“However, this is far from the reality. In fact across the state schools, over 60 additional places have been created and offered to anxious families.”
But it appealed to parents, “If you are currently holding a place in a Jewish school, please remove your name from the waiting lists of other schools, so that children without a place can be offered one if at all possible.”
One mother whose daughter remains without a place said she was aware of 15 children in the same boat. She had heard that JFS still has a waiting list of 50 and JCoSS 100.
Nicole Herman, JCoSS admissions officer, said although its waiting list was large "compared to most schools, it is not uncommon for JCoSS at t his time of year.
"Most of those on it will have places at other schools - whether Jewish or non-Jewish - but ranked JCoSS as a higher preference and so wish to remain on our waiting list."
The biggest problem in the admissions process, Pajes said, was that “parents who have already been offered and accepted a place in one Jewish school insist on remaining on the waiting list for a different school.
“This means that if a school creates additional spaces it is not possible to ensure that those places are offered to children currently without a place in any Jewish school.”
Economic pressures on families resulting from covid-19 may have led to more applications to the state sector, according to Pajes.
