Kerem Shloime

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Kerem Shloime Gloucester House, Back Duncan Street, Salford, Salford M7 2EY

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(ii)  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2023, inspectors found that the school’s curriculum was incomplete. The school had not put in place a suitable written curriculum policy. Pupils did not experience technological education. Leaders had not finalised the curriculum for aesthetic and creative learning. Also, these subject curriculums did not take account of the ages, aptitudes and needs of pupils, some of whom have education, health and care (EHC) plans for their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Moreover, the school had not ensured that the curriculum for personal, social, health and economic (PHSE) education encouraged pupils to pay particular regard to the protected characteristic of religion or belief.  In its action plan, the school planned to put in place a curriculum policy. It also intended

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Main inspection findings

to draw up a curriculum for technological education. The action plan stated that aesthetic and creative learning was in place. Furthermore, the school intended to audit the PSHE education curriculum to ensure that PSHE education was adequately planned and taught.  At the time of this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that the school has carried out a review of relevant policies and procedures. The school has developed an appropriate curriculum policy. This outlines the range of subjects that pupils will study at the school. The school has developed plans and schemes of work for technological, aesthetic and creative education. These set out clearly the knowledge and skills pupils need to know and remember. Pupils now follow these subject areas. The curriculum design, in all subjects, takes into account the specific and individual needs of all pupils, including pupils with SEND who have an EHC plan. Furthermore, the PSHE curriculum

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Main inspection findings

had been developed further and encourages pupils to pay regard to the protected characteristic of religion or belief. For example, pupils learn about different religions and beliefs. Paragraph 3, 3(b)-(f)  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2023, in some subjects, staff lacked the confidence and subject expertise to adapt lessons to pupils’ needs and prior knowledge. Staff had not received sufficient support to help them choose appropriate teaching methods and activities to better engage pupils’ interests. Furthermore, the school had not provided staff with the high-quality resources that they needed to support the ambition of the new curriculums.  In its action plan, the school proposed actions to improve assessment strategies so that staff have a better understanding of pupils’ needs, aptitudes and prior attainments. The plan stated leaders’ intention to develop teachers’ subject knowledge. In addition, the

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Main inspection findings

school proposed to carry out an audit of its resources, and to ensure that staff know about and make use of the resources that the school has available.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the school has provided staff with a range of training that enables them to select appropriate teaching methods and activities to engage pupils’ interests. The school has invested in a range of suitable resources to support pupils’ learning, including for technology education.  The school now meets the previously unmet requirements in this part. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5, 5(b), 5(b)(vi)  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2023, pupils had regular opportunities to learn about the importance of respect and tolerance for other people. However, the school had not paid sufficient account to the protected characteristic of religion or belief, or to how pupils would learn about other religions through the curriculum.

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Main inspection findings

 In its action plan, the school restates its intention to encourage pupils’ respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010. It proposes to change the curriculum as needed, to ensure that teachers model appropriate attitudes, and to challenge pupils if necessary.  At the time of this progress monitoring inspection, the school has developed a curriculum to enable pupils to learn about the protected characteristic related to religion and beliefs.  The school meets the previously unmet requirements in the independent school standard (‘the standard’) in this part. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(b), 32(3), 32(3)(c)  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2023, plans and schemes of work in some subjects were made available for parents and carers. However, these were not available for all subjects. Furthermore, there was no curriculum policy for leaders to

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Main inspection findings

share.  The school’s action plan set out leaders’ intention to make curriculum information available to parents, and to put up notices in the school so that parents knew how to access this information.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the school had ensured that the curriculum policy and curriculum plans for all subjects were in place. Parents were made aware that these were available via the school newsletter.  The school meets the previously unmet requirements in the standard in this part. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a)-34(1)(c)  At the progress monitoring inspection in October 2023, the proprietor and governors had begun to work with an external consultant. This work was beginning to improve leaders’ understanding of the standards and of the school’s quality of education. However, the governors’ work to hold leaders more effectively to account was in its very early stages.

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Main inspection findings

A number of standards were found to remain unmet at the progress monitoring inspection.  In its action plan, the school proposed to train governors and senior leaders in their duties and to check that these duties are being carried out.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the proprietor and school leaders have addressed the shortfalls that were found at the previous progress monitoring inspection. For example, they have developed the curriculum policy and ensured that pupils learn a broad range of subjects. The school has developed staff expertise to enable them to implement the curriculum well. Leaders and governors undertake regular training to improve their quality assurance procedures. They, together with the proprietor, have put measures in place to monitor the school’s compliance with standards and statutory requirements regularly. Governors challenge and support leaders effectively. Leaders

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Main inspection findings

fulfil their responsibilities to promote the well-being of pupils.  The school now meets the previously unmet requirements of the standard in this part.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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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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(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 EHC plan.  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(a) full-time supervised education for pupils of compulsory school age (construed in accordance with section 8 of the Education Act 1996), which gives pupils experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education; – 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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

characteristics set out in the 2010 Act[9].  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(b) fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range.

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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 6. Provision of information

 32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 32(1)(b) the information specified in sub-paragraph (3) is made available to parents of pupils and parents of prospective pupils and, on request, to the Chief Inspector, the Secretary of State or an independent inspectorate;  32(3) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is- – 32(3)(c) particulars of the policy referred to in paragraph 2.

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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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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 Other independent faith school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Voluntary contributions

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 24 to 26 January 2023

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Information about this school

 The school’s standard inspection was 24 to 26 January 2023.  Kerem Shloime is an orthodox Jewish faith school.  The school operates from Gloucester House, Back Duncan Street, Salford M7 2EY.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.  The school is registered for up to 300 pupils.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE). The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress that the school has made in meeting the standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its first progress monitoring inspection on 18 October 2023.  The school’s most recent standard inspection was 24 to 26 January 2023. At this inspection, the school was judged not to comply with the standards.  The DfE required the school to prepare an action plan. This plan was statutory. Ofsted evaluated this plan on 23 June 2023. The DfE accepted the action plan with modifications on 21 July 2023.  Following the standard inspection in January 2023, the school’s first progress monitoring inspection was carried out on 18 October 2023.  A second action plan was evaluated by Ofsted on 29 January 2024. This plan was statutory. The DfE rejected this action plan.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the second progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection in January 2023. It was conducted with 30 minutes’ notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher, senior leaders, staff and one governor. He also spoke with an external consultant who is supporting the school. The inspector also spoke on the telephone with the proprietor.  The inspector spoke with leaders about the curriculum. He looked at curriculum plans and at samples of pupils’ work. The inspector spoke with staff, visited some lessons and talked with a small number of pupils about their work and about wider school life.  The inspector also examined a wider range of policy documents, including the safeguarding policy, curriculum documents and documents related to leadership and management.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central register of pre-employment checks and whether the school safeguarding

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Information about this inspection

policy is available to parents. These requirements of the standards are met.

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Inspection team

Ahmed Marikar, lead inspector His 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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