There is good news for children applying for Jewish secondary school places in the London area for September – Yavneh College has decided again to open a bulge class.
As a result, the Hertfordshire-based high school will be able to increase its year-7 intake in autumn from 150 to 180.
The college took the decision “in response to a huge demand for places”.
Executive headteacher Spencer Lewis said, “We are pleased to be able to help families through these extra school places for September 2026 by providing them with the first-class general and Jewish education of which we are so proud at the Yavneh schools.”
Competition for places at state-aided Jewish secondary schools in the capital are expected to hit a seven-year peak this autumn, based on projections made for the Jewish schools network, PaJeS.
But last September’s intake exceeded original expectations owing to parental fears of antisemitism in the general state sector as well as the financial impact of VAT on independent school fees which came into effect a year ago.
Yavneh offered a bulge class last year, as did JFS, while the Hasmonean High School for Boys has been taking well above its official maximum in recent years.
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