Yavneh College has confirmed it will open a bulge class for this September, increasing its intake from 150 to 180 students in 2019.

Spencer Lewis, headteacher of the Hertfordshire school, said it had taken the decision in the wake of the “huge demand” for places for Jewish state schools in London this year.

The school was “pleased to be able to help families without school places for September by providing them with the first-class secular and Jewish education of which we are so proud”.

Governors' chair Susan Nyman said that after discussions with Pajes, the Jewish Leadership Council’s schools network, “we felt it was important to help in this very real way by offering these extra places in 2019”.

Both Yavneh and JCoSS have applied to the Department for Education for funding to support more permanent expansion.

JCoSS offered bulge classes in 2017 and 2018, while Yavneh last did so in 2016.

A spokeswoman for Pajes said it was delighted by Yavneh's move, which would " help ease the waiting lists across all the schools in North- West London".

It was the fourth year that Pajes had "helped ensure sufficient school places"  in discussions with schools and "a testament to the dedication of our schools that they have made such efforts to accommodate as many children as possible", she said.

Research done by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research showed the need,for additional provision, she said. "As a result, we have approached the DfE with options of either building a new school or expanding the current provision.  We are hopeful that they will approve one these options shortly."