Become a Member
News

Schools ready for academy revolution

May 27, 2010 14:16
New rules: Michael Gove

By

Simon Rocker,

Simon Rocker

2 min read

Some of the top Jewish schools will be among the first in the country able to take advantage of the government's flagship programme of educational reform.

New Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote to all schools on Wednesday to invite them to opt out of local authority control and enjoy greater independence by accepting academy status. But schools rated outstanding in Ofsted inspections will be able to go to the head of queue and become academies as early as this September.

There are at least half a dozen "outstanding" Jewish schools: King David Junior School and North Cheshire Jewish Primary in Manchester; and JFS, Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls, Hertsmere Jewish Primary and Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Primary in London.

Michael Glass, chairman of JFS, said that academy status "is certainly something that will be under discussion. But we don't have any information".