New head of Nancy Reuben says school has been ‘standing still’ since Ofsted report

The new headteacher of Nancy Reuben Primary School in Hendon has said the school has been “standing still” since an Ofsted inspection three years ago ruled that it “requires improvement”.

Anthony Wolfson, who joined the Modern Orthodox school in April, made the frank admission in a statement this week, in which he also gave reassurances that the new senior leadership team would be in-place by the start of term in September.

“The school is now well-placed for making the improvements it needs in order to move from its previous Ofsted rating of requires improvement three years ago,” he said. “The school has largely stood still throughout this period which is why the work starts from September.”

Wolfson’s arrival in April coincided with that of Jeremy Richards as Head of Kodesh, who joined from Beit Shvidler in Edgware and Kerem School. Another new face is Shelley Cohen, praised as “an outstanding teacher” from Sacks Morasha in Finchley, who joins as Deputy Head from September.

In addition, Wolfson said a new Governing Body led by investment banker Michael Ezra was “comprised of top professional and business people”. It will seek to make amends after an unannounced inspection of the independent school in September 2014, inspectors later criticising the Governors for “not working strategically”.