The Beth Jacob Grammar School for Girls received a strong
endorsement from OFSTED, the Government's educational
standards inspectorate, in a report issued recently. The
school was strongly praised by OFSTED for its quality of
education, its examination results and for its care for the
personal and spiritual development of its pupils.
Beth Jacob is an independent school established in 1980. It
caters to orthodox Jewish girls aged between 11-17. There
are 303 pupils. The school is based in Hendon in purpose-
built accommodation into which it moved in 1998. The school
was subject to an OFSTED inspection on the basis of the 1996
Education Act where its role is to advise the Secretary of
State on the school's suitability to be registered so that
publicly funded pupils can attend.
As an independent school, Beth Jacob is not subject to the
OFSTED requirements but underwent an inspection due to the
part financing by Barnet Council of three special need
pupils. This was the first OFSTED inspection of Beth
Jacob.
The report said, in part: "Beth Jacob Grammar School for
Girls is an effective school which provides a good education
for its pupils and achieves very good results in public
examinations. It is a school which shows considerable care
for its pupils and is concerned that they should have good
religious and moral understanding; in this it is very
successful."
The report highlights the school's performance in
examination results that are well above the national
averages at GCSE and AVAS levels respectively. It also
praises the behavior and the attitudes to learning held by
the pupils, and its survey of the attitudes of parents
illustrates a high level of confidence in, and satisfaction
with, the school and its leadership.
Headteacher Mrs. Devorah Steinberg said: "We are delighted
to have received such a positive report from OFSTED. We are
very pleased that they have strongly endorsed so many
aspects of the school. Credit must go to our excellent
teaching staff who motivate and inspire our pupils and also
to the pupils themselves whose positive and enthusiastic
attitudes make teaching them so rewarding.
"We are deeply grateful to the parents who participated in
the inspectors' survey and for their positive comments about
the school and its staff. Their strong support for their own
children's education as well as their involvement with the
school is the foundation for the success of the school and
it is reflected in the OFSTED report.
"The school is also very grateful to its Governing Board for
their total dedication to achieving high standards for the
school and to the wider community it serves which continues
to place such a high value and prestige on the role of
education in general and our school in particular."
Chair of the governing body, Mr. Benzion Freshwater said: "I
am very proud of the school's excellent report from OFSTED.
This magnificent achievement is a great reflection on the
quality and hard work of Mrs. Steinberg and the teaching
staff as well as the efforts of the pupils and their parents
who are strong supportive and involved with the school.
"The school's performance has been shown to be outstanding.
It achieves results that place the school well above the
national average as well as devoting so much time to its
Jewish studies. It provides a stimulating and interesting
environment for the pupils as well as creating an
environment that provides for the highest standards of
personal and moral development.
"The school will continue to achieve high standards and to
be a continued source of pride for the whole community."
For further information contact: Mrs. Devorah Steinberg
Headteacher, 020 8203 4322.
