Shiras Devorah High School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Shiras Devorah High School 1011 Finchley Road, London NW11 7HB

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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), 2A(1), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d), 5, 5(b), 5(b)(vi)  At the time of the standard inspection, the curriculum for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education did not pay particular regard to all the protected characteristics. Similarly, the school’s relationships and sex education curriculum did not have regard to the Department for Education’s statutory guidance.  The school’s post-inspection action plan lacked detail. Leaders did not explain how they intended to encourage pupils to respect others, paying particular regard to all the protected characteristics.  This inspection confirms that in line with the school’s religious ethos and parents’ and carers’ wishes, no pupils are taught the required range of relationships education content. Leaders continue to omit any encouragement of respect for other people in

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Main inspection findings

particular regard to the protected characteristics of sexual orientation, civil partnership or gender reassignment.  As a result, the independent school standards (the standards) checked continue to be not met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(a), 5(b), 5(b)(v)  The previous inspection found that the school’s curriculum did not enable pupils to develop tolerance and appreciation of other faiths, beliefs and cultures. Pupils gained a limited awareness of religions other than their own.  The school’s action plan stated that leaders held a staff meeting to raise awareness and gather ideas for incorporating learning about different cultures and religions across a range of subjects. Leaders stated they would identify curriculum content that should be taught each year and create a curriculum map to share with staff. However, overall, the action plan lacked detail. Insufficient information was provided on the specific knowledge

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Main inspection findings

pupils learn about other faiths, beliefs and cultures.  This inspection found leaders to have taken some positive steps forward in developing this area of the curriculum. Leaders have started identifying opportunities for pupils to learn about other faiths, beliefs and cultures, for example within the geography and history curriculums. Pupils’ understanding in this area is developing but remains limited. Leaders’ work to incorporate teaching about, and promote respect for, other faiths, beliefs and cultures within PSHE education has started, but there is still much to be done.  The standards checked in this part remain unmet. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7–7(b)  The previous inspection judged safeguarding to be effective. This inspection’s routine checks on how well leaders prioritise pupils’ safety found that this continues to be the case. Staff have been trained in line with the most up-to-date statutory guidance.

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Main inspection findings

Leaders have ensured that the school’s safeguarding policy is suitable and available in hard copy. Leaders and staff make effective use of the school’s system for following up on safeguarding concerns. Pupils spoken with during the inspection said how much they enjoy attending school and how safe they feel here.  This standard continues to be met. Paragraphs 11, 16–16(b), 25  The previous inspection found that health and safety checks and risk assessments did not identify potential hazards. Inspectors found that leaders’ expectations for risk mitigation were too low. The school site was not appropriately maintained.  In their action plan, leaders stated that all policies and risk assessments relating to health and safety had been reviewed. The action plan stated that a site manager and cleaning contractor had been appointed. Leaders had also introduced a shared document to keep track of the building’s maintenance needs. Leaders indicated that they had

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Main inspection findings

raised awareness among all stakeholders regarding the importance of tidiness and health and safety.  This inspection confirms that leaders’ actions have been realised. The school’s updated policies for both health and safety and risk assessment are now implemented well. The premises are clean, safe and well maintained.  These standards are now met.  The standards checked in this part are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(c)  The previous inspection found that leaders had not ensured that all the standards were consistently met.  The school’s action plan indicated that leaders were taking appropriate and timely action to address the unmet standards relating to health and safety. However, it provided insufficient information on how leaders intended to address the other unmet standards.  This inspection found that leaders have taken suitable action to resolve the concerns

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Main inspection findings

raised by inspectors in relation to risk assessment and health and safety. Leaders have also begun some work to more actively promote tolerance of those with different faiths, beliefs and cultures. All the other unmet standards relate to leaders’ categorical refusal to pay any regard to teaching some of the protected characteristics to pupils of any age.  The standard checked in this part remain unmet because leaders are not fulfilling their responsibilities in ensuring all the standards are met consistently.

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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Not applicable

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 0

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Variable and voluntary

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 21 to 23 June 2022

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Information about this school

 This is an independent secondary day school for girls of Orthodox Jewish faith.  Though registered for pupils aged 11 to 18, the school has not, to date, provided any sixth-form provision to students aged over 16.  The school’s previous full standard inspection took place in June 2022.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision for pupils.

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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 March 2023 and was subsequently rejected by the Department for Education.  The focus of the inspection was to check whether the school complies with particular requirements within parts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector met with the headteacher, who is also the designated safeguarding lead.

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Information about this inspection

He toured the premises and reviewed a range of documents, including policies, curriculum plans, risk assessments and the register of pre-employment checks on adults. The inspector met with all pupils in Year 9. In line with leaders’ wishes, he did not ask pupils 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 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-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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;  2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 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 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-

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

– 5(a) actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs; – 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 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-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 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

 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.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that-

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 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 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. 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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