TEC submitted a response last week to an OFSTED consultation that proposed a substantial increase to the cost of inspections for independent schools.

The consultation, which seeks to drastically increase the costs of pre-registration inspections, standard inspections, progress monitoring inspections, emergency inspections, material change inspections and evaluations of action plans places an unacceptably high financial burden on our schools, our families and our community.

TEC recognises the importance and value of inspections; however, the high volume of progress monitoring inspections that Orthodox Jewish schools face due to OFSTED’sinterpretation of Protected Characteristics within the Common Inspection Framework places a heavy, disproportionate financial burden on our schools.

Proposed increases in fees fail to take into account the rapid growth of the Orthodox Jewish community and the subsequent rising educational demand. The need to ensure the future of traditional Jewish education has become increasingly pertinent, but unfairly priced inspection fees place a disproportionate burden on the Orthodox Jewish community.

Our schools strive for OFSTED to recognise the excellent progress in our schools, and to respect our cultural differences, communal tradition and Torah values. TEC believes that education is integral to Jewish communal life, and it is our mission to ensure that the future of Jewish education is safeguarded.

The Department of Education will consider all submitted responses and then publish a government response document outlining inspection fee regulations and any changes made following the consultation proposals later this year.