Newsecondaryoption forpupilsinLondon

A COMPREHENSIVE in Cricklewood, north-west London, is aiming to offer a Jewish studies programme from next September to cater for students unable to gain a place at a Jewish secondary school.

P a r t n e r s h i p s for Jewish Schools (Pajes), the Jewish Leadership Council’s education agency, is recommending that parents put down Whitefield School as a choice for the 2017 year before applications close at the end of the month.

The school, which is rated good by Ofsted, is ready to provide a special Jewish studies programme under the auspices of the United Synagogue. Pajes is also exploring the possibility of having kosher food.

Rabbi David Meyer, Pajes chief executive, said: “This is an important development that will help ensure that there is a provision available for all the children in our community.”

He thanked Whitefield’s headteacher Liz Rymer for the school’s “willingness to accommodate the needs of all their students,” adding: “We hope that this additional provision will go some way to easing the concerns of parents”.

The increasing demand for Jewish secondary schools has left a number of children from Jewish primary schools without a place at one in the past two years. A one-off bulge class at Yavneh College this September eased the pressure.

P a j e s s a i d t h e option of bulge classes was still under consideration for next year but it was increasingly difficult for schools owing to limitations of space Ready to welcome Jewish pupils: Whitefield School and resources.

While Whitefield may not be a first choice for Jewish parents, it would offer a “supportive and sympathetic environment”, the agency said.