By, Rosa Doherty
2 min read
ByRosa Doherty, Rosa Doherty
Mosaic Primary, south London's only Jewish day school, is singular in more ways than one. Other Jewish schools accept non-Jewish children but it is the only one to have opened on the expectation that half its intake would come from other faiths or none.
For parent governor Nicolette Hartell, whose son William is in year two, not only is she getting "the best possible education" for her son, but she is exposing him to "a unique opportunity where he learns about the Jewish faith and practices".
She was among the 100 guests including Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith who celebrated its inclusive ethos at an official launch ceremony last week.
Mrs Hartell, a practising Christian, said: "I wanted the same level of education continued from the nursery he went to, which was also Jewish, and when I heard about Mosaic, it just stood out.
"William loves coming to school here. He is interested in all the prayers and quite often at home he will want to say a berachah before dinner.
"When it is someone's birthday, he will want to sing happy birthday in English and then Hebrew."
William, sporting a kippah, joined his year-two classmates in singing Hinei Ma Tov to the visitors last week.
His mother said: "It just becomes part of life. I don't see why anyone wouldn't embrace it. I see it as he is learning a lot about the Old Testament at school and then at a church he learns about the New one."
The cross-communal primary, which opened in 2013, expanded from one-form entry to two forms after moving from Wimbledon to its permanent site in Roehampton last September. It is ranked outstanding by both Ofsted and the Jewish inspection service Pikuach.
For Jewish parent Carra Kane, whose son Devon is also in year two, "Mosaic is unlike any Jewish school north of the river. Devon has a Catholic friend. He loves that he has friends that do not practise any religion, and then there are his Jewish friends.
"He comes home excited because they talk about Passover at school and I think in any Jewish school, let alone in south London, that is a unique experience my child is having."
The school has helped to make non-Jewish parents much more aware of Jewish practices and customs, she believes. "Take birthdays or playdates, people will ask if he is invited over for a play date is it ok if he eats this or that," she said. "A lot of people in this area have never been exposed to Jewish people or practices."
It is not only the parents who say they are happy with the inclusivity. Brothers Freddie Millar, seven, and Barney, five, who are from a Church of England background, love combining a Jewish education with regular studies.
Freddie said: "I like it that we were the first class in a new school - it makes me feel special and it's exciting being part of something new."
It was, he said, "great because we're from all around the world. I have friends whose parents are American, Mexican, Russian, Lithuanian, Chinese - and my daddy is Australian. I learn about lots of different foods and festivals."
Barney added: "I liked dressing up for Purim and I liked making hamentashen -- they're delicious."
Freddie's favourite festival was Chanucah because he "likes singing all the songs and lighting the eight candles".
As a free school, Mosaic follows the national curriculum but is able to manage its own budget and integrate a Jewish studies programme.
Headteacher Kate Baum said that creating the school had not been easy. "We have had to navigate our own wilderness and have got lost a number of times," she said, "but ultimately the official opening of this school is a peak moment. Like the peak of Mount Sinai."
Now she was able "to take a step back and appreciate all Mosaic had achieved in such a short space of time". It was down to the children and staff "who embraced the culture of inclusivenes, that the school stands out".