Family & Education
Charedi school increases hours for secular lessons to meet Ofsted demands
Beis Medrash Elyon leaders have taken steps to address weaknesses, say inspectors
March 10, 2023 14:20
Beis Medrash Elyon leaders have taken steps to address weaknesses, say inspectors
March 10, 2023 14:20More time has been allocated to secular studies at an independent Strictly Orthodox boys secondary school in Hendon that was previously criticised by Ofsted for not having a broad enough curriculum.
In a follow-up visit to Beis Medrash Elyon, inspectors said the school’s leaders had effectively addressed many of the previously identified weaknesses.
“They have devised and put in place suitable schemes of work for nearly all areas of learning in the secular curriculum,” Ofsted reported.
Boys were now learning biology and expanded PE activities, included rugby. The school’s proprietor had also invested in additional resources and staff to support secular teaching, Ofsted reported. But it criticised technology provision.
Boys take a range of GCSEs that include English, maths, physics, chemistry and business studies in year 10 before going on to yeshivah.
Ofsted also said the school had now tackled weaknesses in fire-risk assessment and in safer recruitment practices.
In October last year, the school was told by the Department for Education it could not admit new pupils until its problems had been sorted.
Mark Garfield, the deputy head who arrived just over a year ago, said, “We are very proud of the tremendous progress the school has made in such a short space of time. This is due to the dedication, hard work and tenacity of the leadership team, the staff and governors. We have already implemented the standards relating to technology and will continue to strive for excellence.”
* A Chasidic school in Stamford Hill has been graded inadequate for the third time in four years because its secular curriculum was too narrow, Ofsted said.
Talmud Torah Machzikei Hadass is unusual in taking boys up to 16, whereas the alumni of most other independent Orthodox boys’ schools in the area go to yeshivah at 13.
Ofsted said primary age boys learned only maths, English and science, although history was being introduced, and from year 8 onwards, no secular studies were taught.
Since February last year, the school has not been allowed by the DfE to accept new pupils.