Moriah/Hertsmere merger could be a ‘win-win’, says schools chief

An excess of places in both the Jewish and non-Jewish primary sector in London meant “we had to consider our options”, she said.

Although a trust associated with the school had been investing more than £250,000 a year in it to make up for the shortage of pupils, this was “not sustainable long term”.

Since a significant number of Moriah pupils came from in and around Bushey, Hertsmere was a natural consideration for a merger.

With the shift of the Jewish population into Hertfordshire, there was “a potential need for school places in the longer term for children from Watford, St Albans and Hatfield”.

While Hertsmere’s deficit was written off by the local authority before it joined Jcat this term, the school still faced going into the red this year.

Because of low pupil funding in Hertfordshire — £500 per pupil less than for Jcat’s other four schools — and increased staff costs, Hertsmere had a “significant projected deficit”.

Despite taking some tough decisions, “we still have to find at least another £60,000 to keep everything as it is”.

Moriah has a capacity for 30, and Hertsmere for 60 pupils a year. But even two-form entry schools were “struggling to make ends meet” in the current educational climate, Ms Jowett said.

A merger with Moriah could bring its funding to Hertsmere, while there would only be the need for one building.

If it went ahead, a new hall could be built on the astroturf on the Radlett site to accommodate pupils for assemblies and lunch. “All of this could be in place for September and we have identified ring-fenced capital funds to do this which are not in the existing budget and cannot be used in any other way.”