JFS RATED ‘INADEQUATE’
OFSTED’S DOWNGRADING of JFS to “inadequate” last week has triggered deep concern across the community.
In their report, inspectors highlighted “deep-rooted and widespread failings in the school’s safeguarding culture”, particularly over its response to multiple reports of sexual bullying.
Elsewhere, inspectors commented that pupils were “not adequately prepared for life in modern Britain”.
The Jewish secondary — which was rated “good” overall in 2016 — was deemed inadequate in the categories of behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
While Ofsted found the quality of education at the school and its six form provision “good”, the school’s safeguarding arrangements were not deemed effective, and leaders “failed to create a culture of openness and mutual respect”, inspectors warned.
While pupils’ experiences “vary greatly”, many “report sexual bullying, including via social media”, Ofsted said in its report.
“Many pupils” — including victims of harmful sexual behaviour — do not feel confident to report safeguarding concerns, they also found.
School leaders did not “always take appropriate action to safeguard victims and challenge and support alleged perpetrators,” the report said.
Leaders did not always inform authorities of matters with potential safeguarding implications and the quality of the school’s record-keeping on concerns were poor, it also said.
One ex-staff member who left the school four years ago spoke of “the sadness of seeing such an amazing institution fall from grace like this”.
And Anna Feuchtwang, NCB chief executive of the Wellbeing Award for Schools, which gave JFS an award earlier this year for its focus on mental health, said the Ofsted findings were “troubling”.
The Wellbeing Award for Schools, created by the National Children’s Bureau charity with the firm Optimus Education, was launched in 2017 in a bid to promote mental health.
“We will be working with Optimus Education to review these findings and consider the implications for the Wellbeing Award for Schools,” she said.
A spokesperson for the United Synagogue said: “This is a very distressing Ofsted report and one which we know will make very troubling reading for parents, students and staff.
“Notwithstanding the positive findings about the school’s education and sixth form, the serious failings found by Ofsted demand urgent attention.
“We acknowledge the governors recognise this and have already taken steps to improve safeguarding in particular.”
The Ofsted report added that while many pupils enjoy positive relationships with staff and other students, “many others feel that leaders have not protected them from the behaviour of some of their peers.”
The school’s personal, social health and economic and relationships and sex curriculum were “not fit for purpose” and did not provide pupils with the knowledge they need.
Pupils were “not adequately prepared for life in modern Britain and “do not learn enough about LGBT issues”, the report said, highlighting this was also an area of concern flagged in 2016.
Reacting to the report, the school’s new head Sir Michael Wilshaw said he was “confident” bad behaviour would change.
“Many of the children and staff I’ve spoken to at the school since I arrived have complained that bad behaviour isn’t challenged as frequently or as robustly as it should be.
“That has to change and I’m confident that it will change,” he said.
Andrew Moss, chair of governors, said the school had been “working hard to bring in the necessary expertise to help turn the school around” since it became aware of the findings.
JFS said in a statement: “We appreciate this has been unwelcome news for parents, staff and students.
“However, we shared the contents of Ofsted’s final report with parents and staff on the day we received it – and both groups had a chance to quiz school leaders and governors and send in questions last Thursday.
“Concerns of course were raised about the issues highlighted in the report.
“Nevertheless, we have been heartened by the community’s response and our colleagues’ determination to address the immediate challenges facing the school as rapidly as possible.”
Pupils ‘not adequately prepared for life in modern Britain’