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) and 5(b)(vi)  At the time of the previous inspections in February 2019, June 2022, and May 2023, 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 (RSE) curriculum did not have regard to the Department for Education’s statutory guidance.  As outlined in the school’s post-inspection action plan, leaders’ stance remains unchanged. This inspection confirms again 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 particular regard to the protected characteristics of sexual orientation, civil

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Main inspection findings

partnership, and gender reassignment.  The independent school standards (‘standards’) checked continue to be not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(a) and 5(b), 5(b)(v)  The May 2023 inspection found leaders had taken some positive steps forward in enabling pupils to develop tolerance and appreciation of a range of faiths, beliefs and cultures. Pupils’ basic knowledge of other faiths, beliefs and cultures was developing, but remained too limited.  The school’s action plan lacked clear and detailed information about the next steps that leaders intended to take to address these unmet standards.  This inspection found that leaders’ work to incorporate teaching about, and promote respect for, other faiths, beliefs and cultures across the curriculum, is now suitable. Leaders have mapped a range of opportunities for teaching pupils about these differences within geography, history, Jewish history, and the PSHE education curriculums. Pupils’ knowledge and understanding are demonstrably more secure, as is

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Main inspection findings

clear in their workbooks and from conversations with them.  As leaders are now more actively promoting the fundamental British value of mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and pupils are acquiring an appreciation of and respect for other cultures, these standards 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) to 34(1)(c)  The previous inspection found that leaders had not ensured that all the standards were consistently met, and the school’s action plan confirmed that leaders were only willing to address some of the unmet standards.  This inspection found that leaders have taken suitable action to promote tolerance of those with different faiths, beliefs and cultures.  The remaining unmet standards relate to leaders’ continued refusal to pay any regard to some of the protected characteristics with pupils of any age.  The standard in this part, therefore, remains unmet.

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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

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) Voluntary and variable

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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 does not provide sixth-form provision to students aged over 16.  The school’s most recent inspection was its last progress monitoring inspection in May 2023. The school’s previous full 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 second 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 another action plan. This was judged by Ofsted to be not acceptable in November 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 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector met with the headteacher and the designated safeguarding leader. He

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Information about this inspection

toured the premises and reviewed a range of documents, including curriculum plans and pupils’ workbooks. The inspector met with a group of pupils. In line with leaders’ wishes, he did not ask pupils anything about relationships and sex education.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central register of checks on adults. The relevant requirements in Parts 3, 4 and 6 of the independent school standards continue to be met.

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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.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 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 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 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;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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