REMEMBER, EDUCATION HAS TO BE FOR ALL

Six years ago, we were struggling to get our daughter a place at a Jewish primary school for reception. After a long and uncertain period, in which we thought our options were closed, we were fortunate to be offered a place at a Jewish primary school, though outside the borough and by no means the school closest to where we live. We now have three children at this school and all are happy. Despite the time that has passed, the awful feeling of uncertainty that we experienced is still fresh in our minds.

Our eldest child is now in year five and we are starting to look at high schools and have been following with interest the stories in your newspaper over the past 18 months about a shortage of places at Jewish high schools.

There appears to be a striking similarity with this situation to the scenario faced by us and many other families six years ago, which has led to a great increase of the number of Jewish primary schools (and hence places) in London.

Last week, Yavneh College made a decision, following a full consultation process, to change its admission policy to remove the previous policy of feeder schools as part of their admission criteria. As parents of a child who did not attend one of the primary schools previously designated as a feeder school for Yavneh, and having had to travel miles outside the borough and back each day, we were (and are) very much in favour of this change as it now gives us equal opportunity for entry into the school.

There are rumours of the minority still opposed to the changes — despite their having been made — taking legal action against Yavneh College. If these rumours are true, all this will serve to do is take money away from the school itself, money that should be spent on the education of those children attending Yavneh College.

This is clearly not in the interests of the Jewish community or furtherance of Jewish education and we would urge those involved to put their time, efforts and money into improving the access to and quality of Jewish education for all Jewish children in the community. Rachel & Steven Fink Elstree, Herts, WD6