Ofsted raps 'narrow' Orthodox school

A state-aided strictly Orthodox girls school in Salford has been put into special measures after inspectors criticised its narrow curriculum and other failings.

The Beis Yaakov High School, an academy which teaches 258 girls from 11 to 16, was judged "inadequate" - the lowest of the four inspection grades - following an unannounced visit from Ofsted last month.

Rabbi Yochonon Goldlbatt, the principal, said: "We are already working on many of the issues Ofsted has identified, so we are profoundly disappointed at their decision.

"But we are not downhearted. We will work hard to bring the school out of special measures and back to the good rating we achieved before. We are pleased that the inspectors did at least recognise both the quality of teaching and achievement of our girls as good. That is a strength to build on."

Beis Yaakov is the third Jewish state-aided school to be downgraded this year after a no-notice visit from Ofsted Under special measures, it will be closely monitored.

JFS dropped two grades from outstanding to a school that "requires improvement," while Yesodey Hatorah, another strictly Orthodox girls school, in Hackney, went down from outstanding to good.

Although girls at Beis Yaakov made sometimes outstanding progress in English, maths and other subjects and produced good exam results, the inspectors were critical of their
education.

"Students are not provided with sufficient opportunities to learn about or understand people of other faiths or cultures," Ofsted said in a report published on Monday.

"The school does not promote adequately students' awareness and tolerance of other communities which are different to their own. As a result, the school does not prepare students adequately for life in modern Britain."

Its curriculum was "too narrow and limits students' potential. Students receive little information on careers they may wish to pursue. As a result, the school does not help them to make informed decisions about their future lives".

Inspectors also found that procedures to safeguard pupils were too lax and there was a lack of financial transparency.

A "very small" minority of teachers were not adapting lessons well enough for less able students, while attendance was too low, the report stated. School leaders have "struggled to persuade parents that by withdrawing their children from school to attend family celebrations, they are not supporting the school or their children's education."

The verdict on Beis Yaakov will reinforce concerns within some Jewish educational circles that the "Trojan Horse" investigation into alleged Islamic extremism in Birmingham this summer is leading to tougher scrutiny of faith schools.

Education authorities are keen to ensure that schools promote "British values" - which include interfaith tolerance - and offer a broad and balanced curriculum.

But recent inspections have prompted complaints from the National Association of Orthodox Jewish Schools that pupils have been asked inappropriate questions about gay marriage and social media.