DfE policy change aids school growth

OFSTED HAS recommended that a Charedi girls’ school in Hackney be allowed to expand, despite its refusal to teach about LGBT issues.

The independent Beis Chinuch Lebonos School, which takes girls from two to 16, has 720 pupils — 28 more than the maximum it is registered for.

But Ofsted says the Department for Education should raise the registration limit to the number of current pupils, even though the school is not complying with all independent school standards.

A follow-up inspection after the school was rated inadequate last summer noted that its leadership had worked to improve the quality of education and pupils’ safeguarding.

But Ofsted also reported that when teaching about respect for others, the school regarded reference to sexual orientation and gender reassignment as a “red line that leaders will not cross”.

It said the school also edited information in books related to “reproduction, the age of the universe, theories that contravene biblical teachings, and images which could be interpreted as sexually inappropriate or crude”.

Leaders continued “to avoid teaching certain topics, including reproduction and evolution. Leaders were open and honest with inspectors that these actions are non-negotiable.

“They know that the requirements relating to the Equality Act, the preparedness of pupils for life in modern Britain, and leadership and management will not be met until this approach changes.”

The Ofsted decision reflects a policy change in the DfE whereby schools can now be approved for expansion even though they are not meeting all the independent school standards. Ofsted has also recommended that the independent Manchester Jewish School for Special Education, which is rated as good, be allowed to expand from 13 to 19 full-time pupils. But in a third report, it said a small Chasidic secondary school in Salford which taught only Jewish studies has made “only the smallest amount of headway” in addressing previously identified failings.

The independent Yeshivas Ohr Torah, which was rated inadequate last summer, had 60 boys from 11 to 16 although it was officially registered for 39, the inspectorate said after a return visit. There had been “no significant changes” to the curriculum. Inspectors said parents were unwilling to allow them to talk to pupils .

Leaders avoided teaching about evolution’