BySimon Rocker, Simon Rocker
Parents of Jewish primary school pupils have expressed frustration after large numbers of children have so far failed to secure places at Jewish secondary schools.
Juliette Lipshaw, deputy head of Michael Sobell Sinai primary in north-west London — where 12 out of 90 children are still waiting for a place — said that parents were “obviously very distressed”.
She added: “This is a problem which seems to be getting worse each year, leaving many pupils and parents in a vulnerable situation”.
At Rosh Pinah, in Edgware, eight out of 58 pupils are still trying to find a Jewish school following the second round of admissions this month, as are eight out of 31 at Moriah primary in Pinner.
At Wolfson Hillel, in Southgate, 16 out of 61 pupils had been left without a Jewish school after the first round in March.
Headteacher Kirsten Jowett said that disappointed parents might opt for a place at a non-Jewish school while a large group of pupils had sat the entrance exam at the fee-paying Immanuel College as a precaution. Parents were “extremely worried”, she said. “As primary heads, we can’t affect the secondary applications process.”
One parent whose child had failed to find a place at two Jewish secondaries said he was “frustrated and annoyed. It shouldn’t be the case that a child who has had a Jewish upbringing and education should then be fighting the system”.
Some parents have already lodged appeals with schools, while others are waiting for the third round of admissions due to take place at the end of this month.
Ms Lipshaw said that she did not know why numbers appeared so high this year, although “we do know that there are many siblings”.
The opening of new Jewish secondary schools led to predictions that there would be a surplus of places, but this has not materialised.
North-west London children unable to find a Jewish school place appear reluctant to go to King Solomon High School in Essex, which has consequently accepted more non-Jewish pupils.
The problem is confined to London — there is less pressure on places elsewhere in the country.