Leaders at a formerly outstanding school are 'not taking effective' action to get out of special measures, an education watchdog has said. The King David High School, an 800-pupil Jewish state school in Crumpsall, was put into special measures in March after being accused of 'unlawfully discriminating' against pupils on the grounds of sex by Ofsted.
King David, which consists of a main school and two separate streams - Yavneh Girls and Yavneh Boys, which offer modern Jewish orthodox education at secondary school level - was previously rated as 'outstanding' after an inspection in May 2015.
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But in a damning assessment in March this year, inspectors said: "The school is unlawfully discriminating against pupils who attend Yavneh Girls in relation to the protected characteristic of sex. Pupils who attend Yavneh Girls, unlike pupils in Yavneh Boys and pupils in the main school, are deprived of the opportunity to mix socially with boys and girls in other parts of the school.
"This constitutes a detriment to those pupils due to their sex. Leaders and governors must act to fulfil their duties under the Equality Act 2010 by ensuring that they do not discriminate against pupils in the Yavneh Girls on the ground of sex."
While pupils at the main school, and Yavneh Boys, benefited from a range of extra-curricular activities, inspectors said pupils at Yavneh Girls did not have the same access. It meant pupils at Yavneh Girls felt 'isolated', the report said.
In 2019 Ofsted accused the school of 'unlawful segregation' of pupils 'on the grounds of faith and belief and sex'. The school was rated 'inadequate' at the time, but the report was eventually quashed after the watchdog was threatened with legal action.
After the school was placed in special measures in March this year chair of governors, Joshua Rowe wrote to parents disputing the findings, which were described as 'preposterous' and 'absurd'. Mr Rowe said a legal challenge to the inspection result could also follow but said he intended to step down from his role 'as soon as possible'.
He wrote: "The report presents a picture of the school which is unrecognisable to those who know it. It is perfectly legitimate for Ofsted to highlight areas which require improvement. We welcome constructive criticism but their sweeping negative statements and their massive downgrade are way beyond the mark and border on the absurd."
Following Ofsted's latest monitoring visit, which took place in July, inspector Tim Hill said school leaders weren't doing enough to improve things and 'strongly recommended' King David didn't employ 'early career' teachers.
In a letter published on Friday (October 28) Mr Hill wrote: "The school continues to be inadequate. Leaders and those responsible for governance are not taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.
"The school's action plan is not fit for purpose. Having considered the evidence, I strongly recommend that the school does not seek to appoint early career teachers."
In a letter to parents that was shared with the Manchester Evening News , headteacher John Dalziel and interim chair of governors Jonathan Dover outlined the improvements the school had made since the original inspection. The behaviour of the 'vast majority' of pupils was of a 'high standard', they said, but there have been concerns about a 'small number' of pupils.
The school said they had been 'working hard to address this with parents and pupils responsible' and had also sought advice from the outreach team of the local pupil referral unit. A new pastoral structure had been put in place and a new assistant headteacher appointed with responsibility for 'all aspects of pastoral care'.
Mr Dalziel and Mr Dover said King David is 'working closely' with the local authority to 'further strengthen safeguarding' and are doing 'more work to support the mental health and well-being of all pupils'.
Risk assessments for off-site activities have been 'reviewed and improved', while an external review of school governance had been completed, with recommendations implemented. Changes have been made to the timetable and curriculum which 'should now allow all our pupils more time to mix socially during the school day should they wish to' with the same curriculum on offer to 'all pupils in every section of the school'.
'Much work' had also been done to 'strengthen the careers offer' with the school employing the services of an outside careers guidance company
"They whole school community are working hard to ensure the best provision and experience for all our young people," Mr Dalziel and Mr Dover added.
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