JFS Considers Academy Status
EUROPE'S biggest Jewish secondary school is considering becoming one of the first academy schools in the country.
JFS, in Kenton, has been offered the chance to become
independent of the Local Education Authority, which would see it set its own curriculum and budget under the academies bill, which passed through the House of Commons on Monday.
Top stories
- Eichmann was just 'hours from capture' in 1949
- Clinton: 'Direct peace talks can end conflict in one year'
- Top marks for Jewish schools
Headmaster Jonathan Miller said: "JFS has registered an interest. Our governors will decide what further steps, if any, they wish to take in September." JFS is one of a number of schools offered this fast-track option, available to those with top OFSTED ratings. Among other changes would be receiving central funding that local authorities spend on the school's behalf and being allowed to retain any surplus balance.
Miller insisted the school's ethos "would not change, were JFS to become an academy". Education Secretary Michael Gove's Academies Bill will also pave the way for all voluntary-aided schools to become "free" schools, under the same arrangements as the flagship academies.
However, newly set up schools or existing independent schools wishing to apply for free status will only be able to select 50 percent of pupils from the same faith – a move that has caused concern at the Board of Deputies. Writing to parents last week, chief executive Jon Benjamin warned: "The 50 percent rule will prevent many groups from setting up Jewish schools under the free schools system." He added: "I urge parents to write to their MPs to express disappointment. This measure could also result in it being harder to set up any type of Jewish school, not just a free school, because of competition
for sites and pupils. If schools policy was relevant to how you voted at the General Election, mention this in your letter." Any existing voluntary-aided
schools looking to become free schools will not be affected by the rule.
Read the latest copy of The Jewish News Online by clicking here.
Other headlines
- Two new Jewish schools - 08/09/10
- Secret service to monitor Irving's death camp tour - 08/09/10
- Sixty thousand thank yous - 08/09/10
- Simcha turns into tragedy - 02/09/10
- Seeking peace: Bibi and Abbas begin historic talks - 02/09/10
- 'Peace in a year if the Palestinians give up violence' - 02/09/10
- Top London university to host pro-Hamas speakers - 26/08/10
- Jewish family in Nazi house - 26/08/10
- 'Save our cemetery' - 26/08/10
- Flotilla activist: 'Go back to Auschwitz' - 19/08/10
- Cemetery is granted major 1.5 million pound extension - 19/08/10
- Together at last! - 19/08/10
- Israel army chief says flotilla troops acted 'proportionately' - 12/08/10
- 'I feel closer to Yoni now' - 12/08/10
