Time extended to earn points for school places

THE OFFICE of the Chief Rabbi has updated guidelines on entry to Jewish schools in autumn 2022 to take account of the latest social distancing situation.

Families will be given more time to collect “practice” points to ensure their children get priority if places are oversubscribed.

Under the system, applicants can obtain a maximum four points on their certificate for religious practice for schools under the OCR’s aegis.

Four points can be earned by attending a synagogue service eight times during the months prior to the application. Four visits earn two points.

Two points can be gained by taking part in online services.

The same number can be earned through volunteering for Jewish organisations; participating in Jewish educational activities or attending one of the six-week digital education courses run by the United Synagogue’s youth division, Tribe, which were introduced in the wake of the pandemic.

But the window for attending synagogue has been extended to make it easier to collect points, starting from last Shabbat.

The last week for recording attendance at services for secondary school applicants will be October 30 — the day before applications have to be in.

For primary places it will be January 15.

“Changes have been made to support the collection of points during uncertain times, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the latest guidance notes.

“There are more options now available to you should you find yourself isolating or shielding, or if synagogue or other activities are not open.

“Other methods such as online synagogue services and online courses can be utilised to collect your CRP points.”

There are more options if you are isolating or shielding’