A launchpad, not a retreat: why Jewish schools matter more than ever in 2026

At this time of year, many families ask a familiar and deeply personal question: what is the right school for my child? Our community is blessed with choice; Jewish and non-Jewish schools offer real strengths, and for years, decisions were shaped primarily by practical considerations such as academic results or geographical fit. Since 7 October , however, that conversation has fundamentally shifted. For many parents, schooling is no longer just about where a child will learn, but who they will become, and whether they will feel safe, confident, and grounded along the journey.

Jewish schools have rarely felt as vital as they do today. According to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), more than 36,000 Jewish children in the UK are educated in Jewish schools, the highest number ever recorded. Yet JPR also reports that nearly a quarter of Jewish parents say their children have encountered antisemitism in school or while travelling. These figures give voice to a communal intuition: that education today must offer not only academic excellence, but a sanctuary of understanding and a deeply rooted sense of identity.

If read superficially, this might lead some to worry that Jewish schools represent a retreat from wider society. In truth, the opposite is the case. Jewish schools are not places of withdrawal, but of preparation. By giving children a strong grounding in who they are, they are equipped to engage with the world more fully. A child who knows where they belong is not diminished by difference but strengthened by it. Identity, when rooted and secure, becomes a launchpad rather than a barrier.

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There is a beautiful image in Judaism that comes from our namesake, Lord Immanuel Jakobovits. He taught that it is only by anchoring ourselves in the past that we can move confidently into the future. Before we recite the Amidah, we take three steps back and then three steps forward. We step back to know where we come from, so that we can step forward with purpose. Jewish schools do exactly this; they help children take those steps back with pride and understanding, so they can step forward into the wider world with responsibility and a clear internal compass.

This sense of belonging, this chevra, is the heartbeat of the experience. It is the joy of growing up among peers who share classrooms, songs, questions, and celebrations. Shabbatons, Chagim, and communal trips create bonds that extend far beyond the school gates, teaching children that they are part of something enduring. In a Jewish school, Jewishness is never something to explain or defend; it is the atmosphere. Israel is discussed with care and nuance, not reduced to slogans, allowing children to be themselves fully and unapologetically.

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Crucially, we recognise that our students are heading toward a university landscape that has, for many, become a hotbed of antisemitism. We address this head-on, not by shielding them, but by arming them. Through dedicated seminars, assemblies, and classroom sessions we provide the intellectual and emotional tools students need to navigate campus life. We ensure they leave not only with top-tier academic credentials but with the resilience to maintain their Jewish life and the confidence to stand tall in any environment.

Ultimately, parents are not choosing Jewish schools out of fear. The strongest motivations remain aspirational. JPR research shows that Jewish identity, the integration of values, and a shared moral language are the key drivers. Jewish schools succeed when they combine intellectual rigour with ethical seriousness. Values such as Chessed, Tzedakah, and middot are not abstract ideals, but daily expectations modelled by educators who live them with integrity.

In settings such as Immanuel College, this vision comes alive. Serious academic ambition sits alongside a culture of warmth. Students are challenged intellectually and supported pastorally, encouraged to grow into articulate young adults who are comfortable in their skin and fully engaged with the world.

In 2026, choosing a Jewish school is not a fearful decision; it is a confident one. It affirms that identity matters, that values matter, and that children deserve an education that nurtures both mind and soul. In an uncertain world, Jewish schools offer something quietly powerful: clarity, belonging, and hope.

Rabbi Yoni Golker is Deputy Headteacher and Director of Jewish Life & Learning at Immanuel College