Pupils at the Ahavas Torah Boys Academy in Manchester have been “severely let down by leaders in all aspects” according to a damning new Ofsted report. 

The inspectorate downgraded the strictly Orthodox school from “needs improvement” to “inadequate” following an inspection at the end of last year which found a “wide range of unmet standards” by its leadership. 

It reported that the school, serving over 70 boys aged 11 to 16, had a “weak and poorly designed” curriculum lacking in secular subjects. It was not “the broad, ambitious curriculum to which pupils are entitled”. 

The report further accused the school’s leaders of not ensuring staff have the subject knowledge required to deliver the curriculum well, with teachers “struggling to provide pupils with clear and accurate explanations of new learning because their own subject knowledge is poor”. 

Ofsted found that pupils did not receive “impartial careers information, education, advice and guidance” and “gain very little knowledge of faiths and cultures other than their own”, preventing them "from being fully prepared for life in modern Britain”. 

Although the boys enjoyed being with their friends at school, they were “expected to spend their playtimes in grounds that are poorly maintained and, in parts, strewn with hazardous litter. Pupils learn in classrooms that are dirty and damaged.” 

Routine checks of fire alarms and emergency lighting were not carried out and pupils were on occasion "not being properly supervised".  

Ofsted also said that leaders’ expectations of pupils’ achievements were “too low”, with the work teachers assigned students “not helping them to learn well”. 

And while instances of bullying were rare, “pupils’ behaviour is sometimes inappropriately boisterous while moving around school”. 

In addition, pupils with learning disabilities or special educational needs were not well supported and “underachieve”, with leaders not having a “secure understanding of their responsibility”.

Ofsted maintained that “school leaders have not resolved the issues identified at the last standard inspection in relation to governance”.

In a response to the JC, the school said it was “unfortunate” that Ofsted “chose to deliver a report such as this. 

“The negative outlook and critical intent are evident in every section of the report. It is riddled with factual inaccuracies,” the school claimed

“Most of the report carries little bearing on what is actually going on in this wonderful education establishment.  

“Our school is thankfully doing really well. The students are happy and thriving and the parents are unanimously delighted. We would welcome any genuine desire to verify that this is the case.”