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Another Chasidic school enjoys turnaround as Ofsted raises it to ‘good’ from ‘inadequate’ in less than 18 months

Vishnitz School girls are now 'better prepared' for life in modern Britain

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For the second time in two months a Chasidic school in Stamford Hill has been upgraded from Ofsted’s bottom rating of inadequate to “good”.

Vishnitz Girls School, run by one of the main Chasidic sects, has followed the example of Talmud Torah London in impressing inspectors with its progress.

Leaders and governors of the school, which was ranked inadequate less than a year and a half ago, had sought support to tackle previously identified weaknesses.

Whereas Ofsted said girls previously lacked real understanding of other faiths and the full range of differences in Britain, inspectors reported pupils were now better prepared for modern life.

They understood the potential risks of technology and received career guidance.

The school had been criticised before for avoiding teaching about protected characteristics in equality law - which include same-sex orientation and gender reassignment. But there was no mention of protected characteristics in the latest report.

A new personal, health, social and economic programme was having a positive impact, Ofsted found, enabling girls to know how to keep fit and healthy and to be aware of “the different ways people live within Stamford Hill and beyond, and what constitutes inappropriate behaviour towards others, including some of the different forms of bullying”.

The Yiddish-speaking girls with levels of knowledge and skills “just below” average for their age but by the end of the reception year, an above average number had achieved good development.

At the end of key stage two, most achieved average national levels in English and maths tests and a few exceeded it.

Inspectors noted improvements in maths investigations and the purchase of “bright and visually stimulating non-fiction texts which celebrate the many peoples of the world, their lifestyles and cultures”.

Although the 311 girls aged two to 13 on the roll were considerably above its official limit of 127, the accommodation and health and safety management systems were “fit for purpose”, Ofsted said.

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