Government to crackdown on unregistered Jewish schools

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi will give Ofsted greater powers to tackle the growing number of illegal institutions.

Unregistered Jewish schools face unannounced Ofsted inspections under new government plans.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has also warned of lifetime bans for those found guilty by magistrates of running illegal institutions that fail to meet basic national standards.

Latest figures show Ofsted has identified at least 170 illegal schools in the UK – some run by strictly-Orthodox community leaders who prioritise male education and fail to adhere to the national curriculum in subjects such as history and sex education.

Zahawi said: “We will be introducing new legislation requiring councils to maintain a register of children who are not in school… alongside stronger powers for Ofsted to crackdown on illegal schools and ensure criminals who are running them face prosecution. My mission is to make sure each and every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.”

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said reforms are necessary to curb the rise in such schools, which she said fail to equip children with British values and numeracy and literacy skills leaving youngsters “segregated” from mainstream society.