Jonah swims smoothly into the mainstream
HOW CAN we integrate Jewish learning into a multi-cultural and diverse school family? Simon Marks Jewish Primary School is a one-form entry school in the heart of Hackney. We have a strong modern orthodox ethos and serve an exceptionally diverse community. We have families from orthodox and non-orthodox communities attending; we have 12 different community languages and pupils from 18 ethnic backgrounds and a range of religious beliefs. All are united as a strong Jewish family. All pupils adhere to our uniform code and participate fully in Jewish life.
It is a privilege to see pupils from different community groups working together in a caring and supportive way. Pupils from different faiths learn as much as our Jewish pupils about Judaism and Jewish life. In return, our Jewish pupils are able to integrate and learn about the other cultures and beliefs in our school, while maintaining a solid Jewish identity and a pride in being Jewish. Our work is centred on moral values and a common language of respect. Pupils have a deep understanding and demonstrate both Jewish and British values, especially tolerance.
Jewish studies and Ivrit are taught both as stand-alone lessons and integrated into the national curriculum secular education. For example, with Yom Kippur in mind, pupils have their literacy core text as Jonah and the Big Fish, incorporating narrative and comprehension skills into literacy skills, which then links into Jewish studies lessons. Words and phrases that can be taken out of Ivrit teaching, as with any other modern foreign language teaching, are also incorporated into daily classroom talk and daily classroom work. For instance, pupils and teachers regularly use words like boker tov (good morning), bevakasha (please), zaharayim tovim (good afternoon), todah (thank you) and lehitraot (goodbye, see you later) during lessons. We have an additional Ivrit-speaking club run by volunteer parents and Ivrit reading champions — dedicated parents who give us an hour a week to further support Ivrit speaking and reading.
All staff are encouraged to think creatively when planning lessons, in order to make curriculum links to Jewish studies. The opportunities are endless and we actively embrace these to enrich our pupils’ learning and experiences.
Our results for the academic year ending 2017/2018 are well above national outcomes for early years, key stage one and key stage two. We are proud to demonstrate that integrated learning, built around a strong Jewish ethos, leads to fantastic outcomes and happy, well-rounded pupils.
All are united as a strong Jewish family’
Gulcan Metin Asdoyuran is head of Simon Marks Primary School