News
Ofsted criticises Charedi school for failing to teach about same-sex orientation
July 10, 2016 08:30
A Chasidic school has been judged to fall short of required standards because it will not teach children about sexual orientation.
Boys at the Talmud Torah Machzikei Hadass in Stamford Hill, north London, were “shielded” from certain topics because of its “unconditional adherence to the Shulchan Aruch”, the Code of Jewish Law, Ofsted said.
The latest inspection is a further instance of a clash of values between the Charedi community and the education authorities.
The Belz Chasidic school, which has more than 600 pupils on its roll from ages three to 16, hit the headlines last year when Belz rabbis announced that it would not accept children if their mothers drove cars. But the idea was dropped after the intervention of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The school, which had previously been ranked good, received an emergency inspection after the driving ban threat and was criticised by Ofsted in several areas.
In a follow-up inspection, inspectors noted progress in literacy and numeracy schemes, although planned revision of science and PE had yet to be implemented.
The school has also brought its previously limited career guidance up to scratch with visits from an accountant, electrician, civil servant and other speakers.
But despite the educational improvements, inspectors reported that the school’s religious policy still shielded pupils from “learning about particular differences, such as sexual orientation”.
The school was “clearly focused on teaching pupils to respect everybody, regardless of difference,” Ofsted said.
Pupils were observed being taught about a reference in the Torah to the equality of men and women and also discussing “respect for one another and for those of different faiths and religions”.
But the explicit avoidance of certain equality issues that “relate to gender or sexuality” means that the school does not meet independent school standards.
Teaching tolerance and respect for those in same-sex relationships is regarded by Ofsted as part of the government’s “British values” agenda, which is designed to counter extremism and radicalisation in schools.
But Charedi leaders say that this encroaches on religious freedom and that they should be allowed to teach the general principle of respecting other people without having to go into detail about sexual relationships.
Representatives from Stamford Hill met Schools Minister Nick Gibb two weeks to urge greater understanding of their religious ethos.
Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, speaking at a Jewish school event last month, said that Orthodox concerns over Ofsted have been noted by her department.
