Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School, established in Stamford Hill, is a distinctive independent Jewish all-through school serving the Satmar Chassidic community and wider strictly observant Orthodox community across Hackney. Owned and maintained by the Beis Rochel d'Satmar Charitable Trust, the school offers a unique dual curriculum model from nursery through sixth form, blending traditional Jewish studies delivered in Yiddish with secular education in English. With a capacity of 1,475 pupils and roll of approximately 1,400, it serves girls primarily from bilingual Yiddish-English speaking homes. The school operates on a distinctive voluntary contribution model rather than conventional fee structure, reflecting its deep community roots. Most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2024 rated the school as Requires Improvement, maintaining a consistent judgment since 2018 following an earlier period rated Good until 2012.
The school exists to serve the educational needs of the Satmar Chassidic community alongside girls from other Chassidic backgrounds, preparing them for life within the strictly observant Orthodox Jewish world. The curriculum reflects this mission through its structure: Limmudei Kodesh (religious studies) taught in Yiddish during morning sessions, covering Hebrew, Yiddish language, Jewish history, culture, and religious practice, alongside Limmudei Chol (secular studies) delivered in English. Inspectors have noted that pupils are well-behaved and courteous, standing to greet visitors politely, reflecting the values of respect and community central to the school's ethos.
Personal, social and health education are integrated into the religious studies programme, designed specifically to prepare girls for the opportunities and responsibilities they will encounter as adult members of their community. The school environment reflects the cultural context of its pupils: most come from homes without access to television or radio, creating a distinctive atmosphere focused on religious learning and community values.
The spiritual heart of the school includes approximately 3.5 hours of prayers integrated into the average 25-hour academic week, varying by age group. This balance between religious observance and educational provision shapes the daily rhythm of school life.
The dual curriculum model divides learning into two distinct strands. Limmudei Kodesh, delivered entirely in Yiddish during morning sessions, forms the foundation of the school's identity and prepares girls for continued Jewish study beyond school. Limmudei Chol provides secular education in English, covering English, mathematics, science, history, geography, art, needlework and physical education. In Years 10 and 11, pupils are offered subject choices to tailor their learning.
Assessment practices include regular internal tests and examinations to monitor pupil progress. Marking across both religious and secular subjects has been described by inspectors as conscientious, with constructive comments helping pupils understand their strengths and areas for development. Some national tests are administered at the end of Key Stages 2 and 3.
At GCSE level, the school's most recent attainment data shows an average Attainment 8 score of 12.1, placing it below national averages. 0% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate, with an average EBacc APS score of 0.65, considerably below the national average of 4.08. These figures position the school below national benchmarks nationally, ranking 3,992nd in England and 23rd locally in Hackney. Progress 8 data was not available.
It is important to note that these metrics reflect the school's distinctive curriculum priorities and community context. The school's focus on religious studies and preparation for life within the Orthodox community necessarily shapes its approach to secular examinations. National performance measures may not fully capture the school's success in its primary mission of religious education and community preparation.
Primary phase performance data is not publicly available. Sixth form A-level results are similarly not reported in standard national datasets, reflecting the school's approach to post-16 education and its students' predominantly seminary-bound destinations.
In practice, all girls progress to a Jewish girls' seminary of their choice upon leaving, where they continue advanced Jewish studies. This reflects the school's successful preparation for pathways valued within the community, even if these destinations fall outside conventional university or apprenticeship tracking.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
GCSE 9–7
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% of students achieving grades 9-7
Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School operates an admissions system tailored to its religious community context. The school serves primarily the Satmar Chassidic community in Stamford Hill and Stoke Newington, alongside girls from other Chassidic backgrounds. Detailed admissions criteria are not published publicly, and parents interested in applying are advised to contact the school directly on 020 8800 9060.
The school's admissions policy gives due regard to the needs of pupils with disabilities. Given the school's community focus and religious character, prospective families typically come from Orthodox Jewish backgrounds, with most pupils from bilingual Yiddish-English speaking homes.
Competition for places and catchment area data are not available, reflecting the school's community-based rather than geographically defined intake. The school maintains that it is "not applicable" in standard admissions policy documentation, suggesting a more relationship-driven approach to entry rooted in community membership rather than formal application procedures common to mainstream schools.
Unusually for an independent school, Beis Rochel d'Satmar operates without conventional fee structures. The school is run almost entirely from voluntary contributions, with no set fees charged. Parents are expected to contribute whatever they can afford, reflecting a community-support model. Many teachers receive only nominal payment for their services, with some working on an entirely voluntary basis. This distinctive funding approach enables access regardless of family financial circumstances within the community, embodying values of mutual support and collective responsibility for education.
Fees data coming soon.
Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School serves a clearly defined purpose: providing intensive Jewish religious education alongside secular studies for girls from the Satmar and wider Chassidic communities in Stamford Hill. For families seeking an education deeply rooted in Orthodox Jewish tradition, with religious studies taught in Yiddish and a path toward seminary education, the school offers an authentic and committed environment aligned with community values.
The school's Requires Improvement Ofsted rating reflects ongoing challenges in meeting national educational standards, particularly in secular subject attainment. GCSE results fall significantly below national averages, and the school's ranking places it in the lower performance bracket nationally. Parents should understand that the school prioritises religious education and community preparation over maximising conventional academic metrics, which shapes both curriculum time allocation and outcomes.
Strengths include the school's dual curriculum model, the courtesy and good behaviour of pupils, and the school's success in preparing girls for their chosen post-school pathway of seminary study. The voluntary contribution model removes financial barriers for families within the community. However, parents seeking strong secular academic outcomes, broader curriculum enrichment, or preparation for university pathways beyond religious study should be aware that these are not the school's primary focus.
This school is right for families committed to the Satmar community's educational philosophy, who value intensive religious studies delivered in Yiddish, and who seek an all-girls environment preparing pupils for adult life within the strictly observant Orthodox Jewish world. It is not suited to families prioritising high secular academic attainment, broad extracurricular provision, or university preparation aligned with mainstream higher education routes.
The school serves its community's specific educational mission effectively, preparing girls for life within the Orthodox Jewish world and progression to seminary education. However, it holds a Requires Improvement Ofsted rating and performs below national averages in secular academic attainment. Its quality depends on alignment with your family's religious and educational priorities: excellent for families seeking intensive Jewish religious education in a Chassidic context, less suitable for those prioritising mainstream academic outcomes.
Detailed admissions procedures are not publicly available. Parents interested in applying should contact the school directly on 020 8800 9060. The school serves primarily the Satmar Chassidic community and girls from other Chassidic backgrounds, with most pupils from Yiddish-English bilingual homes within the strictly observant Orthodox Jewish community.
The school operates on a voluntary contribution model rather than set fees. It is run almost entirely from voluntary contributions, with parents expected to contribute what they can afford. This approach removes fixed financial barriers and reflects the school's community-support ethos.
The school is all-through, accepting pupils from age 2 (nursery) through to age 19 (sixth form), providing continuity of education and religious study throughout a girl's school career.
The curriculum is divided into two strands: Limmudei Kodesh (religious studies including Hebrew, Yiddish, Jewish history and religious practice) taught in Yiddish during morning sessions, and Limmudei Chol (secular studies including English, mathematics, science, humanities, art and physical education) taught in English. The academic week averages around 25 hours, including approximately 3.5 hours for prayers.
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