Plan to end feeder schools upsets parents

PARENTS HAVE raised concerns after it emerged that two Jewish schools have proposed ending the system of feeder primary schools within the next two years.

Suggested changes to the admissions criteria of Yavneh College and JCoSS were announced this week, as a six-week consultation exercise began.

At present, Clore Shalom Primary and Hertsmere Primary hold feeder status to Yavneh in Borehamwood, while Clore Tikva, Akiva and also Clore Shalom feed into JCoSS in Barnet.

It means that, in certain circumstances, pupils from these primaries are given places in preference to students from other junior schools.

Yavneh and JCoSS have proposed that the system will end in September 2017, affecting pupils currently in year five.

Yavneh s a i d: “T hi s amendment will allow all applicants an equal opportunity to secure a place at the school, regardless of which primary school they attended.”

The school added that it would stop priority places being given to “children for whom Yavneh College is their nearest designated Jewish secondary school”.

Instead, priority would be given to children whose residence is within the WD and AL postcode areas in Hertfordshire.

Yavneh chair of governors, Sue Nyman, said: “The demographics of our local area have changed a great deal in recent years and the governors felt it was important to create a level playing field for Hertfordshire families applying to their local school for entry in 2017.”

JCoSS headteacher Patrick Moriarty said that guaranteed feeder school places restricted the number of places available to other families in the wider community, which had become of growing concern to governors.

“We want to ensure that students from across our community have an equal chance to come to JCoSS,” he said.

But surprise was voiced by parents that the changes may be implemented so quickly. A protest group was set up on Facebook by Hertsmere parent Adam Myeroff.

Mr Myeroff has three children at the school and relocated his family to Radlett so his children could attend Hertsmere, and then move on to Yavneh. Over 250 parents had joined the group within 24 hours.

Mr Myeroff said: “We are concerned that the consultation significantly disadvantages families outside Borehamwood, which, it is believed, in a short period of time will be the only area to enjoy the school, when in fact the school was set up to serve the wider Hertfordshire area.

“Many year five parents at Hertsmere have already started the secondary school process and were assured at a recent Yavneh open day that the feeder policy was not changing.”

Chairman of governors at Hertsmere Daniel Summerfield said that the school would be appealing to Yavneh to delay the changes.

“This is going to cause concern and distress among parents at Hertsmere, especially those with children in year five or below.”

Simon Ezequiel, chairman of governors at Clore Shalom, acknowledged that the changes would create uncertainty for parents and advised them to take part in the consultation process.

Year five parents were assuredthe feederpolicywas notchanging