Gateshead Jewish Boarding School

Gateshead Jewish Boarding School, 7 July 2026 1 Gateshead Jewish Boarding School 10 Rydal Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 1HG

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report:

Overall outcome The school does not meet all of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection

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report:

At its most recent inspection, the school was judged to not meet all of the independent school standards and associated requirements.

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report:

The purpose of this 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.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out progress monitoring inspections of independent schools, we report on the school’s likely compliance with part 8 of the independent school standards first. Under part 8, the proprietor is required to ensure that the school meets all of the independent school standards consistently. The standard in part 8 is intended to ensure that the quality of leadership and management at the school is sufficient for that purpose.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

At the previous standard inspection in September 2025, inspectors found that the school did not ensure that pupils were taught about all of the protected characteristics and that the personal, social, health and education (PSHE) curriculum was not broad enough. Consequently, pupils had gaps in their knowledge. In addition, inspectors found that the opportunities for pupils to develop their individual talents were limited and that the support for those pupils that needed help with reading was not well developed.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

During this inspection, inspectors found that the school still does not teach pupils about the protected characteristics of sexual orientation and gender reassignment. The action plan submitted by the school was found by the Department for Education to be unsuitable in ensuring that all of the independent school standards (the standards) are met consistently and over time. There has been some progress in developing aspects of the Gateshead Jewish Boarding School, 7 July 2026 2 school’s PSHE and reading programmes. Additionally, leaders have developed a more comprehensive programme of extra-curricular activities so that pupils enjoy a broader range of experiences at the school. However, leaders have not ensured that the school’s curriculum meets the statutory requirements in relation to teaching around protected characteristics and relationships and sex education (RSE). Leaders are of the view that they pay regard to statutory requirements related to protected characteristics, but they do

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

not ensure that pupils learn about all of them.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The school has recently been acting beyond its registration. At the time of the inspection, there were 140 pupils on roll. This is because some of the older pupils, having finished their education at the school, have recently been removed from the roll. When all pupils in Year 10 were on roll, there were 153 pupils on roll at the school. The school is registered for 147 pupils. Leaders assert that the incoming Year 7, being smaller than the current Year 10, means that they will be acting within their registration going forward.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The previously unmet standards in this part continue to be unmet.

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Curriculum

At the previous inspection, inspectors found that the school’s approach to support weaker readers was not consistently targeted and did not lead to pupils improving accuracy, fluency and confidence when reading.

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Curriculum

Inspectors also found that the PSHE curriculum did not teach pupils about the physical and emotional changes associated with growing up and did not teach pupils about the protected characteristics of sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

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Curriculum

The proprietor has ensured that there is now a system in place to assess the reading ability of pupils. While this programme is in the early phases, it provides leaders with clear information about pupils’ comprehension, vocabulary and decoding ability. As this system is becoming embedded, leaders intend to run guided reading sessions to help the weakest readers. In addition, the library is now more regularly used by pupils and there are plans to improve the range and quality of books on offer to pupils.

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Curriculum

In the PSHE curriculum, there are now dedicated lessons that help pupils to understand the emotional changes associated with growing up. There is more direct teaching about the health-related aspects of growing up, for example linked to hygiene. However, there has been no change in the school’s approach to the teaching of protected characteristics. The protected characteristics of sexual orientation and gender reassignment are still not taught. Leaders assert, correctly, that pupils are taught to be respectful to all people. However, pupils are not taught about, for example, the different types of family relationships that exist in modern Britain and the curriculum in place does not support them to understand this. Gateshead Jewish Boarding School, 7 July 2026 3 The previously unmet standards in this part continue to be unmet.

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

As noted above, the previous standard inspection of the school found that the programme to support pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development did not teach about all the protected characteristics. Additionally, the range of activities on offer to pupils was limited.

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

The proprietor has acted to broaden the range of experiences on offer to pupils. For example, planned activities covering art, music, outdoor events, fundraising and trips to the beach are now part of a calendar of events. Links are made between these activities and the careers advice that pupils receive. There are also specific connections to the personal development programme and pupils’ understanding of the wider world. This is ensuring that pupils have opportunities to develop their talents and interests beyond the academic and religious teachings of the school.

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

However, as noted above, leaders have not made any changes to the ways in which the school teaches about protected characteristics, for example, about the specific legal protections afforded to all groups with protected characteristics. Leaders acknowledge that they have not developed this aspect of their work but aim to foreground to pupils the respect they should show to all people at all times. This does not meet the specific requirements of the standards.

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

The previously unmet standards in this part remain unmet.

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Safeguarding

The school’s system to safeguard pupils continues to be secure. There are clear logs recorded for incidents in the school. Staff have a well-developed understanding of how to report concerns and understand the process for reporting concerns about adults, including if they have safeguarding concerns about the headteacher.

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Safeguarding

There are appropriately trained staff leading the safeguarding approach in school and a programme of training for staff ensures that there is an understanding of the risks that pupils face.

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Safeguarding

The standards in this part were met at the previous inspection and continue to be met. Gateshead Jewish Boarding School, 7 July 2026 4

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The recruitment checks made on staff, supply staff and the proprietor

Appropriate checks are made on staff prior to their employment at the school. Leaders are aware of their responsibilities when staff from employment agencies work at the school.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The single central record is kept electronically. It details the checks made on staff and the dates when these checks were made. It is updated as necessary when new staff join the school.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The standards in this part were met at the previous inspection and continue to be met.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The school does not have a website but has provision in place to ensure that appropriate information can be shared as needed with parents.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The safeguarding policy is readily available to parents and was available for scrutiny during this inspection. It has information about how the school meets its responsibilities for keeping children safe and it provides useful contact information for local agencies and services that also help to ensure that pupils are safe when attending school.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The standards that were checked in this part were met at the previous inspection and remain met.

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About this inspection

The inspector carried out this inspection under sections 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The inspector checked the school’s compliance with the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

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About this inspection

Following our renewed inspection framework, all inspections are now led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs) or by Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) who have previously served as HMIs.

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About this inspection

This inspection was conducted without notice.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with the chair of the proprietor body, the headteacher, other school leaders, staff and pupils during the inspection. Gateshead Jewish Boarding School, 7 July 2026 5 Leaders requested that the inspector did not ask pupils any questions relating to the protected characteristics of sexual orientation or gender reassignment during this inspection.

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About this inspection

The school’s previous standard inspection took place in September 2025. The school was considered at the time to not comply with the independent school standards.

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About this inspection

The Department for Education required the school to submit an action plan to illustrate how it would meet the unmet standards at its previous inspection. This action plan was evaluated by Ofsted in April 2026, and the proposed action plan was not acceptable.

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About this inspection

Gateshead Jewish Boarding School is an orthodox Jewish faith school. The school provides a Kodesh (religious) and Chol (secular) curriculum.

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About this inspection

The school does not make any use of alternative provision.

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Lead inspector

Matthew Vellensworth His Majesty’s Inspector

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About this school

Proprietor Gateshead Jewish Boarding School

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compulsory school age on roll

Annual fees for day pupils Contributions from parents and the community

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compulsory school age on roll

Email address admin@gjbs.gateshead.sch.uk Gateshead Jewish Boarding School, 7 July 2026 6

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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]; – 2(2)(i) effective preparation of pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society.  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

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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 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; and

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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 Gateshead Jewish Boarding School, 7 July 2026 7 – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. Gateshead Jewish Boarding School, 7 July 2026 8 education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people

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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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