Ohr Emes

School material change inspection report

p.1

Ohr Emes 148 Upper Clapton Road, London E5 9JZ

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4  Leaders have enhanced further their existing curriculum policy to meet the needs of pupils in year groups up to and including Year 6. The school’s curriculum and assessment documents have been adapted and extended to include suitable coverage of all the required areas of learning for pupils aged eight to 11 years old.  The school’s secular curriculum, which complements the specialist religious curriculum, is likely to be suitably broad for the proposed older pupils. Plans are likely to take account of the different ages, abilities, and interests of this phase.  Leaders have well-developed procedures to meet the academic and personal needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The programmes for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education and relationships education are suitable. The programmes include age-appropriate

p.1

Main inspection findings

coverage of British values, equality, and relationships. Leaders have ensured they are likely to continue to comply with the statutory requirements.  Leaders have credible plans to develop their staff team to meet the needs of the older, and increase in the number of, pupils. They are working well to improve the quality of education provided, following the outcomes of the previous standard inspection in November 2023.  The independent school standards (‘the standards’) in this part are likely to be met if the material change to increase the age of range of pupils is approved and implemented. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  The PSHE education curriculum, taught through the specialist religious curriculum, has been adapted to teach older pupils about how to keep themselves healthy and safe. The curriculum includes teaching pupils about the diversity of modern British society,

p.1

Main inspection findings

including about those with different religions, faiths, and cultures. The curriculum is likely to actively promote British values and is enriched with assemblies and visits to local nature reserves and gardens.  The school’s British values policy makes clear that no member of staff may promote partisan views. It sets out explicitly that balanced points of view must always be presented in the teaching of any political topic.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the material change to increase the age of range of pupils is approved and implemented. Part 3. Welfare, health, and safety of pupils Paragraphs 11, 12 and 16 to 16(b)  The school’s policies for health and safety, and risk assessment, are likely to meet requirements at the additional premises. Arrangements to clean and maintain the premises are suitable.  Leaders have produced a suitable risk assessment that considers and sets out actions

p.2

Main inspection findings

to mitigate the possible risks presented to the proposed building’s users.  The school’s arrangements for the new building’s fire safety are likely to be compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The few actions identified in an external fire risk assessment have now been completed. All fire-safety infrastructure has been installed recently. All the required checks will be undertaken and logged in line with statutory requirements.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change to increase the maximum capacity of pupils is approved and implemented. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The school’s new additional premises are located in a large house which was previously used as a secondary school. The premises have been refurbished to a high standard. They include a large outdoor play space, suitable for both recreation and physical education.

p.2

Main inspection findings

 The building’s five classrooms and multi-use dining and assembly space are likely to be able to safely accommodate up to a maximum of 125 pupils aged up to 11 years old.  Arrangements for toilet, washing and medical facilities are likely to be suitable. New indoor and outdoor lighting has been installed throughout. Hot water supplies are safely regulated, and drinking water supplies are suitably labelled as such.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change to increase the maximum capacity of pupils is approved and implemented. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  The proprietor and leaders understand the independent school standards. They have planned appropriately to open additional premises and extend the school’s age range to include pupils aged eight to 11.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the material changes are approved and

p.2

Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

p.4

School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

p.5

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Variable and voluntary

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14 to 16 November 2023

p.5

recommendation

Age range of pupils 3 to 7 3 to 11 3 to 11

p.5

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 107 235 235

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 39 Up to 160

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 6 Up to 25

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health, and care plan 0 Up to 5

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health, and care plan 0 Up to 5

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 10 20

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 2 4

p.6

Information about this school

 Ohr Emes is an independent primary day school for Orthodox Jewish boys. Many pupils in the school speak English as an additional language.  From late October 2024, the school will use both its main premises and additional premises at 34 Fairholt Road, London N16 5HW.  There is a proprietor body, consisting of the three trustees of the registered charity, Ohr Emes Ltd. The proprietor body is chaired by the current headteacher.  The previous standard inspection took place in November 2023, when all the independent school standards were judged to be met.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned this inspection to consider the school’s application to change its age range of pupils, and advised the inspector of the school’s new additional premises.  This was the first inspection to consider the school’s material change application.  The inspection was announced with two days of notice.  The school’s original application was to increase the age range of pupils from 3 to 7 to 3 to 12. Leaders clarified from the outset of the inspection that they only intend to operate a primary school up to Year 6, and so requested that the inspector consider a change in age range from 3 to 7 to 3 to 11 only.  The school’s leaders mistakenly assumed that an increase in capacity would be considered as a result of advising the DfE about their additional premises. The inspection also considered leaders’ request to increase the school’s overall capacity as a result of using new premises at 34 Fairholt Road, London N16 5HW.

p.8

Information about this inspection

 The inspector considered whether the relevant requirements in parts 1, 2 and 8 of the standards are likely to be met in light of the change in age range. He also considered the relevant requirements in parts 3, 5 and 8 of the standards in light of the increase in capacity at the additional premises.  The inspector met with the chair of the proprietor body (who is also the headteacher), the head of early years, and head of compliance. He had a tour of both premises and met with a group of pupils. He considered a range of evidence, including proposed curriculum policies and plans, and that relating to the additional premises.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements. The relevant requirements in parts 3, 4 and 6 of the independent school standards continue to be met.

p.8

Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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 .

p.8

Inspection team

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

Inspection team

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

Inspection team

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

Inspection team

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

Inspection team

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

p.9

Inspection team

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

p.9