Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School 51–57 Amhurst Park, London N16 5DL

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(ii), 5(b) and 5(b)(vi)  The previous standard inspection, which was conducted in September 2024, found that the school did not comply with statutory requirements. It did not include content that encourages respect for people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010. Pupils did not gain an awareness of the legal rights and responsibilities regarding equality, with particular reference to the protected characteristics. Consequently, the school does not prepare pupils effectively for life in British society.  The school’s plans to address these failings are insufficient. It proposes to promote equality and diversity in general terms, without specific reference to the protected characteristics.  The school has not taken effective action to address the failings identified in the previous

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Main inspection findings

inspection. Additionally, it has taken the decision not to promote awareness of all the protected characteristics in an age-appropriate way. For example, the school chooses not to teach secondary-age pupils about the legal rights of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).  The school does not meet the independent school standards (the standards) contained within these parts. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 16 and 16(b)  The previous inspection found that the school did promote the welfare, health and safety of pupils adequately. Pupils did not receive suitable information to help them identify risks and stay safe. The school’s records of low-level safeguarding and welfare concerns were informal and inconsistent. This reduced the school’s ability to identify patterns of risk for individual pupils or families.  Some actions to improve record-keeping were put in place during the previous

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Main inspection findings

inspection. However, the proposed actions submitted to the Department of Education (DfE) in December 2024 did not outline any further actions in appropriate detail.  The school has taken appropriate action to address the previous failings. The low-level safeguarding log now outlines concerns raised and includes clear, dated, follow-up actions. Safeguarding leaders monitor these concerns regularly. They check that actions taken are appropriate and effective.  The school’s risk assessment policy is appropriate. Associated risk assessments are comprehensive and communicated clearly with staff. For example, the school ensures staff read and understand risk assessments for educational visits before the outings take place. The school also prepares pupils by setting out clear expectations for them to follow.  The school’s curriculum for personal, social and emotional education includes appropriate content regarding safety. For example, the curriculum includes relevant information

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Main inspection findings

about healthy relationships, including consent. The school teaches pupils about personal safety in different situations. This includes ways to stay safe in the local area.  The school has commissioned support from an external organisation to teach pupils about online safety. It has made arrangements for the company to provide workshops for pupils in the summer term of this academic year. In the meantime, the school provides pupils with relevant information about the dangers of information sharing and some ways to stay safe when online. Pupils are aware of various risks that they may encounter and have some knowledge of how to report concerns and seek help.  The school meets the previously unmet standards contained within this part. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  The previous inspection found that the premises were not maintained to a satisfactory standard. The maintenance of the premises was not checked rigorously. During the

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Main inspection findings

inspection, the school took some appropriate action to remedy the flaws.  The school’s proposed actions did not adequately address the health and safety concerns. This is because the measures simply outlined the actions taken during the previous inspection. The school did not set out strategies to ensure a rigorous maintenance routine at each site.  The school has taken effective action to ensure each school site is now maintained appropriately. It has recruited additional staff with responsibility for maintenance at each school site. There are clear systems in place for staff to report any health and safety defects and request repairs. The school takes swift action to address these deficiencies.  The school has improved maintenance routines at each site. For example, it ensures that toilets are cleaned and checked at regular intervals throughout the day. The school premises on all four sites are clean, tidy and well maintained.

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Main inspection findings

 The school meets the previously unmet standard. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  The previous inspection found the proprietor body did not ensure the standards are met consistently and securely. The school failed in its statutory responsibilities, including around safeguarding, and did not promote pupils’ welfare and well-being adequately.  The school’s action plan did not set out robust, detailed steps to address the failings. It did not provide assurances about the school’s systems and ability to identify and address the failings.  The proprietor has taken some appropriate action to improve the school systems and practice. For example, the school organises safeguarding records, risk assessments and maintenance logs appropriately. The school ensures pupils are taught about risks and online safety. The actions provide assurances that the proprietor adequately promotes

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Main inspection findings

the well-being of pupils.  However, the proprietor does not ensure the school meets its statutory responsibilities to actively promote the protected characteristics in line with the 2010 Equality Act. The proprietor is clear that in the future it does not intend to promote the protected characteristics in line with its legal duty. Therefore, the proprietor body does not demonstrate that it can consistently meet the standards.  The school does not meet the standards contained within this part.

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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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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 6 The standards about the welfare, health and safety of pupils at the school are those contained in this Part.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 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.

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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)(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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Girls

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School details

Number of pupils on the school roll 1,404

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 165

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School details

Proprietor Beis Rochel d’Satmar Charitable Trust

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) Fees are variable, depending on the ability of parents to pay. Telephone number 02088009060

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School details

Email address admin@beisrochelschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 24 to 27 September 2024

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Information about this school

 This is an Independent Orthodox Jewish day school for girls aged two to 19. The school also caters for boys aged two to three years old.  The school operates from four sites. Pupils in Year 4 to Year 11 are educated at the main school site. It is located at Amhurst Park, Hackney N16 5DL. Most children in the early years, and pupils in Year 1 are taught at Cazenove Road, Hackney N16 6BB. Pupils in Years 2 and 3 learn at Warwick Grove, Hackney E5 9HX. Students in the sixth form are educated at Rookwood Road, Hackney N16 6SP.  The school’s previous standard inspection was conducted in September 2024. It was judged to require improvement for overall effectiveness.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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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.  The standard inspection carried out in September 2024 found that the school did not meet the standards. This is the first monitoring inspection since the previous standard inspection.  Following the previous inspection, the DfE required that the school produce a statutory action plan. Ofsted reviewed the action plan on 30 December 2024. Following the review, the DfE rejected the action plan.  The progress monitoring inspection was conducted without notice.  Inspectors met with representatives of the proprietor body, the headteacher and other leaders. Inspectors also spoke with groups and pupils and staff. To check the standard of

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Information about this inspection

the premises, inspectors visited each school site.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are met.  To comply with the school’s wishes, inspectors did not ask pupils about their knowledge and awareness of LGBT relationships. This contributed to the evidence that the school does not ensure the curriculum encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality act 2010.

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Inspection team

Andrea Bedeau, lead inspector His Majesty’s 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- – 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].

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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.

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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– – 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.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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