Leeds Jewish Free School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 April 2024

This is a school that values diversity, inclusivity and kindness. Pupils feel accepted for who they are and appreciate the supportive environment created by their peers and the staff. One pupil, typical of many, said, 'You can't pick your family, but you can pick your school and I would pick this school every day.' Staff and parents agree. They know they are part of a special community that works well together. Pupils are keen to do well. Most pupils behave well in lessons and listen carefully to their teachers. Bullying incidents are rare. However, pupils have not benefited from a consistently strong curriculum over time. Some pupils do not achieve as well as they should and are capable of more. New leaders are taking the right steps to address this, but much of their work is at an early stage of development. The school council embodies the spirit of empowerment among pupils. They advocate the importance of social responsibility and valuing the rights of others. Pupils have a strong sense of equality. They are keen to take their place in a multi-cultural society and want to learn more about modern Britain. Their voices are heard by leaders and governors. Together, they work to address any concerns and bring about change.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the curriculum is not developed or taught in ways that help pupils to learn and achieve well. Some pupils have gaps in their knowledge and do not achieve in line with their potential. The school should further develop the curriculum to help pupils to gain a thorough understanding of each subject.
• Teaching does not consistently enable pupils to remember the knowledge that they need. Gaps in pupils' knowledge can go unidentified. The school should work with staff to develop pedagogical approaches that help them ensure that pupils have learned important knowledge and skills.
• Pupils' knowledge of other world religions and some other aspects of the PSHE curriculum is limited. This is because the important knowledge that they need to understand the wider world around them has not been sufficiently highlighted over time. The school should ensure that the planned revisions to the PSHE and wider curriculums provide pupils with the knowledge and understanding they need to prepare them well for life in modern Britain.
• Girls and boys do not have equal access to sports and physical education (PE) opportunities that meet their talents and interests. Some pupils are disappointed by the lack of equal opportunities to explore sports offered to their peers of the opposite sex. The school should take further action to enhance the PE curriculum to give greater equality of access to sports for pupils in PE.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)