Beis Ruchel Girls School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Beis Ruchel Girls School 11 Norton Street, Salford M7 4AJ

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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) to 2A(1)(g), 2A(2)  At the school’s standard inspection in September 2024, inspectors found that the proprietor had failed to ensure that the school’s curriculum taught pupils about the range of protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010. At the time of the inspection, the school was not equipping pupils with an understanding of sexual orientation, gender reassignment and some aspects of different religions and faiths. Additionally, inspectors identified that the school was not meeting its statutory duties to provide age-appropriate relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education. Pupils had a limited understanding of healthy relationships.  The school has not made any changes to the provision to meet the requirements in this part. Pupils do not learn about the protected characteristics of sexual orientation and

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Main inspection findings

gender reassignment. Neither do they learn about different faiths and religions. There remains a lack of an age-appropriate RSE and health education curriculum in place.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5, 5(b), 5(b)(iii), 5(b)(vi), 5(d), 5(d)(i) to 5(d)(iii)  At the standard inspection, inspectors found that pupils were limited in their knowledge and understanding of diversity and the differences that exist within society. This was because the school did not teach about the full range of protected characteristics.  The school has not made any changes to the provision to meet the requirements in this part. The school continues to not teach the full range of protected characteristics.  There was no evidence to suggest that pupils are not offered a balanced presentation of political views.  The standard in this part remains unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7 to 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  Leaders promote a strong culture of safeguarding. The safeguarding policy reflects the current statutory guidance and is available in paper form as the school does not have a website. There are effective systems in place to keep pupils safe. Staff receive training that helps them to understand the procedures for identifying and reporting concerns. Pupils feel confident that staff would take swift action if they shared a concern with them.  The standard in this part continues to be 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)  At the standard inspection, inspectors found that the proprietor did not have sufficient provision in place to teach pupils about the protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Also, the school did not meet the statutory requirements for RSE and health education. Leaders could not demonstrate that they had the knowledge and skills to ensure that the standards in Parts 1, 2 and 8 had consistently been met.  The school has failed to carry out any of the actions in its action plan or put any other actions in place to meet the requirements of the standards. Although leaders continue to make sure that pupils are safe, their understanding of some other parts of the standards is weak. The standards in relation to pupils’ understanding of the protected characteristics, the RSE curriculum and different faiths and religions remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

These unmet standards have been highlighted to leaders in the previous two standard inspections.  The standard in this part 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

Date of previous standard inspection 24 to 26 September 2024

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Information about this school

 The previous standard inspection took place on 24 to 26 September 2024.  The school operates from premises at 11 Norton Street, Salford, M7 4AJ.  Beis Ruchel is an orthodox Jewish faith school. Most pupils are members of the Satmar community. The school provides a Kodesh (religious) and a Chol (secular) curriculum.  The school is registered to admit up to 240 pupils.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision for pupils.  The proprietor also operates a primary school at the same location. This is registered separately with the Department for Education (DfE). That school is also called Beis Ruchel Girls School. It has a separate entrance at 87 Devonshire Street, Salford, Manchester M7 4BE.

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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 is the school’s first monitoring inspection following the standard inspection in September 2024.  The DfE required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. The action plan was reviewed by Ofsted on 6 January 2025. The DfE rejected the school’s action plan.  This inspection was carried out with 30 minutes notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher. The proprietor was unavailable.  The inspector met with some teachers and some pupils.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation in relation to safeguarding. This included records of concern, the safeguarding policy and the single central record.

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Information about this inspection

 The headteacher asked the inspector to only speak to pupils about safeguarding and not to ask about the protected characteristics, the RSE curriculum or other faiths and religions.

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Inspection team

Jane Dennis, 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].  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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools, – 2A(1)(e) makes and keeps up to date a separate written statement of its policy with regard to the provision of education as required by each of paragraphs (a) and (b), – 2A(1)(f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e), and – 2A(1)(g) publishes a copy of the statement on a website and provides a copy of the statement free of charge to anyone who asks for one.  2A(2) Arrangements made by the proprietor for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) must ensure that where a pupil’s parent requests that the pupil is wholly or partly excused from sex education provided as part of relationships and sex education, the pupil is so excused until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the head teacher

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

considers that the pupil should not be so excused.

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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)(iii) encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality in which the school is situated and to society more widely; – 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

 The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor- – 5(d) takes such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils- – 5(d)(i) while they are in attendance at the school, – 5(d)(ii) while they are taking part in extra-curricular activities which are provided or organised by or on behalf of the school, or – 5(d)(iii) in the promotion at the school, including through the distribution of promotional material, of extra-curricular activities taking place at the school or elsewhere, they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views.

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

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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

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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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