Fall in primary school applications to be investigated

PaJeS, the Jewish schools’ network, is to commission research to determine what lies behind a five per cent drop in applications to Jewish primaries in Barnet for September.

The fall is less than for other faith groups in the North London borough, with applications to Catholic schools down 17 per cent and to Church of England schools 10 per cent, PaJeS chief executive Rabbi David Meyer noted.

“On these figures, it would seem the Jewish community was better insulated against a drop in birth rates but also the impact of Brexit,” he said.

However, the question remains whether the fall remains across the board or affects only part of the Jewish community— and whether applications from more strictly Orthodox families are holding up or growing.