Government Attack on British Yeshivos

Not a direct answer, but you can view Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) reports at: reports DOT ofsted DOT gov DOT uk

By the way, isn’t “Ofsted” reminiscent of Orwellian Newspeak, in the theme of Miniluv, Minipax, Miniplenty and Minitrue?

The main issue affecting UK mosdos is the insistence of Ofsted, the body charged with inspecting and evaluating educational establishments, on promoting ‘British values’, which particular emphasis on issues such as toeivah and modesty. This was sparked by a case in Birmingham, known as the Trojan Horse plot, where Muslim organisations attempted, and managed, to ‘Islamify’ certain state schools. They used the schools, which were publicly run but had many Muslim students, to promote fundamentalist and Salafist values. Some of the incidents that were reported were truly shocking, although they are too numerous to go through here. The result of this was a moral panic, and heavy scrutiny on faith schools. Ofsted announced new procedures, such as unannounced surprise inspections, and a focus on ‘values’ and ‘rights’.

Unsurprisingly, the frum schools were caught in the crossfire. The majority of the fresh surprise inspections were targeted at religious Jewish schools, despite there only being about two dozen frum schools in the entire country. Whilst these schools often receive public funding, they were not actual state schools, like those affected by the Trojan Horse plot, and are technically private schools. And these schools had mostly received excellent results previous to this, with almost all rated ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’. These were schools that generally provided an exemplary secular education, attaining very good, sometimes country-best, exam results, and also taught as part of the curriculum ‘British values’ such as civic responsibility, democracy and tolerance. But this was not considered, and the inspectors focused very heavily on specific issues such as ‘equality’ and toeivah. As a result, previously highly rated schools were downgraded to ‘Poor’ or ‘Special Measures’, which can lead to forced closure. For example, Vizhnitz Girls School failed three consecutive inspections for failing to teach their students about toeivah, this being the only stated reason for the poor rating. There were instances of inspectors far overstepping their bounds by directly telling very young children about certain issues related to ‘equality’. In fact, the reports from Ofsted failing these schools bring the ‘Equalities Act of 2010’ as the primary reason. This story is ongoing, and leaves frum schools in a very difficult position. There has been a backlash, as Ofsted is supposed to be an apolitical organisation, but it seems determined to enforce its liberal values on the frum education sector.

What other posters have mentioned is a separate, although tangentially connected, issue regarding unregistered yeshvos, generally chassidishe chedarim, and their status. This has been fueled in particular by some who have left the kehilla going to the media. This is far less widespread then the above issue regarding ‘values’, and is notable mainly for the headlines it has generated. Some of them have reregistered as ‘sunday schools’, and Yeshiva Tiferes Yaakov in Gateshead, amongst others, had to register its lower shiurim as a ‘school’ to avoid censure. But the two are not the same story, and should not be confused with each other.

In the UK the government pays for Yeshivas, therefore they have the right to dictate policy. For those clamoring for Vouchers here in the US, Be careful what you wish for, They will give the money and then demand the right to dictate policies

So this hasn’t been a problem for Frum shcools. It’s been a problem with exactly one. I know people who claim to know the situation very well, but no one’s been able to explain it to me. Still, it seems strange that only one Chassidish school is under threat while the others are able to meet the requirements. I’m assuming every Talmud Torah in Gateshead isn’t mentioning homosexuality in any way, shape, or form. So whatever is going on, I’m guessing it’s more than just this one problem with the school.

ZD, even without vouchers the state can remove accreditation. So far, however, there are exceptions for religious institutions. Of course, no one knows what will happen in the future but it is very doubtful that with Trump remaking the judiciary attempts will pass muster.

I’m assuming every Talmud Torah in Gateshead isn’t mentioning homosexuality in any way, shape, or form.

Of course they don’t. However, a lot of the failing is due to the reactions of the children selected during the inspection, and it is likely that in most frum schools – at least in the high schools – there are children who are exposed to the concept of same sex marriage on some level. Depending on the child’s initiative, the answers can vary in standards and can often reach the pass level even without being taught. Viznitz, however, would be blatantly clear that the children do not know of or support homosexual marriage.

Joseph – the facts are that they are interviewing the pupils, not the staff. They sit down with the kids and ask all manners of awkward questions. If a kid is savvy enough, he knows to answer that they are taught tolerance. (I’m not sure that this is the right thing to do, I wander what a Rav would pasken to a child who wants to know how to answer – to make a חילול ה and say that they are taught acceptance, or to say the truth and cause issues!) Some schools may even teach the kids how to answer awkward questions.