Charedi schools get mixed Ofsted reports

INDEPENDENT CHAREDI schools have received varied results in the latest batch of inspections.

Talmud Torah Tiferes Shlomo, a Chasidic boys’ school in Golders Green, was rated inadequate for the second time in three years.

Ofsted said the secular curriculum was too narrow at the school, which teaches boys from three to 15. Although early years’ provision was considered good, pupils learned only English and maths in their secular studies at secondary level and did not develop technological skills.

However, the school did promote understanding of British values and citizenship and action had been taken to improve the quality of teaching.

Manchester Junior Girls’ School has cleared an inspection hurdle after Ofsted accepted it met the required independent school standard for British values.

Pupils at the primary school “demonstrated a mature understanding of and respect for protected characteristics, including those that align less easily with Orthodox Jewish beliefs”, Ofsted noted. “Protected characteristics” in equality law include sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

Tashbar in Manchester, educating more than 500 boys up to the age of 12, has been ranked as “requiring improvement” — the second lowest of the four inspection grades.

Progress in English and science was lower than required, inspectors said.