An independent boys’ school in Salford has received an inadequate Ofsted rating after inspectors found pupils were “left ill-prepared for their next steps in education, employment or training” by a limited curriculum.
Inspectors visited Ahavas Torah Boys Academy, an Orthodox Jewish faith school located on Winders Way, Kersal, between Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 June.
In a recent report, published on 8 September, Ofsted found the school to be inadequate in three of the four assessed areas: the quality of education, personal development, leadership and management and overall effectiveness.
It was found that pupils at Ahavas Torah Boys Academy receive a poor standard of education and the school’s expectations of students are low – leading most to leave the school with “very few qualifications.”
The school, which has 70 students enrolled, was deemed inadequate in a 2022 review by Ofsted. While previous issues relating to safeguarding, pupils’ welfare, health and safety and the premises have since been remedied, it is said that a “legacy of low expectations persists.”
“There are very few opportunities for pupils to learn about how different people live or to develop their talents and interests,” the report outlines.
“Pupils have a weak understanding of the range of ways that people can be different. This includes those people who have characteristics that are protected by law.
“Although pupils are taught to show respect to others, their understanding of what this means in modern Britain is limited.
“Pupils who need extra help in learning to read do not receive the support that they need to catch up.
“Pupils’ misconceptions and gaps in their knowledge are not identified or rectified. Staff do not have the expertise to check that pupils know and remember more.
It continues: “Most pupils only study English and mathematics within the secular curriculum. In these subjects, the school has not considered what pupils should learn and the order in which this knowledge should be taught. This prevents staff from designing learning that helps pupils to build on what they know.
“The school’s provision for careers education is limited. This means that pupils are not able to make informed choices about their next steps in education, employment or training.
“The provision for pupils’ personal development is weak. Consequently, pupils do not learn enough about diversity in society or fundamental British values.
Despite the findings in the report, Ofsted observed that “Parents speak highly about the recent improvements to the school. They appreciate the school’s determination to continue to improve.”
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