What is Pikuach?

The Education (Schools) Act 1992 introduced a statutory system of inspection for all maintained schools in England. Prior to this schools were inspected by HMI (Her Majesty's Inspectorate) and reports were not public domain. Under this new system schools are inspected by teams of "independent" inspectors, using a uniform framework drawn up by OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education).

Whilst in maintained schools OFSTED inspects all aspects of the curriculum, in aided denominational schools (those associated with a particular faith) the distinctiveness of religious education and the school's contribution to a child's spiritual development are inspected separately under Section 23 of the Act. These inspections are carried out by persons appointed by the Governing body.

Section 23 of the Act has required a searching examination of the Jewish life of Jewish Schools. Schools of all religious groups within the community felt anxious about how they could communicate the essential value of their Jewish education, how they could evaluate the spiritual development of their pupils within and outside their institution. There was a real desire to learn how such a process of assessment might help them improve their standards. They acknowledged a need for information and training, how to prepare themselves for what was seen as a new and challenging task.

Pikuach was created as the community's response to those needs, an example of working together to use our communal expertise to address our communal problems.

The framework was developed following a wide process of consultation with every educational establishment invited to participate. The Executive is a body of the most experienced and knowledgeable educationists in the Jewish community who have structured and guided the process, while at the same time ensuring they remained responsive to the needs being expressed by schools and their staff. Their knowledge of, and contacts with, public organisations such as the DFEE (Department for Education & Employment) and OFSTED, as well as with educational organisations in the Jewish community have proved invaluable.

Pikuach provides all Jewish schools with access to a rigorous, reliable, valid and effective inspection process, delivered by a trained cohort of inspectors, using the Pikuach Framework.

The first inspection cycle of all schools has successfully concluded and the new cycle (six years for primary schools, and four years for secondary) has begun. Jewish Schools using the Pikuach Framework have been able to go through the first experience of inspection of religious education without feeling disorganised, defensive or vulnerable.

The Pikuach Framework, like OFSTED, is revised and updated in the light of the experiences of inspections carried out.

The Aims of Pikuach

1. To provide Jewish schools with a Framework to enable them to evaluate the added Jewish value that the school provides to its community through Jewish education
   
   
2. To enable Jewish aided denominational schools to satisfy statutory requirements
   
   
3. To help Jewish schools to evaluate the spiritual development of the school, the pupils and the community
   
   
4. To contribute to the development of quality Jewish education in the United Kingdom

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