Hackney Council believes more than 30 unregistered Charedi educational institutions operate locally – although strictly Orthodox community sources said the figure was lower.
But Charedi representatives say the institutions in question are yeshivot and fall outside the legal definition of a school.
Amanda Spielman, Ofsted chief executive, this week called for tougher laws to regulate independent faith schools. “It is clear that weaknesses in current legislation allow some organisations to teach school-aged children religious texts full-time, while avoiding registration and proper scrutiny,” she said.
Ofsted would do “everything we can to make sure they comply with the law or are closed. But action is also needed now to protect the children who attend these places.”
A DfE spokesman responded “unregistered schools are illegal and unsafe...There are already powers in place for local authorities and the police to safeguard children and intervene where they are not receiving a suitable education. We will support them in using these powers.”
The previous government had promised to introduce new powers to inspect part-time educational institutions that were not classified as schools – but although the consultation ended a year ago, no legislation has come forward.
