Menorah Grammar School in Edgware has received an “inadequate”, inspection rating from Ofsted, citing a “shallow” secular curriculum with minimal exposure to other main religions; a lack of impartial career advice and scant exposure to “modern Britain’s protected characteristics”.
The Orthodox independent secondary school for boys, catering to the modern end of the Charedi sector, had also been graded inadequate grading in 2020, although “significant improvements” were found in a follow-up visit in 2021.
The most recent inspection – which is being appealed by Menorah on “a number of fronts” – took place in November.
Ofsted reported that the school had experienced a high turnover of leadership, which has “slowed down progress after the last inspection”.
It found that the Menorah site was well maintained, pupils felt safe and that instances of bullying were extremely rare. The current leadership possessed “the knowledge, skills, and right plans in place to turn the school around”.
However, Ofsted also found that “curriculum thinking is not detailed enough”, not meeting the needs of many pupils. Pupils struggling with reading were “not supported well enough to help them catch up quickly”. The report also claimed that Menorah governors “do not check well enough on the quality of education”.
In an email to parents, the governors expressed disappointment “with the overall result” saying that the inspection was unannounced and alleging that it was generated by “two whistle-blowing complaints into safeguarding”.
They further claimed that the “character of the inspection itself was aggressive and unpleasant, which is mirrored in the tone of the report.
“[The inspectors] were very focused on our education of protected characteristics, an area we failed on. Much of what they expect us to educate our boys in does not fit with the Torah values through which we frame these ideas.”
The governors recognised “both the strengths and weaknesses within MGS and its curriculum” - and that efforts to tackle its shortcomings is “already making itself felt. We look forward to that picking up speed and seeing the very tangible impact of this over the coming months.”
Menorah Grammar caters for boys aged 11-21 and currently has 286 pupils.
