Talmud Torah London

School material change inspection report

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Talmud Torah London 69 Amhurst Park, London, London N16 5AW

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  The previous material change inspection found that the school’s proposed curriculum policy for teaching and assessing secondary-aged pupils was likely to be suitable. This included the proposed personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme and careers education. However, leaders made clear that the curriculum would make no reference to sexual orientation and gender reassignment.  This inspection finds that the proposed curriculum continues to cover all areas of learning. These include religious education, English, mathematics, science, computing, physical education, music, geography and history.  The PSHE education programme provides pupils with the fundamental knowledge to understand the principles of tolerance and respect for other people. All of the protected characteristics are included in the relationships and sex education (RSE)

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Main inspection findings

curriculum. Parents and carers have been consulted on the school’s RSE policy. Together, the school’s policies for PSHE and RSE are likely to be suitable and reflect government guidance.  All of the independent school standards in this part 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 development of pupils All paragraphs  At the previous material change inspection, leaders confirmed 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.  This inspection finds that themes relating to sexual identity are included in the school’s RSE programme. As required by government guidance, the school has consulted with parents on the programme. Following this consultation, parents have opted to withdraw their children from the sex education elements of the RSE programme.  The teaching plans for PSHE and relationships education continue to show an appropriate coverage of British values, and public institutions and services. 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.

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Main inspection findings

 The requirements of the independent school standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7; 7(a) and 7(b)  The previous material change inspection judged that the school’s safeguarding was strong. Pupils felt safe and were taught to keep themselves safe beyond the school gates. The safeguarding policy was up to date and implemented effectively.  This inspection finds that the arrangements for safeguarding, including the policy, remain suitable. Pupils said they feel safe at school because their teachers are there to look after them. They talked knowledgably about keeping themselves safe outside school and the recent work to encourage parents’ support for safeguarding.  The designated safeguarding leaders have suitable, up-to-date training. This ensures that they have the expertise and knowledge to fulfil their roles effectively.  The safeguarding policy is available from the school office.  The independent school standards checked in this part, are likely to be met if the

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  The previous material change inspection judged that leaders had prepared thoroughly for the proposed material change. However, insufficient regard was paid to all the protected characteristics.  This inspection finds that leaders’ actions in relation to the protected characteristics are in line with government guidance. References to sexual orientation and transgender are included in the RSE curriculum.  The independent school standards checked in this part are likely to be met if the material change is implemented.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely 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

Annual fees (day pupils) £5,200 but vary according to families’ contexts Telephone number 0203 322 7879

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 15 to 17 January 2019

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 11 5 to 13 5 to 13

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 88 (registered capacity 100) No change No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Boys Boys Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 100 100

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 35 35

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 5 5

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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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 10

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Information about this school

 Talmud Torah London is a strictly Orthodox Jewish independent day school for boys aged five to 11.  The school is registered to admit up to 100 boys aged between five and 11 years. There are currently 88 primary-aged pupils on roll. The school is 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 2022. Leaders do not intend to have Year 8 pupils until September 2023.  The school’s headteacher took up his post on 1 August 2021.  The school caters for a small number of 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 June 2021. The school was judged to not meet the independent school standards relevant to the material change. The school’s most recent standard inspection in January 2019 judged

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Information about this school

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 second 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 and 8 are likely to be met if the material change is implemented.  The inspector held meetings with the headteacher, leaders responsible for safeguarding, the special educational needs coordinator and the chair of the proprietary body.  The inspector met with pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 to discuss their safety, welfare and well-being.  The inspector considered a range of written policies, including those for the

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Information about this inspection

curriculum, safeguarding, assessment, staff training records, and the vetting checks for staff.  There were no recent responses on Ofsted Parent View to consider.

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Inspection team

Brian Oppenheim, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector 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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Inspection team

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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Inspection team

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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Inspection team

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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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