Prominent Strictly Orthodox rabbi urges more uncompromising defence of community's schools

Over the past three years Charedi leaders have tried to protect schools from regulations on equality and relationships and sex education.

Rabbi Friedman’s remarks will be seen by some as a critique of the diplomatic path taken by Chinuch UK, the educational lobby group set up last year, and other representatives.

“The community is now split,” one activist told the JC.

Chinuch UK believes it has won important concessions through its extensive discussions with the government in two respects, which will alleviate the pressure on Strictly Orthodox schools.

Firstly, revised guidelines have given schools more room to manoeuvre in deciding at what age it is appropriate to introduce issues such as same-sex orientation.

Secondly, the Department for Education has indicated it may not sanction independent schools that fall short of one or two of the educational standards if they are otherwise compliant.

However, some within the Charedi community believe the state still has too much ammunition to try to force schools to teach LGBT-related topics.

Chinuch UK was established to represent a unified approach across the Charedi communities of North London, North-West London, Manchester and Gateshead.

But Charedi schools are not uniform, ranging from schools in North-West London that for example teach A-levels to Talmud Torahs in Stamford Hill where boys leave at 13 to go to yeshivah.