Parents have launched a petition to protest against proposals by JFS to change its admissions policy.

The school, which offers 300 year-seven places every September, wants to scrap the 10 places currently reserved for those living closest to the school.

Instead, it wants to give priority to pupils from two primaries, Sinai and North West London Jewish Day School, which, like it, are based in Brent.

Anna Mileberg, who has three children at Rosh Pinah in Edgware, said the change would be “unfair on children who don’t go to Sinai or North West. It is difficult enough to get your child into a Jewish secondary school without JFS favouring those two schools.”

It could also have a negative impact in discouraging parents from sending their children to local primaries, she argued. “If they introduced that admissions policy, I would have chosen Sinai to make sure my children could go to JFS.”

She said 700 people had so far signed the petition since it was launched this week, indicating the strength of feeling against the move by JFS.

“It’s completely unnecessary and no one understands why they are doing it.”

JFS, which has put out the proposals for consultation till January 29, said that with demographic changes there was no need for offering places on grounds of proximity but prioritising the two Brent primaries would ensure continuity of Jewish education for their pupils.

But Mrs Mileberg said, "There should be a level playing field."