientation and gender reassignment will be made.  The proposed careers education policy and plans are appropriate. The planned link with a qualified careers adviser from another school is likely to help ensure that

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Main inspection findings

secondary-age pupils receive impartial, accurate and up-to-date careers guidance.  Leaders intend to recruit an additional English teacher, and they have suitable plans to deploy existing subject specialists, to ensure that pupils are likely to continue to receive a high-quality education in Years 7 and 8.  Not all of the independent school standards in this part (as listed in the annex to this report) are likely to continue to be met if the material change to increase the school’s age range from five to 11 to five to 13 is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of pupils All paragraphs  Leaders presented their proposed PSHE education, equality, and relationships and sex education (RSE) policies for secondary-aged pupils during the inspection, which were likely to meet the independent school standards in this part. However, leaders have confirmed since the inspection that the school has no intention of ever referencing those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender as part of PSHE education or relationships education.  Pupils of secondary age will study PSHE education as part of the secular curriculum on a weekly basis. Teaching plans in PSHE education and RSE show appropriate coverage of British values, public institutions and services, and most of the different characteristics people have. Through suitable monthly topics, such as ‘tolerance and respect’, ‘staying healthy’ and ‘Great Britons’, lessons, assemblies and events will be

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Main inspection findings

planned in order to support, in addition to religious education, the SMSC development of pupils.  The school’s suitable partisan views policy clearly states that a balanced presentation of opposing views will always be given in the teaching of any political issues.  The independent school standard in this part is unlikely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented, because the curriculum will not pay particular regard to all the protected characteristics.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7(a) and 7(b)  The culture of safeguarding remains strong. Pupils say they feel, and are kept, safe at school. They are also taught to keep themselves safe beyond the school gates.  Trained designated safeguarding leaders ensure the suitably up-to-date safeguarding policy is implemented well.  The independent school standard checked in this part is met, and likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  This requirement continues to be met because, in the absence of a website, the school’s safeguarding policy is readily available in hard copy from the school office.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)(a–c)  Leaders have prepared thoroughly for the proposed material change. With the full support of the proprietors, leaders have credible and ambitious plans to develop their school and cater for pupils in Years 7 and 8. They are particularly committed to providing an equally high-quality religious and secular education.  However, leaders do not intend to comply with all the independent school standards as they do not plan to pay particular regard to all the protected characteristics. Paragraphs 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b) in this part are therefore unlikely to be met if the material change is implemented.

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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’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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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 likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Type of school Ultra-Orthodox Jewish day school for boys

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Variable, according to families’ contexts

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 15–17 January 2019

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 11 5 to 13 Not recommended

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 70 (registered capacity 100) No change Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Boys Not applicable Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 70 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils None Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 22 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 3 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by an education, health and care plan 3 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 5 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 10 No change

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Information about this school

 Talmud Torah London is an independent primary day school for pupils of ultra- Orthodox Jewish faith.  The school is registered to admit up to 100 boys aged between five and 11 years. There are currently 70 primary-aged pupils on roll. The school is therefore compliant with its registration agreement with the Department for Education.  The school intends to enable existing Year 6 pupils to remain at the school as Year 7 pupils from September 2021. Leaders do not intend to have Year 8 pupils until September 2022.  The school’s new headteacher, Eli Spitzer, takes up his post on 1 August 2021.  The school has three pupils with an education, health and care plan.  The school makes no use of alternative provision.  The school’s most recent inspection was a material change inspection in February 2021. The school was judged to meet the independent school standards relevant to the material change, which had already been implemented. The school’s most recent

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Information about this school

standard inspection in January 2019 judged the school’s overall effectiveness to be good.  The proprietorial body is also responsible for a separately registered early years provision, also called Talmud Torah London, at 202 Upper Clapton Road London E5 9DH. The provision, which caters for children aged three to five, was last inspected by Ofsted in February 2016.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to consider the school’s application to make a material change to its registration agreement. The requested change was to increase the age range of pupils from five to 11 to five to 13.  The inspection was conducted with two days’ notice and was the first material change inspection to consider the school’s application to increase its age range.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether particular independent school standards contained within Parts 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 are likely to be met if the material change is implemented.  The inspector had meetings with the current headteacher, both leaders responsible for safeguarding, and the new headteacher, who takes up his position in August 2021.  The inspector spoke with the chair of the proprietor body by telephone.  The inspector toured the premises, visited classrooms and reviewed documentation in

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Information about this inspection

relation to safeguarding and the proposed curriculum for secondary-aged pupils.  The inspector met with all pupils in the Year 6 class to discuss their safety, welfare and well-being.  There were no recent responses on Ofsted Parent View to consider.  After the on-site inspection, the inspector spoke with both the current and new headteachers by telephone.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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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.

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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.

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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. 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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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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