Ofsted says JFS is taking ‘effective action towards removal of special measures’

JFS has been praised by Ofsted for taking great strides to haul itself out of special measures.

The education inspectorate visited Europe’s largest Jewish secondary in November and has now written to the school with its latest findings.

The report, published this week, said JFS was taking “effective action towards the removal of special measures” implemented in May, when it was downgraded over safeguarding concerns.

It praises the school for having “improved safeguarding policy and practice across the school” to ensure referrals “no long disappear into the ether”.

Ofsted’s Amanda Carter-Fraser wrote to the school’s acting heads Anna Joseph and Paul Ramsey, saying JFS’s “improvement and action plans are fit for purpose.”

She said the school’s is “taking effective action towards” to have special measures lifted, noting that while  there has been a “period of substantial change and some turbulence”,  since the last visit, “acting headteachers have created a greater sense of stability for staff and pupils” in recent weeks.

The school’s leaders had taken measures including having more “suitably qualified staff to respond appropriately”.  It surveyed staff, pupils, parents and carers, saying staff are “positive” about improvements and that referrals “no long disappear into the ether.”

JFS had also been “consulting with pupils about the prevalence of sexually related behaviour in the school” through a survey spanning 500 of its 2,000 students.

The school is “putting in place a range of initiatives” for reporting harmful behaviour.

It was also revealed that a “high proportion” of concerns related to pupils with special educational needs and learning difficulties (SEND), leading to plans for an “imminent review of provisions”.

Ofsted praised the school for restructuring its mental health team and having “revised its behavioural policy”. It did note however that there was still “low level disruption” in classes and behavioural changes are in their “early stages”.

It outlined priorities for further improvement including a “rapid and effective” response to a review for SEND pupils.