A strictly Orthodox girls’ school in Stamford Hill has been criticised by Ofsted for removing references to Christmas, covering up photos and refusing to teach evolution and reproduction in science.

Beis Chinuch Lebonos, an independent school with 717 girls aged between two and 16 - whose education was rated outstanding seven years ago, has now received the lowest inspection grade, inadequate.

Inspectors said it was in breach of its registration terms because the number of pupils exceeded its official maximum.

Although girls did well in English and maths and produced high quality work in creative subjects such as art and textiles, they did not receive a “well-rounded education”, Ofsted said.

Pupils were prevented from gaining a “full understanding of the world” because books were redacted.

References to Christmas in a story by children's author Michael Morpurgo had been covered up, Ofsted reported.

In science, school leaders “redacted photographs of men and women with bare skin. Information on animals, the properties of rocks and the dangers of alcohol had also been covered up.”

Beis Chinuch avoided topics such as reproduction, evolution and the scientific origins of the universe.

Pupils showed a “sound understanding” of British values and understood that other people may have different opinions and beliefs.

But leaders had not ensured they promoted respect for all groups protected under the Equality Act, which includes people of same-sex orientation.