JFS tells off parents after boy is mugged

THE CHAIR of governors of JFS has accused some parents of making “wild and inaccurate accusations and complaints” about the school to the press.

In an email sent to families with children at the school, Steven Woolf also criticised the “pack mentality” of parents who posted “hysterical” messages about JFS on social media.

He said he was expressing “the collective disappointment of the entire governing body”.

His remarks came after the JC reported the mugging of a 16-year-old boy close to the school, in Kenton, northwest London.

The child’s mother, Nicki Hari, had contacted the newspaper to raise concerns about security. A petition she set up urging the school to increase safety has attracted 150 signatures.

Mr Woolf told parents that JFS, Headteacher Jonathan Miller whichhasmorethan2,000pupilsandis the largest Jewish school in Europe, was investigating the incident.

But he said the fact that Mrs Hari has spoken to the JC had meant the school had had to spend “an inordinate amount of time” dealing with media inquiries. He claimed that JFS staff had been “hounded” by the press.

The JC had made one call to the school for information about the incident.

In a separate email, JFS headteacher JonathanMilleraccusedsomeparentsof “inappropriate fearmongering”, which hadled“tosomeof ouryoungerstudents feeling unsettled about their journey”.

Mr Miller wrote that muggings were a “fact of life” for pupils across London. He added that there was a high security presence outside the school but “this cannot be guaranteed to prevent all crime and to expect otherwise is both unrealistic and misguided”. Thepoliceconfirmedtheywere aware of the mugging. No arrests have been made.