Hasmonean Boys to accomodate pupils in Catholic primary school

Anxious students on the waiting list for Year 7 at Hasmonean Boys’ School this September have been offered a surprising life line by the Catholic Diocese of Westminster.

The district, under the pastoral care of the Christian Church, has stepped in at the 11th hour to ensure pupils who meet the admissions criteria will be offered a place in a leased school property for the next academic year.

In an email to parents seen by Jewish News, Gary Swabel, Chair of Trustees, Yossi Halberstadt, Chair of Governors at Hasmonean High School for Boys and Andrew McClusky, CEO at Hasmonean MAT wrote:

“Thanks to the wonderful support of Barnet’s officers and councillors and the very generous support from the community, we are poised to sign a contract with the Catholic Diocese of Westminster to lease a primary school a short walk away from Belsize Park Tube which will allow us to accommodate all of Year 7 there from September.

“Especial thanks go to Councillor Peter Zinkin, Councillor Dean Cohen and Leader of the Council, Councillor Barry Rawlings, who have been remarkable in their efforts to help us find a solution and funding.

“Executive Director of Children’s Services Chris Munday, Alison Dawes, Director- School Access, Skills & Corporate Services (BELS), Chief Executive of Barnet Education & Learning Service (BELS) Neil Marlow together with the Schools’ Forum could not have been more supportive of our endeavours and we are truly grateful to them for the time and energy that they have dedicated to helping us find a way to accommodate students on our waiting list. We are also tremendously grateful to the Catholic Diocese of Westminster for the way in which they have sensitively responded to our needs.

“Last but by no means least, we are incredibly grateful to our own staff (both teaching and non-teaching), governors and trustees who have supported our endeavours to accommodate all of the Year 7s, especially Mrs Goldblatt who has worked wonders with the timetabling.”

“The funds secured will enable us to offer specialist teaching, pastoral, standards and safeguarding support on a secure site from September.

Hasmonean Boys’ school in Hendon has been trying to find a workable solution for the families on the waiting list for some time. Today’s announcement comes after plans for students at the Orthodox Jewish secondary boys’ and girls’ schools to study in portakabins on the same premises were blocked by strict Green Belt environmental regulations for the second time.

Those plans came amid growing concerns that the boys’ campus was becoming over-stretched, with twice as many students as it was originally designed for.

In an offer of help and as reported by Jewish News last week, JFS headteacher Dr David Moody said the Kenton school was prepared to welcome up to 35 pupils.

Further information from Hasmonean Boys’ School will be announced in due course.