Education Secretary Michael Gove has approved the third Jewish free school in the London area.

Subject to the signing of a funding agreement, the Golders Green Jewish Primary will accept its first 28 pupils in September 2012.

Presided over by Golders Green Synagogue's Rabbi Harvey Belovski, the school's ethos will be "a local primary for an international city. A place where children can benefit from the diversity of the Jewish faith and tradition and gain the skills and experience to succeed in, and contribute to, the extraordinary city in which they live."

GGJPS steering committee chair Rachel Clark was "delighted that our application has been approved for the pre-opening stage. The vision of GGJPS is one we passionately believe can make a difference to the futures of children in this area."

She added that if expressions of interest were translated into applications, the school would comfortably fill its places for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

It will accept 50 per cent of pupils on a faith basis and 50 per cent on proximity.