JFS headteacher Jonathan Miller resigns after leave of absence

The mystery surrounding the head teacher’s role at JFS took another secretive turn today when the school announced it had “accepted Jonathan Miller’s resignation” – but remained tight-lipped about why he’d quit and the reason behind his sudden leave of absence.

Miller, who spent 30-years at the school with eight in the top role, said he wanted to “explore other professional opportunities”, in a letter sent on his behalf to parents.

JFS said it would “celebrate his many achievements and successes”.

In a second letter from chairman of governors Steven Woolf, JFS announced that Debby Lipkin, consultant headteacher during Miller’s leave, will take on the role of executive head teacher. Lipkin will work with acting headteacher Simon Appleman.

In 2014, Ofsted inspectors downgraded JFS from an ‘outstanding’ school to one that ‘requires improvement’ – a setback that Miller called “a blip in our proud history”.

Writing in Jewish News at the time, he added: “We will respond to this latest challenge by putting in place what is needed to ensure that, when the inspectors return, this is a short-lived blip in the series of Outstanding Ofsted reports JFS has always previously received. I am committed to achieving this; our students, the children of our community deserve nothing less.”