JFS ‘excited’ by go-ahead to join academy trust

THE PLAN for JFS to join the United Synagogue-founded Jewish Community Academy Trust (JCAT) has received official approval.

JFS head David Moody told parents on Tuesday he was pleased to “announce that JCAT has received ministerial signoff on the proposed academisation of JFS as a part of the trust”.

Joining JCAT would mean “becoming part of a family of schools that share the same faith and vision for education.

“Many of the pupils at JCAT’s primary academies already go on to attend JFS for their secondary education and working together, I am confident that we can build an ever stronger educational community. I am genuinely excited for what we will achieve.”

JFS was forced to seek membership of an academy after being put into special measures and receiving a shock downgrade to “inadequate” by Ofsted last summer.

On a follow-up visit at the end of the year, inspectors noted improvements and said leaders were taking “effective action” to lift it out of special measures.

Ofsted returned a few days ago for a further check but the inspection was interrupted after a couple of inspectors went down with Covid.

JCAT is currently a consortium of four primary schools. The addition of JFS will more than double the number of pupils it is responsible for.

Michael Goldstein, president of the United Synagogue and chairman of the trust, was “thrilled that JFS will be joining the JCAT family. As a trust, we believe in protecting the future of Jewish education and values, meaning that the rich heritage of JFS will be preserved and enhanced as part of JCAT.”

JFS governors’ chair Andrew Moss said the school had “for some time been working closely with trustees at JCAT regarding our academisation.

“We are hugely excited to join the trust and look forward to all the excellent work that we will do together and all the opportunities it will afford.”

The heritage of JFS will be preserved and enhanced as part of JCAT