King Solomon High School in Redbridge has not filled its 150 places after the first round of admissions.
But chair of governors Diana Lazarus remains confident that all places will be taken by the time the school year starts in September.
“We are suffering but we are bearing the repercussions of the opening of Yavneh [in Borehamwood] because pupils who would have come to us from north-west London are now going to their local school.”
However, she felt that King Solomon could yet benefit from Yavneh’s over-subscription — 500 applicants for 150 places — and any possible excess demand at JFS in Kenton. “Almost every day we get inquiries from students who have not got into Yavneh or JFS.”
Yavneh governors’ chairman Malcolm Gordon reported that after siblings and local school applications, only 34 places would be available. He also revealed that one-third of applicants had been attending non-Jewish schools. JFS did not respond to requests for information on applications.
In Manchester, outreach efforts are being made to maintain capacity. Governors’ chair at King David Infants, Simon Rosenthal, says interest from other provincial communities has kept numbers stable.