Etz Chaim Boys School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Etz Chaim Boys School 458 Bury New Road, Salford M7 4LJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(d)(ii), 2A(1), 2A(1)(d)  At the school’s standard inspection in September 2024, inspectors found that pupils had limited knowledge of diversity and the differences that exist among people. The school did not teach pupils about the full range of protected characteristics, including those that relate to sexual orientation and gender reassignment, as set out in the Equality Act 2010. In the development of its provision for relationships and sex education, the school was found not to have due regard for any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002.  The school submitted an action plan following the standard inspection. However, this action plan failed to explain how the school intended to ensure that pupils would learn about the full range of protected characteristics.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the school has made some improvements to the

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Main inspection findings

ways that pupils learn about some of the protected characteristics, such as disability, gender and race. However, the school has made no plans to teach pupils about those characteristics related to sexual orientation and gender reassignment. Additionally, the school continues not to have regard for the guidance under section 80A of the Education Act. Consequently, pupils’ knowledge of relationships and sex education remains limited.  The standards in this part remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(b), 5(b)(vi)  When the school was inspected in September 2024, it was found that the curriculum did not support pupils to learn about some of the protected characteristics. This meant that pupils were not sufficiently prepared for life in modern Britain.  The school’s action plan set out its intention to review its programme for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC). However, the plan stopped short of explaining how this review would result in pupils learning about all of the protected characteristics.  At the time of the progress monitoring inspection, the school’s programme for SMSC does not include any support for pupils to learn about the protected characteristics relating to gender reassignment and sexual orientation. Consequently, pupils remain insufficiently prepared for life in modern Britain.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  At the standard inspection in September 2024, inspectors found some minor weaknesses in the school’s systems for recording concerns. These systems were found to lack the rigour needed to enable leaders to spot patterns and trends that might relate to a pupil’s welfare. This made it more difficult for the school to minimise risks to pupils.  In its action plan, the school proposed to implement a new paper-based recording system and to introduce ongoing safeguarding audits. However, the actions proposed did not clearly explain how the proposed actions would enable leaders to recognise patterns and trends, or who would be responsible for carrying out the audits. In addition, there was a lack of clarity about the safeguarding audits and how these would help the school to address minor weaknesses.  At the time of this progress monitoring inspection, the school has made limited progress

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Main inspection findings

in making improvements to the rigour of its recording systems. For example, regular discussions now take place between leaders to ensure that they share information about pupils’ welfare. However, the recording of these concerns still lacks sufficient rigour. For example, records lack the detail needed to ensure that they contribute effectively to the overall picture of pupils’ welfare. Paragraph 11  When the school received its standard inspection, weaknesses were found in the implementation of the school’s health and safety policy. In particular, it was found that the school’s systems for the routine monitoring of health and safety compliance lacked rigour and regularity.  In its action plan, the school stated that a range of periodic health and safety checks were now in place. However, the action plan failed to provide sufficient clarity regarding the nature of these checks, or how the checks would contribute to the safety and

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Main inspection findings

hygiene of the school premises for pupils.  During the progress monitoring inspection, it was found that the school has put in place a system for identifying and reporting any issues that require attention, such as damage or breakages. However, on occasions, the school does not act quickly enough to carry out the necessary repairs or to address the hazards identified. For example, flooring is damaged in a number of classrooms, presenting the danger of tripping and injury. In the school’s woodwork area, some tools and equipment were not stored safely. The school has not ensured that some items of electrical equipment used by pupils, such as computers, have been checked recently to ensure that they are safe. These issues put pupils’ health and safety at risk.  The standards in this part remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  At the last inspection, it was found that some aspects of the school’s environment were unhygienic. This included areas related to the preparation of food, such the kitchen and the areas provided for pupils to carry out food technology. This put pupils’ health and safety at risk.  In its action plan, the school set out its intentions to carry out deep cleans of the kitchen on a weekly basis. However, the plan did not explain the measures that the school intended to take to ensure that the areas for food and design technology were also clean.  At this progress monitoring inspection, it was found that the school has made some improvements. For example, some work surfaces for food technology were clean in readiness for preparing potatoes. Pans are tidily stored on shelving. However, some surfaces and items of equipment were seen to be dirty and to require further cleaning.

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Main inspection findings

Tea towels were not changed and laundered frequently enough.  These shortfalls in hygiene present a potential risk to pupils’ health, safety and welfare.  The standards in this part remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  A number of qualitative weaknesses were identified at the last standard inspection. For example, reading was found not to have been prioritised sufficiently. Some pupils did not receive the support that they needed to develop strong reading skills and knowledge. In a number of curriculum subjects, the school had not considered all of the knowledge that pupils should learn, and in what order, especially at key stage 3. The school was found not to make effective use of the information from assessments to identify when pupils had gaps in their knowledge. These qualitative weaknesses were found to hamper pupils’ achievement.  At this progress monitoring inspection, in some subjects, the proprietor and school has made some improvements to its curriculum for pupils in key stage 3. In these subjects, the curriculum now contains the key knowledge that the school wants pupils to learn

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Main inspection findings

over time. However, work to improve the curriculum is at a much earlier stage in some other subjects. In these subjects, it is likely to be much more difficult to ensure that pupils across the school are learning everything that they need to know.  The proprietor has ensured that time has been allowed for the provision of extra support for pupils who need help with reading. However, the school has made very little progress with the provision of appropriate resources and schemes of work for pupils at the early stage of reading. This is likely to hamper pupils’ ability to make the gains that they need in order to read well.  The school has made limited progress in improving its use of information from assessments. This work is at too early a stage to have had an impact for pupils, for example, by identifying and addressing any missing knowledge that pupils may have.  At the last inspection, inspectors found that school leaders did not understand some of

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Main inspection findings

the standards well enough to ensure that they were met. For example, the requirement to teach about all of the protected characteristics as defined by law was not fully understood. This continues to be the case.  In its action plan, the school proposed the development of internal monitoring systems. However, the plan did not explain how the proprietor intended to ensure that leaders would gain the knowledge and expertise to ensure that the standards would be met consistently and securely over time.  During this progress monitoring inspection, previously unmet standards remain unmet. These include standards relating to pupils’ welfare, health and safety. The proprietor has not sufficiently demonstrated that it has the skills and knowledge to ensure that the standards are met consistently and securely.  The standards in this part remain 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

Annual fees (day pupils) Voluntary contributions

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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 from 24 to 26 September 2024.  Etz Chaim is an orthodox Jewish boys’ school. It operates from premises at 458 Bury New Road, Salford M7 4LJ.  The sole proprietor is Yonah Chaim Reich.  There are 245 pupils are on roll at the school. The school has an agreed capacity with the Department for Education (DfE) for 250 pupils.  The school is registered for pupils aged between 11 and 17. At the time of this inspection, only a very small number were accessing the school’s sixth-form provision. Pupils typically leave the school at the end of Year 10 to attend a Yeshiva.  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 school was judged not to comply with the independent school standards at the standard inspection which took place from 24 to 26 September 2024.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection.  Following the last standard inspection, the DfE required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. This action plan was evaluated by Ofsted on 13 December 2024. It was judged to be unacceptable and rejected by the DfE.  The inspection was conducted with no notice.  The inspector met with the proprietor, the headteacher and also with the headteacher for the school’s Kodesh provision.  The inspector met with some teachers and some pupils.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector made a tour of the premises. She also reviewed some policies and some documentation relating to the curriculum.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation in relation to safeguarding. This included records of concern, the safeguarding policy and the single central record.  The headteacher asked the inspector not to ask pupils questions about the protected characteristics.

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Inspection team

Mavis Smith, 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)(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 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.

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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)(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. 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

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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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