Talmud Torah Chinuch Norim School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Talmud Torah Chinuch Norim School 11 Wellington Street East, Salford, Manchester M7 2AU

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i)  At the time of the standard inspection in November 2024, inspectors found that the curriculum policy was not suitable and was not supported with appropriate schemes of work. This meant that staff were not able to design learning tasks that suited pupils’ ages and aptitudes. This was particularly the case where inspectors found gaps in pupils’ vocabulary development and comprehension.  In this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that the school has put in place a suitable curriculum policy. The school has started to develop plans and schemes of work for the range of subjects on offer. However, this is not in place for the age range that the school is registered to admit, including for example, in reading. The school has put in place a training programme for staff to increase their understanding of its

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Main inspection findings

expectations for how the curriculum should be taught. Paragraphs 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(ii), 2A(1), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d) to 2A(1)(f), 2A(2)  At the time of the last standard inspection, inspectors found that the school was not providing pupils of secondary age with an appropriate programme of relationships and sex education (RSE). Inspectors found that pupils were not fully informed about the risk of harm linked to issues such as consent and sexual harassment.  Inspectors also found that the school was not ensuring that pupils had an appropriate understanding of the full range of protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010. As such, pupils did not know enough about diversity in the wider society in which they live. Inspectors determined that pupils were not being prepared well enough for life in modern Britain.  In this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that there had been no action

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Main inspection findings

taken by the school since the standard inspection in relation to these standards. Although the school encourages pupils to respect everyone, pupils’ understanding of what this means in modern Britain is limited. This is because the curriculum does not cover the range of ways that people can be different, including where their characteristics are protected by law.  In addition, there has been no action taken to improve the RSE curriculum since the standard inspection. Paragraphs 3, 3(a), 3(d), 3(g)  At the time of the last standard inspection, inspectors found that arrangements to assess pupils’ knowledge and promote strong progress through the curriculum were not in place. Inspectors noted that there were unaddressed misconceptions and gaps in pupils’ learning, particularly in reading. It was noted that some pupils did not remember key knowledge and could not build on their prior knowledge well enough.

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Main inspection findings

 In this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that the school has started to set clearer expectations about what strong progress looks like in terms of pupils’ learning in each subject. However, as the plans and schemes of work are not in place for all subjects on offer, in most subjects there are no agreed methods in place for regularly assessing pupils’ progress through the curriculum.  The school has put in place regular reading assessments for younger pupils. However, the reading curriculum and assessment of pupils’ reading has not been developed for older pupils.  The previously unmet 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)(vi)  At the time of the last standard inspection, inspectors found that the school did not ensure that the promotion of equality is strong enough in terms of some of the protected characteristics. Older pupils did not learn enough about diversity so that they were well prepared for life in modern Britain.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that the school has taken no action in relation to this standard. Pupils remain unprepared for life in modern Britain as they do not learn about all of the protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010.  The previously unmet standard in this part remains unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, to 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy reflects the most up-to-date statutory guidance. The school does not have a website, but all policies are available to parents and carers on request.  There are robust systems in place for identifying, recording and reporting concerns about pupils. The school makes regular checks on the culture of safeguarding.  The school provides staff with regular safeguarding training. This helps staff to remain vigilant to any issues that may arise. Staff who are new to the school receive safeguarding training as part of their induction package. This clearly sets out the school’s expectations for how pupils are kept safe. Staff understand the school’s whistleblowing procedures.  The standards in these parts continue 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)(b)  At the time of the last standard inspection, inspectors found that the standards had not been consistently met. As such, the proprietor could not demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to fulfil its responsibilities.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that the school has taken some positive steps, in some areas, to move towards meeting the standards relating to the quality of education. However, the proprietor has not put in place any actions to address the previously unmet standards relating to the protected characteristics or the RSE curriculum.  The proprietor is not aware of the requirements of some parts of the standards.  The previously unmet 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

Annual fees (day pupils) Voluntary contributions

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 19 to 21 November 2024

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Information about this school

 Talmud Torah Chinuch Norim is an orthodox Jewish faith school.  The school operates from premises at 11 Wellington Street East, Salford, Manchester M7 2AU.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision for pupils.  The school is registered to admit up to 385 pupils.  The school’s most recent standard inspection took place on 19 to 21 November 2024.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools, the Department for Education (DfE). 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’s most recent standard inspection took place on 19 to 21 November 2024. At this inspection, the school was judged to not comply with the standards.  The DfE required the school to prepare an action plan. This plan was statutory. Ofsted evaluated this action plan in March 2025. The DfE rejected this action plan in March 2025.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection in November 2024.  This progress monitoring inspection was conducted with 30 minutes’ notice.  The inspector spoke with the headteacher and other senior leaders. They also met with

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Information about this inspection

the proprietor.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation, including that relating to the standards.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central register of pre-employment checks for staff and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are met.  The inspector spoke with pupils about their experience of school life. The headteacher requested that the inspector did not speak to pupils about the protected characteristics or the RSE curriculum.  The inspector spoke with staff about their well-being, workload and safeguarding.

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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. – 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)(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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), – 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, – 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).  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.  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 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(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils' work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress.

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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. 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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