Two big appointments announced at Jewish schools in London

The deputy headteacher at Kantor King Solomon High School in Redbridge is to take over as headteacher after the mysterious exit of former head Matthew Slater, who took a leave of absence “for personal reasons” last year.

Hannele Reece, who has been at the school for 19 years, became interim head at the start of the academic year and has now been confirmed in post, after Slater led the 975-pupil school to an improved Ofsted grade in 2016.

Announcing Reece’s appointment, the Barkingside school’s Governors remained mute on Slater, in circumstances that would normally see the departing headteacher thanked for his contribution.

Stephanie Sollosi and Richard Burack, co-chairs of KKS Governors, thanked parents for “your understanding and patience over this last year,” and praised Reece’s “expertise” in quality assurance frameworks.

Reece, who has been an approved Ofsted inspector in the past, said: “I am proud and delighted to be able to lead Kantor King Solomon High School (KKS) as its permanent headteacher.”

She thanked the Governors and local authority, she added: “I am very lucky to have a passionate, hardworking and committed staff and a fantastic student body.

“I look forward to driving KKS forward to ensure that we become the best school we can be and to provide our community with the school and the opportunities it deserves.”

The last Ofsted inspection report two years ago took the school from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Good,’ but inspectors said that improvements were needed in the standard of education provided by 16-19 study programmes.

They also urged the school to “improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment so all groups of pupils are supported to make rapid progress”.

Meanwhile, there was another senior appointment in Jewish education in north London, with Nancy Reuben Primary School in Hendon appointing Rabbi Joshua Conway as Head of Kodesh from September.

Conway, who spent time working in a technology start-up before becoming a teacher, is leaving his role as assistant headteacher at Menorah Primary School to fill the newly-created role as designated lead for pastoral care.

Headteacher Anthony Wolfson Conway was “a well-respected, popular and outstanding Jewish educator who will inject a new dynamism into our Kodesh provision and make a massive impact on many other important aspects”.