A faith school is censoring science and geography lessons on religious grounds, Ofsted has found.

In a report published this month, Ofsted said Beis Ruchel D’Satmar, an independent Orthodox Jewish school for girls in London, does not allow pupils to study “certain concepts, read content, or complete tasks” that are “not in line with the school’s religious beliefs”.

This includes science and geography, where Ofsted found “key content” is “removed and omitted”.

Despite it being a legal duty, Ofsted said the school does not “actively promote and encourage respect for other people” in relation to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010.

Ofsted said the school also fails to teach “statutory content” in relationships and sex education (RSE), including concepts such as “sexual consent, sexual exploitation, grooming and abuse”. This approach means pupils are left “unprepared for life in modern Britain”, Ofsted said.

In 2021, a report from Jewish counter-extremism group Nahamu highlighted how a lack of RSE contributes to forced marriage in strictly-Orthodox Jewish communities.

During a previous inspection, school leaders told Ofsted that “no aspect” of sex education is taught in the school, not even “reproduction in the context of an academic subject like science”.

The school has been rated “inadequate” since 2016.

During conversations between inspectors and pupils, Ofsted was prevented by school leaders from asking questions relating to “the protected characteristics, other faiths and beliefs or sex education”. In some cases, the headteacher remained “close to the classroom door”.

Despite being banned from admitting new pupils in 2019, and currently being in breach of its registration agreement due to exceeding the maximum number of pupils, Ofsted said the school “continues to admit pupils below and above the registered age range”.

28 points

So close the school. It’s had 8 years to course correct, and they’re not doing it. Close the school.

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21 points

Ban all religious schools tbh

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19 points

Honestly it kind of makes sense. If you think that God himself the ruler of the universe wants you to do it some particular way, then you’re not going to give a shit if some educational authority tries to put down rules as to how the kids should be educated.

This is why religion has no place in education or government or a few other places.

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3 points

Exactly. You’re going to work around them to ‘please god’. Good point.

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14 points

Constantly inadequate, leaving out parts of the national curriculum, admitting pupils when they’ve been not to take on anymore, interfering in inspections. Why is it still open?

Probably because week have wringing hands and claims that they’re being repressed because of their faith.

It’s their faith that is doing the repressing.

Religion. Fucking people over since we first stood upright.

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14 points

Ofsted said the school also fails to teach “statutory content” in relationships and sex education (RSE), including concepts such as “sexual consent, sexual exploitation, grooming and abuse”. This approach means pupils are left “unprepared for life in modern Britain”, Ofsted said.

In 2021, a report from Jewish counter-extremism group Nahamu highlighted how a lack of RSE contributes to forced marriage in strictly-Orthodox Jewish communities.

anyone who wants to keep kids ignorant on those topics is up to no good

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