Jews welcome Tory pledge to set up new schools

The Tories' election manifesto pledge to give parents the right to set up schools has been welcomed by communal educators.

Educational philanthropist Benjamin Perl claimed this week that 10 new Jewish schools were needed in the Hertsmere area as parents spoke of their despair at failing to obtain places for their children. Some Borehamwood parents say the situation is forcing families to leave the area.

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Schools need to keep faith in liberal education

Faith schools are seldom out of the news. Parents whose children have been denied entry to them take legal action to force changes to their admissions policies. Others object to the state funding or even tolerating them.

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Survey: most parents accept non-Jewish pupils

The overwhelming majority in a survey of parents of Jewish pupils at Jewish schools say they would accept the admission of non-Jewish children.

Around half of the survey, conducted among parents of the three Jewish schools in Redbridge in Essex, would feel it acceptable for non-Jewish children to make up 10 per cent of the roll - while roughly a quarter of the parents would accept up to 25 per cent non-Jewish pupils.

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Faith schools must teach sex and contraception

State-aided religious schools will have to teach about contraception and ceremonies for gay couples in future, according to new rules being introduced by the government.

Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, stressed that faith schools would not be able to opt out of new requirements for sex education, due to come into force next year.

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New head for Scotland's only Jewish school

Scotland's only Jewish school has appointed a new head. Vanessa Thomson will take charge at Glasgow's Calderwood Lodge Primary in April, replacing Christine Haughney, who is moving to the highly regarded Hutchesons' School as head of primary.

Ms Thomson, 43, is currently acting head at another Glasgow primary. She looked forward to experiencing the school's "unique Jewish ethos" and building on its success "by developing learning and teaching with the needs of each pupil at the heart of all we do".

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Radlett rabbi quits for educating role

Rabbi Ariel Abel has stunned Radlett Synagogue's honorary officers by announcing that he is quitting after five years to pursue his educational interests.

He will take up the directorship of the Jewish Heraldic Foundation, "a new venture that will aim to educate and inspire young people to pioneer, lead and achieve more, both in the Jewish and the wider community". Rabbi Abel explained that the foundation "will run various projects with interested partners and fulfil a role in recognising and honouring rising stars in the Jewish community".

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Delamere Forest school plans move

Delamere Forest special needs school is to close its property in the Cheshire countryside after 88 years to realise a long-held ambition to move to north Manchester, close to the Jewish community.

The move results from a partnership with the Together Trust, a non-Jewish social care organisation helping children and adults with special needs.

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