Pardes House Grammar School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Pardes House Grammar School Hendon Lane, Finchley, London N3 1SA

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(ii), 2(2)(i), 2A(1), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d), 5, 5(b), 5(b)(vi)  The previous inspection in May 2022 found that the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme did not encourage respect for all people, paying particular regard to those with protected characteristics. The relationships and sex education (RSE) curriculum did not follow the statutory guidance because pupils were not taught about different types of relationships.  In their post-inspection action plan, leaders made clear their intentions to continue to teach pupils about respect for all people. This was vague and failed to address how leaders would make sure that pupils would be taught about all the protected characteristics, and the diversity of people in modern British society.  This inspection confirms that the school’s approach to PSHE education and RSE remains

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Main inspection findings

unchanged. Pupils continue to be taught to respect ‘everybody’. Leaders continue to omit any encouragement of respect for other people in particular regard to the protected characteristics of sexual orientation, civil partnership and gender reassignment.  Leaders are clear that in line with the school’s faith perspective and parents’ and carers’ strongly held wishes, pupils of secondary age are not taught the statutory content of relationships education. For example, pupils are not taught about the concepts of sexual consent, harassment and domestic abuse, or respectful and safe intimate relationships.  As a result, pupils continue to be unprepared for life in modern British society and these independent school standards (‘the standards’) continue to be not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7–7(b)  The previous inspection found that leaders did not take their safeguarding responsibilities seriously enough. Inspectors found that leaders did not consistently follow their own procedure for recruiting new staff, as set out in their safeguarding policy.  In their action plan, leaders identified some suitable actions. These included an audit of safeguarding procedures, completion of safer recruitment training, plans to reorganise documentation relating to staff recruitment, and the consistent implementation of a compliant recruitment process.  This inspection confirms that these actions have all been completed. The school’s recruitment process is now thorough and compliant with statutory guidance.  The inspection’s checks found that leaders’ other work to keep pupils safe continues to be effective. Leaders’ arrangements for inducting and training staff, managing concerns

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Main inspection findings

and supporting pupils are suitable.  Pupils feel safe and have trusted adults they can go to for guidance and support.  The school’s safeguarding policy is compliant with the latest statutory guidance and is available in hard copy from the school office.  These standards are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 14, 15 and 16–16(b)  At the time of the previous inspection, pupils were not being supervised appropriately before school, and leaders were not thoroughly considering how to minimise risks to pupils, such as on residential outings. Inspectors also found the school’s attendance records to be unreliable and inaccurate.  The school’s action plan listed a range of suitable actions, but these lacked detail. The success criteria did not address the intended impact.  This inspection found more suitable arrangements in place for the supervision of pupils in the playground before the school day begins.  The school’s risk assessment policy is now implemented well. Risk assessment is now overseen by a leader effectively. Risk assessments of the premises and visits, including residential and overseas excursions, are now much more thorough in their consideration and minimisation of risks to pupils.

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Main inspection findings

 Attendance records are now completed accurately using the correct codes. Attendance information is therefore now reliable.  The standards checked in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 11, 25 and 28(1), 28(1)(d)  The previous inspection found that the room used to teach cooking was unclean and cluttered. Perishable ingredients were not stored properly. Inspectors found that at washing facilities, some hot water supplies presented a scalding risk.  This inspection confirmed that leaders have completed the suitable actions outlined in their action plan. The school’s health and safety policy is now being suitably implemented. The catering room is now kept clean, and perishable ingredients are stored appropriately. Hot water supplies are now safely regulated throughout the school.  The standards checked in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–(c)  The previous inspection found that leaders were not fulfilling their statutory duties. Some of the independent school standards were not met.  The school’s action plan states that the proprietor had made several new senior leadership appointments. It proposed that these new leaders would take responsibility for driving improvement. However, the action plan did not explain how the proprietor would ensure that all the independent school standards would be met consistently.  This inspection found that leaders have taken a range of suitable actions to address the safeguarding, health and safety and premises failings. They have also initiated some promising work to broaden the secular curriculum and the extra-curricular offer.  The remaining unmet standards relate to leaders’ refusal to cover the statutory relationships content with pupils of any age; including paying any regard to some of the

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Main inspection findings

protected characteristics.  The standard in this part remains 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 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

Type of school Orthodox Jewish day school for boys

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £7,710 (voluntary)

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School details

Email address office@pardesgrammar.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 10 to 12 May and 28 June 2022

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Information about this school

 Pardes House Grammar School is an independent secondary day school in Finchley, London. It provides religious and secular education for boys of Jewish Orthodox faith.  Pupils leave the school at the end of Year 10 and move on to study at a yeshiva. Pupils no longer remain at the school in Year 11 to follow a personalised study programme.  The school makes no use of alternative provision.  The school’s most recent inspection was a graded inspection in May and June 2022.

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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 first progress monitoring inspection since its last full inspection in June 2022. The inspection was conducted without notice.  Since the previous inspection, leaders were asked to submit an action plan. This was judged by Ofsted to be not acceptable in December 2022 and was subsequently rejected by the Department for Education.  The focus of the inspection was to check whether the school complied with particular requirements within Parts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 of the independent school standards.  Inspection activities included meetings with the headteacher and designated

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Information about this inspection

safeguarding leader. The inspector toured the premises and reviewed a range of documents, including policies, logs and the single central register of pre-employment checks on adults. He also met with a group of pupils in Year 9. In line with leaders’ wishes, he did not ask them anything about relationships and sex education.

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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; and  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.  2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor– – 2A(1)(b) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with secondary education at the school is provided with relationships and sex education, except in so far as the pupil

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), – 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools.

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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; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  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.  14 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff.  15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006.  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

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.  28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users. 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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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