JFS earns ‘good’ Ofsted rating two years after dramatic downgrade

JFS has won a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted inspectors, two years after being dramatically downgraded to ‘requiring improvement’.

A report released today highlighted changes to the governing body and senior leadership team as “having brought about rapid improvement”, the school said.

Europe’s biggest Jewish school faced severe criticism at the time of its last report in 2014 but the but today’s report classed quality of teaching, effectiveness of leadership, and behaviour and welfare all as ‘good’. Study programmes for 16-19-year-olds were described as ‘outstanding’.

Inspectors found “leaders hold an ambitious vision for their school and have high expectations of of pupils. Outcomes in public examinations at the end of key stage four and in the sixthform are very good”.

It added “leaders have a sensitive awareness of the faith context of the school and the need to promote British values consistently. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain”.

The report was produced following the observation of 58 lessons and online feedback from 391 parents, 352 students and 113 staff, with inspectors saying there is “very little low level disruption.

Executive director Deborah Lipkin and the headteacher Simon Appleman said: “We are delighted with the report and wish to offer our profound thanks to all the staff who are committed to making a real difference to our students. We will continue with our programme of school improvement and it is particularly pleasing that where areas for further development were noted, these had already been identified by the school, with actions in place to address these.

“Sincere thanks to Chair of Governors Ruth Renton for her unwavering encouragement along with the governing body and to our Vice Presidents Arnold Wagner, Michael Glass and President Lord Levy for their unstinting support.”

President Lord Levy expressed delight with the report “which has confirmed JFS’s outstanding contribution to the education of our children”.