Ofsted report

and Ruth Robins, Mr Miller had been an internal appointment to the top job. But the two women who stamped their personalities on the school had been tough acts to follow; Mrs Wagerman was recognised for her educational achievements with an OBE, Ms Robins was made a Dame.

Stung by Ofsted, the school pressed into action. By the time of a follow-up report in December 2014, the senior leadership had been restructured and an independent “improvement adviser” drafted in to offer guidance.

While improvements had been“encouraging”, Ofsted said, the challenge remained to apply them consistently across the school before the next inspection (which is due within the next couple of months). Though many students displayed good attitudes to learning, this was “not always the case,” the follow-up report stated.

The reviewing inspector clearly remained bothered about the use of Room 17, saying that the school needed to make sure that disciplinary action was “appropriate to the misdemeanours committed and age of the student”.

In lieu of any detailed reason for Mr Miller’s departure, speculation has naturally flourished. But one claim doing the rounds on the internet that there had been a power struggle over the school’s religious ethos was dismissed out of hand by a source at the school, who said that JFS remained a United Synagogue school and was working closely with the US and the Office of the Chief Rabbi.

The effort to address Ofsted’s criticism has put extra demands on teachers, one of whom said that staff felt like “cogs in a machine being told ‘do this, do that’ ”.

JFS is not immune from the national shortage of teachers which makes life more difficult for those left to fill the gaps.

While JFS has been proud of grooming of head teachers from within its ranks, it is likely that governors will look outside for the next permanent head to take the reins in a year’s time.

But if recent events have proved unsettling, another good round of exam results this summer will go some way to reassuring parents, no matter who is in charge.