Jewish school marked down by inspectors for not teaching protected characteristics

A Jewish boys’ boarding school in Gateshead has become the latest to ‘require improvement’ by the national schools’ inspectorate after school leaders refused to teach pupils about different sexualities or gender identities.

In an otherwise good report, Ofsted inspectors assessing the 120-pupil Gateshead Jewish Boarding School said this was “limiting pupils’ understanding of the legal rights of people with protected characteristics, as defined in law, and not preparing them fully for life in modern Britain”.

Following an inspection in November 2021, at which the same point was raised, school leaders “met with their community more widely” to discuss the approach they intended to take, said Lead Inspector Zoe Lightfoot.

“Leaders considered whether to prepare a curriculum offer that made reference to specific protected characteristics that were not taught at the last inspection. It was intended to allow parents and carers to opt out of this.

“However, they felt that this approach did not align with their cultural beliefs. Leaders have not made the necessary changes to their programme for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.”

The boarding school takes boys aged from 10 to 16 years of age. Elsewhere in the town, the Keser Torah Boys’ School – which has 220 pupils aged from 5-11 years – was also recently deemed to ‘require improvement’ for similar reasons.

Pupils are Keser Torah “are not taught enough about people in society who are different from themselves,” noted inspectors in October 2021.

“Pupils are not taught about sexual orientation or gender identity within relationships education. In addition, their knowledge of other cultures and faiths is very limited. This reduces their ability to be respectful and tolerant of others in society.”