JFS head won't meet school's gay ex-pupils

The head-teacher of JFS has refused to meet gay and lesbian former pupils to discuss the methods of teaching of homosexuality at the school - but has promised to "review" the school's approach.

Former JFS pupils, including co-convener of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender forum Keshet UK, Dave Shaw, had asked to meet head Jonathan Miller to discuss the reference to "gay cure" organisati

More..

Former JFS pupils concern over 'gay cure'

Former Jewish school students and religious leaders have expressed "deep concern" about references to "homosexual cure" group JONAH in a JFS Jewish studies lesson, and have called for schools urgently to address the teaching of homosexuality.

Former JFS head girl Alma Smith has written to the school's headmaster, Jonathan Miller, saying that not making reference to lesbian and gay organisations

More..

Semantic denial

Last week we revealed that JFS pupils had been referred, as part of their teaching about homosexuality, to the website run by JONAH, an American group which seeks to 'cure' gay men and women.The story caused something of a stir.

JFS denied in a letter to parents that it has in any way promoted the idea that homosexuality can be cured.

More..

Grade F for admissions

So, your child is transferring to secondary school? You've filled in your form, debated Jewish versus non-Jewish, private or state? The all-important first-place choice is made.

More..

Birthday honours celebrated at JFS

JFS is celebrating its 10th year in its Kenton campus with an awards double.

An Investors in People accolade recognises the school's commitment to staff development.

More..

New Israel Fund increases income

The British branch of the New Israel Fund enjoyed a record fundraising year in 2010, despite an international campaign by some right-wing Zionists to discredit the organisation.

NIF UK increased its income to £1.4 million from £1.2 million the previous year.

UK chairman Nicholas Saphir said: "Last year was a significant year for NIF given the attacks on civil society and the continuing att

More..

Bercow is put on the spot at JFS

It was question time for Commons Speaker John Bercow after he addressed more than 400 JFS sixth-formers at the Kenton school.

Pupils quizzed him on topics including the challenges facing the coalition government, tuition fees and his desire to engage younger people in political activism.

Discussing his role as Speaker, Mr Bercow expressed satisfaction at being part of the process to reform expenses arrangements for MPs. He also told students of the high regard in which JFS is held and highlighted the extra-curricular opportunities as particularly impressive.

More..

JFS pulls the plug on school barmitzvahs

JFS has called a halt to its popular bar- and batmitzvah ceremonies, saying the decision was taken because of pressure from local communities to hold the celebrations in synagogue.

But a senior United Synagogue rabbi has cast doubt on the explanation, suggesting that the move resulted from new entry rules that prevent schools from knowing whether pupils are halachically Jewish.

JFS headmaster Jonathan Miller said that members of the local community had "voiced concern that pupils were having their bar- and batmitzvahs at JFS, and not within the community.

More..

Can these rabbis be forgiven?

Five years ago, in the pages of this newspaper, a communal scandal was brought to your attention. Two Jewish children, born to Jewish parents, were denied entry into a leading Jewish school.

The reason for this denial of entry had nothing whatever to do with money, scholastic ability or shortage of school places.

More..

Schoolgirl at JFS after five-year fight

A family's five-year fight to get their daughter admitted to JFS ended when she joined the school's sixth form yesterday (Thursday).

Maya Lightman took her place at the school in Kenton, north west London, as a direct result of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court rulings last year that JFS had discriminated directly against a boy, known only as M.

More..

JFS ruling creates barmitzvah confusion

A number of Orthodox Jewish schools are stopping organising bar or batmitzvah ceremonies for pupils because they cannot tell if they are halachically Jewish, according to the head of the United Synagogue's Rabbinic Council.

Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet explained that the change was being made as a result of last year's court ruling on Jewish school admissions.

Speaking last weekend at an event in north London, he said that a meeting had recently taken place for young people who act as wardens in midweek services that take place at various schools.

More..

King David mother fights on for school place

Community leaders have expressed sadness and outrage over the first case of a Jewish child being barred from a Jewish school under new admissions rules, following the Supreme Court ruling on JFS last summer.

Last week the JC exclusively reported that, after losing an appeal, 10-year-old Kayleigh Chapple was refused a place at Liverpool's King David High School because she could not pass the religious practice test set out in the school's new admissions policy. Her place went to a non-Jewish pupil.

More..

Pitfalls and perversity the heirs to JFS ruling

The Liverpool case is the first to bear out what was feared might happen after last year's JFS court case: that a Jewish child eligible to get into a Jewish school under the old admission rules would end up being denied a place under the new system.

Previously, many schools would have accepted you simply if your mother was Jewish. But a year ago the Court of Appeal - in a decision upheld by the Supreme Court -ruled that the policy fell foul of the Race Relations Act.

More..