An independent Sephardi school in London has received a critical inspection report despite pupils recording “significantly above average results” in English and maths.

Ofsted said that the Nancy Reuben Primary School in Hendon requires improvement because children made inconsistent progress and the quality of teaching needed to be better monitored.

The inspection had to be postponed when Ofsted officials initially turned up unannounced at the school on the eve of Rosh Hashanah.

While the behaviour of pupils was generally good, they sometimes found work too easy and became “bored and disengaged,” Ofsted said. Too many were repeating tasks they could already do.

But children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development was strong. They spoke respectfully about other faiths and cultures and learned about Hinduism, Martin Luther King and human-rights issues.

A broad and balanced curriculum included French, inspectors noted, while parents were unanimous in praising the school’s “family feel”.