Keser Girls School

School progress monitoring inspection report

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i)  At the last inspection, inspectors found that some aspects of the curriculum were not well designed. Leadership of the curriculum was not well distributed. Pupils were not learning as well as they should in some curriculum subjects.  The school has appointed new leaders for science, history, geography and art. The leaders are passionate and enthusiastic about their roles. They have accessed pertinent training and support. They have relevant knowledge and expertise to lead their curriculum subjects well. They have implemented suitable schemes of work to support teachers.  The content of the curriculum for science, history, geography and art is mapped out clearly. Leaders have made sure that they have identified the most important knowledge and skills that pupils need to know. There are opportunities for pupils to revisit and build

p.1

Main inspection findings

on their learning.  Most changes to the science and foundation subject curriculum are in the early days of implementation. Although the early signs are positive, leaders have not measured the impact of their actions.  Staff value the improvements made to the curriculum. They appreciate the expertise of curriculum leaders and the support they provide to help them with their teaching.  There is a coherent approach to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The school has strengthened the support for pupils with additional needs during the last year. The school provides a broad variety of strategies to help pupils to catch up and to access learning.  These standards are now met. Paragraph 2, 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(ii)  At the last inspection, the school did not provide a curriculum that adequately encouraged pupils to develop respect for other people including those with protected

p.1

Main inspection findings

characteristics.  The school has not changed the curriculum to ensure that pupils learn about all the protected characteristics. Leaders consider that teaching pupils to develop respect and tolerance for some of the protected characteristics, does not align with the school’s religious ethos. This means that pupils do not learn about different types of families, for example.  These standards remain unmet. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(a), 5(b), 5(b)(vi)  At the last inspection, the school did not teach or actively promote, the protected characteristics of civil partnership or religion. Pupils were not developing their understanding of how people with protected characteristics are protected by law. They were not being fully prepared for life in modern Britain.  The school has identified new scheme of work to develop pupils’ understanding of religions and cultures other than their own. Leaders plan for the content to be taught to

p.2

Main inspection findings

Year 6 pupils only. However, the new scheme of work has not been implemented.  The school has not taken action to ensure that the curriculum encourages pupils to understand and respect other people, including those with protected characteristics as set out in the 2010 Act. As stated in Part 1 (above), leaders consider that the teaching of respect for all the protected characteristics does not support the religious ethos of the school.  These standards remain unmet. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7(a), 7(b)  These standards were met at the last standard inspection.  The school has continued to place high priority on keeping pupils safe. There is an appropriate policy for safeguarding in place. The policy reflects the current statutory guidance.  Staff are suitably trained to safeguard pupils. They know pupils and their families very well. They are vigilant. They provide support for pupils in a timely way. The school liaises

p.2

Main inspection findings

with external agencies, when necessary, to support pupils and their families.  These standards continue to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the last inspection, inspectors found that leaders had not made sure that the independent school standards were met consistently.  Leaders have taken decisive action to improve the curriculum for science and foundation subjects. They have appointed suitably experienced staff. They have shared responsibility for the curriculum more broadly across the school. Leaders have begun to think more strategically about what pupils need to know and when, in a broad range of subjects.  Members of the proprietorial body and governors are actively involved in the life of the school. They maintain close oversight of school improvement priorities. However, the proprietor has not ensured that all the independent school standards are met

p.2

Main inspection findings

consistently.  Leaders are clear about the reasons for not adhering to some of the independent school standards. They say that they do not teach pupils about all the protected characteristics because it would be incompatible with the school’s religious ethos and the wishes of parents.  These standards remain unmet.

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.5

School details

Proprietor Gateshead Jewish Primary School

p.5

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Contributions from families

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 8 to 10 November 2022

p.5

Information about this school

 The school’s last standard inspection took place in November 2022.  The school is an Orthodox Jewish school with a Jewish ethos. Pupils study Hebrew studies in the morning and a secular curriculum every afternoon.  The school uses one registered alternative provider.  The DfE required the school to prepare a statutory action plan to meet the unmet independent school standards identified at the last standard inspection. Ofsted evaluated the action plan on 26 June 2023. The action plan was found not to be acceptable by the DfE.

p.5

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 inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher, the administration officer, the deputy special educational needs co-ordinator, an administration support officer, the chair of governors, some curriculum leaders and staff and a group of pupils. The inspector met remotely with the chair of the proprietorial body.  The inspector scrutinised a range of documents and policies including those relating to the safeguarding and the school’s curriculum.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection of the school since some independent school standards were found not to be met at the last standard inspection.

p.6

Inspection team

Stephanie Innes-Taylor, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

p.6

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

p.7

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 [9];

p.7

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(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)(vi) encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act; and

p.7

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

p.7

Part 1. Quality of education provided

2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if-

p.7

Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work- – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an education, health and care plan; and 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 .

p.7

Part 1. Quality of education provided

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.

p.9

Part 1. Quality of education provided

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 .

p.9

Part 1. Quality of education provided

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.

p.9

Part 1. Quality of education provided

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Part 1. Quality of education provided

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Part 1. Quality of education provided

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

p.9