Toras Emes

Overview

This progress monitoring inspection found that Toras Emes “does not meet all of the independent school standards that were checked.” While the proprietor has taken “positive steps” to improve curriculum planning and staff subject knowledge, significant weaknesses remain in how the curriculum is delivered and how pupil progress is assessed. Consequently, several standards regarding the quality of education and leadership remain unmet.

Strengths

• The proprietor now has a “clear” understanding of the steps needed to improve the curriculum and holds leaders to account to ensure “momentum in curriculum improvement does not wane.”
• Curriculum plans have been improved to better account for pupils’ “ages, aptitudes and needs,” including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Staff have received training to improve their “subject knowledge” and are better equipped to present information clearly and promote discussion.
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with staff trained to identify risks and concerns reported in a “timely manner.”

Areas to improve

• The intended curriculum is not delivered consistently; the “sequence of learning... is not consistently followed” and some work is incomplete, hindering pupil progress.
• The assessment framework is not implemented consistently; teachers do not routinely identify “errors, misconceptions and gaps” in pupils’ knowledge or provide feedback to help them improve.
• Leadership must ensure that the quality of education meets standards consistently, as the school currently fails to meet requirements for curriculum implementation and assessment.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding is “effective,” with a suitable policy in place and staff who have the necessary training to identify pupils at risk of harm.