JFS announces appointment of new permanent headteacher

JFS has appointed its eighth headteacher in six years.

Europe’s largest Jewish secondary school this week announced Dr David Moody will take on the job permanently next week following a “rigorous” recruitment process.

Writing to parents, the school said it was “deeply impressed” with his “knowledge and expertise relating to the welfare and personal development of students”, as he was unanimously backed for the role by the governors. The letter said it has “every confidence that the school will go from strength to strength under (Moody’s) leadership”, saying he is “hugely excited” to start in the role. The Governing Board are aware of the significant difficulties and turmoil this year. We are hugely proud of our enormously committed staff team for all that they have done for our school and young people.”

JFS, which has more than 2,000 students, confirmed last week it is awaiting the results of an Ofsted inspection by the end of the year.

The school will judged by the education inspectorate on its progress, after it was placed in special measures and downgraded to inadequate earlier in the year. During the last inspection, concerns were raised over safeguarding and bullying at the Kenton school, which led to the departure of former headteacher Rachel Fink.

She was succeeded by temporary headteachers including Sir Michael Wilshaw, the former chief inspector for Ofsted, then Martin Tissot, and incumbent co-heads Paul Ramsey and Anna Joseph.

Moody, who will be joining on 1 December, was headteacher of Harris Battersea for five years and a regional director overseeing 10 secondary schools for the Academies Enterprise Trust. During his time at the Harris Battersea, he transformed it from being in ‘special measures’ to ‘outstanding’, and it became one of the top 10 performing schools in the country.

JFS announced earlier in the year it is intending to become an academy, through the United Synagogue-JCAT (Jewish Community Academy Trust.). Advisers from the US and JCAT and Brent Local Authority supported Moody’s appointment.