Leading Charedi figure protests at 'aggressive' Ofsted

Mr Berger suggested appointing a “community mediator” to accompany children when questioned could ensure that inspectors did not give offence, while being able to gather the information they sought.

This would support staff, who had “made it overtly clear that they are ill-equipped to deal with the adversarial and hostile atmosphere fostered by Ofsted inspections”, while reassuring parents.

But such as step would only be “a sticking plaster to remedy what is a deep fracture in the relationship between Ofsted and the Orthodox Jewish community”, he said.

Mr Berger has also written to MP Meg Hillier, chair of the parliamentary public accounts committee, to challenge evidence given last week by Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman.

Independent school guidelines say schools should teach respect and tolerance for other people by “paying regard” to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act.

Mrs Spielman told MPs  “all the protected characteristics” should be considered (which would include same-sex orientation and gender reassignment).

But Mr Berger contended the law was not clear cut, he said, and Mrs Spielman’s interpretation “undermines our religious beliefs”.

Inspectors had consistently asked children at TEC schools questions “pertaining to intimate relationships and sexuality,” he complained.

TEC schools followed legal advice which ran contrary to the Ofsted head’s interpretation, he said.  “On this basis, we clearly understand that paying regard to the protected characteristics does not have to entail our schools adopting an aggressively secular approach to personal ethics or relationships.”